Radium, the growing artist-owned visual effects house based in Santa Monica and San Francisco, recently added two new talents to its roster. Jon Townley, who will serve dual roles as artist manager and creative director, has held top positions in numerous digital studios from MetroLight to Sony Pictures ImageWorks to L-Squared. Jeff Blodgett, incoming exec producer, brings with him 15 years of invaluable post-production experience.
This is an exciting time for us, just off the heels of a VMA nomination for our work with Missy Elliott, among other great accolades we know were lucky to have this kind of talent in our midst, said Jonathan Keeton, president. Adding experience like Jons and Jeffs is just what we needed to further expand our reach.
Townley has years of experience developing and overseeing creative teams and has served in a range of hands-on creative leadership roles, including visual effects supervisor (VIRTUOSITY, THE EIGHTEENTH ANGEL, GODS AND GENERALS), animation director (AMC, Carls Junior, Tang), matte painter, (ROAD TO PERDITION, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, I, ROBOT) and concept designer (SON OF THE MASK, THE NIGEL PROJECT).
In his new role(s) at Radium, Townley will have management responsibility for 2D, 3D, editorial and design, where he will take an active role in working with the heads of the departments to determine strategy and staffing requirements, assess performance and more.
Blodgetts visual effects experience includes 2D compositing/CGI. Prior to joining Radium he produced more than 200 commercials for clients the likes of Coca-Cola, Nike, Sega, Mercedes and Altoids, to name a few, and has worked with a roster of award winning agencies that include Fallon, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, BBDO, J Walter Thompson and many more.
Founded in 1996 by creative directors/visual effects directors Jonathan Keeton and Simon Mowbray, Radium (www.radium.com) specializes in using technically elegant solutions to eliminate the gap between idea and execution. The San Francisco and Los Angeles studios work in tandem on projects, allowing Radium to assemble the right team of artists to strategize, execute and achieve the clients vision.
Radium has done vfx work on SIN CITY, SPIDER-MAN 2, CAT WOMAN, SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE, CAST AWAY, LIVE FROM BAGHDAD, WARM SPRINGS, ANGEL, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and SMALLVILLE. Radium won the 2004 VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effect for the Missy Elliott music video.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
