Los Angeles-based vfx and design company Asylum has signed award-winning animation director Piotr Karwas.
Karwas brings more than 10 years of experience in the film industry to Asylum. While working for visual effects facility Digital Domain, he played an integral part in several high-profile feature films, including Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, Alex Proyas' I, ROBOT and Tim Burton's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.
While with Digital Domain, Karwas also worked in their commercial division, collaborating with Michael Bay, David Fincher, Joe Pytka and others, building a portfolio of lively, buoyant spots for Budweiser, Walt Disney, Mountain Dew, Adidas and Gatorade.
Karwas is also an experienced director. His directorial debut, digitally animated short film Masks, earned the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, a win that led to directing PSAs for MTV and Greenpeace. His Digital Domain produced DO ROBOTS DREAM OF BUNNIES? debuted at the 2006 Siggraph convention. Karwas is currently in post on his most recent directing effort, RAPLINE.
In his new role with Asylum, Karwas will work to integrate his unique effects abilities across the company's different mediums, including high-profile features, commercials, music videos, and emerging media content.
"Asylum is one of the most diversely talented effects shops in the business today," Karwas said. "They've been fortunate to work with an incredible list of clients, giving me maximum opportunity to experiment with new technologies in creative ways."
