Ethan Summers
Santa Cruz,CA
Summary
As an Emmy-awarded 3D environment artist and concept designer, I have over three decades of experience in large-scale 3D environments, visual effects, interactive simulation, and project conceptualization. My portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects, from movie studio intros and feature film beauty shots to interactive explorations of green innovation and the origins of life. I have also designed a new platform for interactive education within virtual worlds and science-based art installations for public spaces and museums. I believe that advancements in real-time technology are opening up new possibilities for immersive experiences, spanning from entertainment to education. I envision a future where games and gamified concepts unfold within virtual environments that match the acuity of vision, enabling forms of discovery and exploration previously uncharted. Whether it's visualizing a thought traversing the human brain or embarking on an expedition through a vast Ringworld, the potential for immersive experience is truly boundless.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder/Creative Director
Almost Human Media
01.2017 - 01.2024
- Company Overview: AHM creates intricate 3D game worlds that invite in-depth exploration of Scientific, Environmental and Technological topics.
- AHM creates intricate 3D game worlds that invite in-depth exploration of Scientific, Environmental and Technological topics.
Founder/Creative Director
Underground Engine
01.2011 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: Underground Engine created large scale CGI landscapes and VFX for projects for film and television series. Additionally UE designed and created interactive installations that cover topics in the sciences.
- Underground Engine created large scale CGI landscapes and VFX for projects for film and television series. Additionally UE designed and created interactive installations that cover topics in the sciences.
Co-Founder
HubX.org
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Company Overview: HubX was an exciting space in downtown Santa Cruz that hosted presentations on topics from the origins of life to Chaos Theory.
- HubX was an exciting space in downtown Santa Cruz that hosted presentations on topics from the origins of life to Chaos Theory.
Independent Contractor
01.1995 - 01.2011
- Worked as a CG environment specialist with various studios and companies often on ongoing or sequential projects.
Lead 3D Artist/Art Director
Illumina Productions
01.1991 - 01.1995
Intern
Earthguide Japan LTD
Tokyo, Japan
01.1989 - 01.1990
- One year paid internship.
Education
BA - Physiological Psych, Fine Arts
01.2024
Skills
- Unreal 5
- Maya
- C4d
- Resolve
- Adobe
- Terragen
- Embergen
- Procedural AI
- AI
- Physiological Psychology
- Fine Arts
Projects
World Building, Workflow design and lead shot design for Paramount's 100 year anniversary animated logo (created in 2010 and still used for new Paramount film releases). Intro ID Animation, Lionsgate, Created all volumetric cloud, atmosphere and fluid effects. 3D Cloudscapes, 20th Century Fox, Created all 3D cloudscapes and atmospheric lighting for Ariel shot sequence for Paul Feig's 'Spy'. Civil War Recreation, The History Channel, A recreation of Gettysburg and the surrounding countryside depicted during the Civil War in 1863. This highly detailed CG landscape flyover won an Emmy award for best Visual Effects for a special or miniseries in 2011. Opening Shots, Pixomondo Burbank, Opening and establishing shots for Spielberg's Terra Nova. R&D, Autodesk, Created detailed jungle environments to field test new tools in Autodesk's 3D software program, Maya. Supervising Terrain Artist, ABC Network, Supervising terrain artist for Beauty and the Beast - an ambitious ABC pilot that never made it to the air. Lead Environment Artist, Paramount Studio, Lead Environment Artist on GI Joe aerial chase sequence. Lead Environment R&D, Warner Bros, Lead environment R&D and Workflow Designer on Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch. Jungle and CG Cloudscapes, ABC, Encore Studios, Created jungle and CG cloudscapes for Season closing shots of ABC's The River.
Highlights
- 2011, Emmy Award winner with The History Channel and Stargate Studios.
- Enjoys working in new and emerging technologies.
- Expertise with many industry standard DCC apps: Unreal 5, Maya, C4d, Resolve, Adobe, Terragen, Embergen, Procedural AI, and more.
- Deep understanding of AI. Ethan's majors in Physiological Psych and Fine Arts led him to study many of the seminal papers from the 80's and 90's that current deep learning grew out of.
- A partial client list includes institutions and companies such as: The Allosphere, Autodesk, Pixomondo, Stargate Studios, Prime Focus Films, Sony, SETI, Sundance Institute, Shilo, Mattel, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Hewlett Packard, Disney, Viacom Interactive, Hasbro, Coca Cola and IBM.
Timeline
Founder/Creative Director
Almost Human Media
01.2017 - 01.2024
Co-Founder
HubX.org
01.2016 - 01.2019
Founder/Creative Director
Underground Engine
01.2011 - 01.2017
Independent Contractor
01.1995 - 01.2011
Lead 3D Artist/Art Director
Illumina Productions
01.1991 - 01.1995
Intern
Earthguide Japan LTD
01.1989 - 01.1990
BA - Physiological Psych, Fine Arts
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