VES News – Spring 2018

By NAOMI GOLDMAN

LEFT TO RIGHT: Randy Balsmeyer, Visual Effects Supervisor and Title Designer; Eric Roth, VES Executive Director; Lesley Robson-Foster, VFX Supervisor and 2018 New York Empire Award honoree; Karl Coyner, Co-Chair, VES New York Section, Producer at Shade VFX; Leslie Chung, Co-Chair, VES New York Section, Lead Compositor at Crafty Apes; and Andrew Bly, Event Chair, Board member of VES Board of Directors, Co-founder of The Molecule. (Photos courtesy of Julius Constantine Motal)

VES NEW YORK CELEBRATES ACCLAIMED VFX SUPERVISOR

On March 2, the VES New York Section presented the 2018 VES Empire Award to acclaimed Visual Effects Supervisor Lesley Robson-Foster at its fourth annual VES New York Awards Celebration.

Revered by broadcasters and directors and admired by the VFX industry, Robson-Foster has pushed the envelope in some of the most prestigious television series in recent decades. She has shared her talents in New York and Los Angeles on television series and feature films, including Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, The Wire, Ugly Betty, HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce, The Great Gatsby, Boardwalk Empire, The Knick, Mosaic and Logan Lucky. Currently, she is working with Amy Sherman Palladino on Amazon Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and on the upcoming movie based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Goldfinch.

The Section established the Empire Award in 2015 to recognize a New York-based visual effects professional who has made enormous contributions to the field of visual arts and filmed entertainment, and whose work embodies the spirit of New York. The regional celebration of New York’s VFX community and VES Award winners around the globe was an instant success and has since become a must-attend annual affair.

Randy Balsmeyer, Visual Effects Supervisor and Title Designer (and inaugural recipient of the Empire Award) presents the 2018 VES New York Empire Award to acclaimed VFX Supervisor, Lesley Robson-Foster.

Nearly 200 gathered to enjoy the 4th Annual VES New York Awards Celebration on March 2, 2018 at the Green Building in Brooklyn. 

VES BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS 2018; MIKE CHAMBERS RE-ELECTED BOARD CHAIR

The VES Board of Directors officers for 2018, who comprise the VES Board Executive Committee, were elected at the January 2018 Board meeting. The officers include Mike Chambers, who was re-elected as Board Chair.

“We are fortunate to have such esteemed leadership represented on the Executive Committee,” said Eric Roth, VES Executive Director. “Collectively, these talented professionals bring passion, diverse experience and enormous commitment to our organization.”

The 2018 Officers of the VES Board of Directors are:

Chair: Mike Chambers

1st Vice Chair: Jeffrey A. Okun, VES

2nd Vice Chair: Kim Lavery, VES

Secretary: Rita Cahill

Treasurer: Dan Schrecker

Board Chair Mike Chambers has been a member of the VES for 20 years, serving multiple terms on the Board of Directors. This is his fourth term as Chair, and he previously served on the Executive Committee as both Vice Chair and Secretary of the organization. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

A freelance visual effects producer and independent VFX consultant specializing in large-scale feature film productions, Chambers is currently working on an unnamed project for Warner Bros. and last worked on Dunkirk, his third collaboration with esteemed director Christopher Nolan. He has contributed to the visual effects efforts on many Academy and BAFTA award- winning films. Chambers has won VES Awards for Best Visual Effects for The Day After Tomorrow and Inception, and Best Supporting Visual Effects for Dunkirk. He was also nominated for his work on I Am Legend.

VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY WELCOMES TWO NEW SECTIONS

The VES is proud to welcome its two newest Sections in India and France. These Sections join the VES’ dynamic worldwide community, which has Sections in Australia, San Francisco’s Bay Area, Germany, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, New Zealand, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington state. Many among the VES leadership note the creation of the Sections as one of, if not the biggest achievement of the organization to date. The aim is always for members to feel that no matter their location, they are part of a unified community, a VFX cloud clubhouse.

“We are thrilled to welcome our 12th and 13th Sections in India and Paris, France,” said Mike Chambers, VES Board Chair. “Our determination to outreach to all corners of the globe and to all of the disciplines across the VFX spectrum has yielded us a very rich, talented membership, and that commitment to diversity will continue to be a driving force of the organization.”

Both Sections have a unique and timely opportunity to build a rich network of VFX artists and innovators, and have just elected their inaugural Boards of Managers.