Michael Ciacciarelli Email & Phone Number

As ECD of Optimus I am responsible for providing creative leadership to our company at large: from our website, through social media, to pitch books and to all aspects of marketing. I want us to look our best and I strive to put our best creative work out where it matters most - in front of our clients. I have worked to take the lessons I learned from helping to build our Optimus Design Department to the entire company. I believe that we have so much incredible talent within our walls in Chicago and it's my job to help that talent shine as bright as possible. I work collaboratively with our producers, reps and marketing to do just that, and I coordinate efforts within our own teams and outside vendors to help our company reach its goals.

As Creative Director at Optimus I strived to get the very best out of myself and our Design team for our clients. At different times I was a designer, a writer, an animator, an editor, a director, or a manager. But at all times I was determined to bring about positive results through my work and from my leadership. I worked to build our department from a small group of After Effects designers in support positions in a post house into a full team of 2D and 3D artists capable of pitching and winning work against the best in Chicago and beyond. As our team grew, so did our reputation and our goals changed: new work and new clients brought about fresh challenges that elevated my own creativity and that of my team.

As an Inferno Artist I learned the importance of being a creative problem solver. Whether I was simply tracking new cereal box art or comping dozens of layers of CGI elements, I had to find the best way to maximize the balance between time & money. I worked to bring a design sensibility into my compositing work, and worked to build valuable client relationships whether in my room or on set as an effects supervisor.

Got my foot in the door by helping senior animators and compositors by creating elements, doing roto work, and assisting sessions. Learned quickly that it's important to be a good listener and that while people pay you for your eyes, they respect you for your ears.

My first job where I was given my own room and space to help clients solve complex problems. I put a new uniform on Shaquille O'Neal after he was traded, I animated juice boxes, and I worked as a (much too young) vfx supervisor.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Radio/Tv/Film

Education record