Citing a shared desire to push the limits of visual effects storytelling, visual effects supervisor Jim Lima has joined the team at Zoic Studios. Lima is known for a unique approach, combining art direction and visual effects to create innovative visual storytelling.
"Perhaps the most important job a visual effects supervisor does is to help writers and directors realize their vision in art, said Zoic co-founder/creative director Loni Peristere. Jim is that perfect artisan who not only can talk our creative partners through the process, but uses all mediums to conceptualize an idea from the page to the screen. He is a true visionary and we are happy to know him and even happier to be partnering with him on our current slate of projects."
A longtime friend of Zoic creative director Andrew Orloff, Lima was formally introduced to Zoic Studios when hiring the company to do vfx for the pilot of the hit series HOUSE, directed by Bryan Singer. There, he discovered a shared working methodology, which places storytelling above all and places art before technology.
"Everyone at Zoic demonstrates the will to push the medium in a fearless way and this, coupled with the commitment to create feature level effects for television, makes it an incredibly exciting place," commented Lima.
Lima began his film career as the visual effects art director on the blockbuster film TOTAL RECALL. Steven Spielberg gave him his break into visual effects supervising on the NBC series SEAQUEST DSV, the first TV series to use computer graphics exclusively for the visual effects.
In feature films, he designed and supervised the visual effects on STRANGE DAYS for James Cameron, as well as SPACE JAM for Ivan Reitman and Joe Pytka. Lima returned to television to work for Spielberg on the critically acclaimed NBC series THE OTHERS, where he simultaneously tackled the roles of production designer, visual effects supervisor and 2nd unit director.
Lima also worked for Spielberg as a co-producer and visual effects supervisor on SCI FIs Emmy award-winning hit miniseries, TAKEN. He has extensive experience in commercials as a conceptual artist and visual effects supervisor and has worked on more than 40 commercials for such directors as Pytka, Tony Scott and the late Herb Ritts.
As a conceptual artist, his work can be seen in such blockbusters as DAYS OF THUNDER, TRUE ROMANCE, STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE MUMMY and the mega hit SPIDER-MAN, for which he designed the Green Goblin.
"From Spielberg I learned to be bold," explained Lima, "while Cameron taught me to start with design and use the rules and logic of the basic concept to explore new approaches. I apply these ideals to all projects, whether features, episodic television or commercials."
Launched by exec producer Steve Schofield and creative directors Chris Jones and Loni Peristere, Zoic Studios (www.zoicstudios.com) is a leader in visual effects and CG animation in the commercial, feature film and episodic television arenas. In addition to studios in Los Angeles and Vancouver, the company offers an L.A.-based stage for greenscreen and other specialty shooting.
Feature films such as SERENITY, ZATHURA, TALLADEGA NIGHTS and PATHFINDER showcase the talents of the international Zoic team, as do TV episodic programs CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, CSI: MIAMI and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, and numerous commercials, including spots for HP, Mini, PSP, Lexus, Cadillac.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
