CritterPix Studios has added key talent for a team now in pre-production on its first feature-length film, OLLIE THE OTTER, according to Kelly Williamson, ceo of CritterPix. The feature, budgeted at $30 million, is about the misadventures of a sea otter and his landlubber and oceanic friends, and is being produced in association with New Regency Prods.
From Pixar, Chris Rock has signed on as CG supervisor. While at Pixar, Rock was a technical director on MONSTERS, INC., FINDING NEMO, THE INCREDIBLES and CARS.
Joining CritterPix as F/X supervisor is Nathaniel Hunter who previously was designer of CG special effects at Tippett Studios where he worked on the films, SON OF THE MASK, HELLBOY and CONSTANTINE.
"Chris and Nathaniel give us state of the art know-how in designing and implementing our CG pipeline," said producer Gary Goldman. "These guys are as gifted and solid as I've seen and they'll finalize our hardware and software tools."
Additionally, Sandra Joy Lee has been set as production asset developer lead and specializes in moving image media and database management. She comes from Industrial Light & Magic, (Lucas Digital), where she worked on SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, SPACE COWBOYS, PEARL HARBOR, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and STAR WARS: EPISODES I, II, & III.
Tetsu Matsuo has joined CritterPix as I.T. supervisor. He was formerly with Apple computer and "understands our complete workstation and renderfarm architecture," said Williamson.
"Sandra will develop and extend the capability of our overall work flow and Tetsu knows our workstation and renderfarm gear cold," said Williamson. "We had to staff with the best in the business because story is king in our world, but in animation the CG pipleline is absolutely essential."
Additionally, Williamson has set Eddie Oliver as the studio's operations manager. For 11 years Oliver worked with an international educational foundation with 400 centers in 52 countries. He started with the core team of founders and rose to the position of coo as well as serving on both the domestic and international boards of directors. Other consulting work included projects for Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, LSI Logic, and Providian.
Prior to founding CritterPix, Williamson was a successful executive in the technology field, serving as evp of sales for Intellon Corp. (powerline networking semiconductors), BuzMe.com (Internet call waiting services) and Divio Inc (chipsets for DVD and multimedia applications).
Williamson also wrote the screenplays REPLICATOR, TELDOM ONE, THINK FAST and LOVE LIES BLEEDING. He also is the author of OLLIE THE OTTER, a children's book on which the film is based.
Williamson recently announced the closing of $2.1 million private financing through Laidlaw & Company, bringing the studio's total seed financing to $4.45 million. Series A and B funding will follow.
"I believe CritterPix is taking the right steps in building its business," said media analyst and CritterPix investor, Harold Vogel. "Completing this financing was an important next step toward the company's ultimate goal of establishing a successful animated film studio enterprise."
CritterPix is a new a computer animation studio. For more information, visit www.critterpix.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
