Before walking across the stage to receive their diplomas this week, The DAVE School’s newest graduates will gain insights on launching their new careers from VFX industry veteran Kevin Kutchaver.
Press Release from The DAVE School
ORLANDO, FL – Before walking across the stage to receive their diplomas this week, The DAVE School’s newest graduates will gain insights on launching their new careers from VFX industry veteran Kevin Kutchaver.
Kutchaver will be the keynote speaker at the Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, graduation of The DAVE School, one of the most advanced 3D and visual effects training institutions serving the animation and film industries. Located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, recent graduates’ work can be seen in blockbuster movies that include Thor, The Green Lantern and Captain America.
Kutchaver, the Emmy-Winning VFX Artist on ABC's LOST, teamed up with The DAVE School to produce a three-minute animated short based on legendary comic book illustrator Bernie Wrightson’s popular antihero, Captain Sternn. Sternn made his feature debut in the 1981 animated cult classic, Heavy Metal: The Movie.
“In the movie, Captain Sternn was a tight, contained story in its own little world,” said Kutchaver. “The film, however, never captured the richness of Sternn’s universe.”
Kutchaver approached studio executives with the idea of a CG version of Wrightson’s comic series, “Running Out Of Sternn”. When the executives asked what it would look like, Kutchaver turned to The DAVE School for assistance.
“Computer animation is traditionally thought of as being too complex and hence too expensive for episodic television,” said Kutchaver. “The studios were concerned about achieving the proper look within their budget. They wanted to see a sample of what it could like. I knew The DAVE School had a reputation for producing award-winning CG work during their Block 4 production class. If anyone could help us win the studios over, I knew it would be The DAVE School.”
“We are very proud to be working with Kevin on this project,” said Steve Warner, Executive Director of The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School. “He is an amazing artist who brings a lot of experience to the table. Having Kevin on-site to guest direct the project has been incredible. The students are extremely fortunate to be working with him on such a high-profile project.”
The graduating Block 4 students provided approximately 32 shots for the film. “The students started from scratch and had a hand in every stage of the production,“ said Kutchaver. ”They’ve done a great job. Block 4 instructors Jason Pichon and Dan Smith also helped align each student’s individual skills set with the needs of the production. You get the best work out of people when you let them focus on what they do best.”
Kutchaver will be available for on-campus interviews Tuesday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Kutchaver’s VFX resume includes such blockbusters as Return of the Jedi, Ghostbusters II, The Adams Family, all three Robocop movies, Hercules, Xena and the Emmy Award-winning ABC hit television drama, LOST, for which he won the 2005 Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series.
About The DAVE School
The DAVE School (Digital Animation and Visual Effects), located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Sound Stage 25, includes a 35,000 square foot facility that offers three labs, a shooting stage with a 65'x 25' green screen, and a state-of-the-art motion capture system. The DAVE School, offering comprehensive training in 3D modeling and animation, motion graphics creation and stereoscopic 3D visual effects production, places graduates in the 3D/VFX industry for companies including Stereo D, Pixomondo, Digital Domain, and Rhythm & Hues. The DAVE School is a division of Instituto de Banca y Comercio (IBC), an EduK Group institution in Puerto Rico. For more information, go to www.daveschool.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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