My road to Industrial Light & Magic

(I mention portions of this story in my TED talk on YouTube)

I was 10 years old when I first saw the T-1000 melt through the checkerboard floor in James Cameron’s film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Industrial Light & Magic’s epic visual effects were life-changingly awesome. I remember pointing at the screen in awe and saying to my parents, “Mom, Dad... I'm doing that with my life.” Throughout my childhood, I continued to develop my fascination with computers and skill in mathematics, focusing like a laser beam on my goal. I spent countless hours researching, planning and learning the skills I would need to earn a job at ILM.

My passion led me to the University of Waterloo, where I studied Computer Science through its world-renowned Co-Op program. My career dreams took flight during my internships at Alias|Wavefront, where I joined the development team for Maya®, the Oscar® award winning 3D software product. Following my time at Alias, I moved to Emeryville, California to join Pixar Animation Studios. At Pixar, I gained further career momentum as both a Production Engineer and a Modeling and Shading Technical Director, learning from some of the most talented artists in the world.

It’s often said that an overnight success is 15 years in the making. From the moment I discovered my passion, to the day when I started living my dream as an R&D Engineer at ILM, were 15 years of focus and determination… and a couple extra helpings of enthusiasm. :)

Credit List

Cowboys & Aliens (2011): ILM Research & Development (Universal/DreamWorks)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (2010): ILM R&D Games Engineering (LucasArts)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): ILM Research and Development (DreamWorks SKG/Paramount)
Wall-E (2008): Shading Technical Director intern - Sets department (Disney●Pixar)
Ratatouille (2007): Production Engineering (Disney●Pixar)