John Feather Email & Phone Number

San Francisco Bay Area

As Senior Facial Production R&D at Soul Machines, I established and advanced their FACS facial rigging pipeline and methodology and trained their artists in FACS modeling and rigging. Accomplishments:• Refined FACS network shape requirements to meet the needs of real-time deployment• Implemented an advanced rule system to constrain the FACS network combinational envelope• Developed a rule based system for handling asymmetric facial effects in a symmetrical FACS system• Developed a real-time look-dev environment for Maya• Developed a one-click rigging tool for Maya• Developed a surface vector tension based wrinkle system• Defined workflows for asset ingest• Defined technical landmarks for face rig development and deployment• Training

San Rafael, California

I served as Facial Pipeline Supervisor for projects involving celebrity likenesses. In December of 2014, I took an extended leave of absence from my position to care for my parents at the end of their lives.Accomplishments:• Developing and deploying universal character topology• Modeling and texturing celebrity likenesses• Creating a universal pose space UV layout• Creating a tissue simulation workflow and tool set for prototyping complex facial dynamics• Standardizing and authoring anatomical combination space blend shape networks• Developing a real-time facial dynamics shader• Training• Defining technical development goals for competitive market placement.

Larkspur, California

Beginning as a facial modeler on Jack the Giant Slayer, I was soon promoted to staff and project facial lead. I continued as facial lead on Digital Domain’s most ambitious photorealistic creature project at the time, Maleficent.Accomplishments:• Creation of resolution independent realtime high frequency skin dynamics system• Creation of Disney Zurich facial data ingest and modeling workflow• Extension of industry standard facial network prioritization logic• Facial shot finaling on all hero creature shots• Lead modeler on all actor / creature facial designs and rigs (Maleficent)• Extensive tool design and facial pipeline development / integration• Extensive staff training in facial network concepts, implementation, and modeling techniques

Monterey, California

A freelance video production company through which I provided a broad range of content for corporate, commercial, and independent clients while advancing my general VFX skills.Accomplishments:• End to end content creation from script, storyboard, and animatic, through physical location prep, lighting, and photography, to editing, sound and music design, and extensive VFX

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

On the strength of facial rigging, modeling, and pipeline development for my previous employer, I was asked to assist with the development of Gollum’s facial rig for the first LOTR trilogy.Accomplishments:• Continued combination state blendshape network technology development• Rapid, production level facial rig asset creation• Modeling staff training / mentorship

Monterey, California

I was hired to create a realtime, photorealistic facial modeling, rigging, and animation pipeline for online digital avatars.Accomplishments:• Creation of a hierarchical, combination state blendshape network facial rigging system• Modeling and rigging of all hero creature assets• Extensive pipeline tool development• Staff recruitment, management, and training• Authoring of staff training syllabi