Misha Koplan

• Provided creative, technical and leadership expertise to the Madrid, Spain based studio to help raise production quality standards expected by the new studio management.
• Tested and optimized existing pipeline, suggested and designed new tools and workflows, optimized CFX assets and rigs for improved performance and reduced render times, provided detailed documentation and lead presentations. All to insure successful and timely completion of projects.
• Tested proprietary optimization solutions, designed, documented and presented their integration into the new pipeline.
• Built new and optimized existing simulation rigs. Shot work.
• Closely collaborated with shows and studio leadership across multiple departments and time zones to insure all show production needs were met.
• Lead a team of artists from both Spain and US providing them with necessary guidance on techniques and best practices for higher-quality work. Quality Controlled outgoing inventory, provided comprehensive feedback to artists to insure and maintain highest quality product expected by studio’s creative leadership.
• Maintained steady communication between show leadership, production team and artists to insure smooth information and inventory flow.
• Provided scheduling and artist casting support to production team to insure most optimized production time/quality ratio.
• Interviewed prospect hires. Performed regular and year end artist reviews to ensure artists met their set goals and have ability to continually grow in their expertise and achieve professional advancement.
• Continuously improved personal skill set through ongoing professional development opportunities, including attending workshops, and specialized training courses.

• Assumed a role of a CFX Character/Project Lead and took ownership of numerous characters/projects across multiple productions. Closely collaborated with each show leadership to solve creative and technical challenges and to consistently deliver outstanding results .
• Served as an integral member of interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with artists from various departments for cohesive project outcomes.
• Consistently met or exceeded expectations for creative output by delivering visually stunning and engaging CFX work across multiple projects.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet strict deadlines.
• Lead a team of artists providing them with necessary technical and creative support. Quality Controlled outgoing inventory, provided comprehensive feedback to artists to insure and maintain highest quality product expected by studio’s creative leadership.
• Maintained steady communication between show leadership, production team and artists to insure smooth information and inventory flow.
• Provided scheduling and artist casting support to production team to insure most optimized production time/quality ratio.
• Collaborated with R&D and TD’s to deliver best software experience to artists. Tested and provided feedback on new studio pipeline and tools.
• Calibrated new solver for optimal simulation results. Built simulation rigs and performed shot work.
• Conducted interviews. Mentored junior FX artists, providing guidance on techniques and best practices for higher-quality work. Gave regular and year end reviews.

Notable achievements

• Ice Age 5: Brook

Designed and developed studio’s first long curly hair simulation solution based on abandoned hair pipeline, after proprietary developed solver did not meet expectations. Resulted system saved studio from significant financial losses for character redevelopment, kept character’s original design envisioned by the art director and kept production on schedule. Result from using said system in production helped Brook to receive VES nomination for The Best Animated Character of the Year.

• Ferdinand: Horses

Co-designed studio’s nHair simulation pipeline. Authored nHair workflow and choreographed show-wide simulation behavior of long hair horse’s grooms to enhance characters acting. Resulted work received VES nomination for Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature.

• Taught and supervised studio interns and apprentices. Courses included, but were not limited to studio pipeline, CFX pipeline, tools and workflows, CFX asset and rig building.
• Supervised students' work on character setup, tool development, shot work from test shots to real show shots for movie credit.
• Provided personalized attention and support to students, resulting in improved performance.
• Advised and counseled students to help them develop skills and knowledge required to succeed.
• Conducted regular assessments of student progress, effectively identifying areas for improvement and adjusting instructional strategies accordingly.
• Conducted evaluations to measure performance and progress of students, providing guidance for areas requiring improvement. Evaluated their performance to determine hire-ability during exit interview.

Notable achievement:

All students under my supervision were hired by major studios and are now well established industry professionals with numerous movie/game credits to their names.

Blue Sky Studios

Character Simulation Technical Director

• As a member of the core team established a new Character FX department. Worked on department pipeline design, new tools development and testing.
• In team collaboration developed systems and workflows for cloth, armor, hair and skin simulation to achieve outstanding results on every show.
• Performed solver calibration, character setup and shot work. Assigned to a number of difficult "special case" character simulation sequences.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to efficiently complete large-scale projects on time and within budget constraints.
• Evaluated emerging technologies for potential integration into existing systems or future projects.
• As a Sequence Lead, assumed control over number of characters and assets. Worked with a team of artists to achieve and maintain consistent high quality results.
• As a Character Lead assumed ownership of a complex project. Designed and managed implementation of innovative solutions to complex technical problems.
• Guided, coached and lead project team, delegating tasks and evaluating performance and progression of project pace to insure most optimized production time/quality ratio.

Notable achievement:

Epic: Mandrik

Designed and managed production of first of its kind recursive studio CFX workflow blending use of nCloth solver abilities with traditional joint rig for achieving desired choreographed behavior of elaborate character’s cape. Resulted system allowed for seamless cross-departmental workflow between Animation and CFX. Achieved outstanding results triggered notable increase in screen time, for said character, by director. Designed system was presented at numerous local and international industry conferences.