—  About

I’m a vfx artist specializing in tracking / matchmove / integration.

What is tracking… matchmove…. integration?

Tracking is a term to describe stabilizing camera footage to add in visual effects. We digitally recreate the exact camera movements that shot the footage in order for CG effects to stick.

Matchmove is used to describe “tracking” or matching the movement of an object or person (after the camera has been accurately tracked). Some call this “rotomation” which stems from the term “rotoscoping and animation” - from the days of 2d animators who traced footage of actors to match their performance, think Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Integration is the act of building environments, characters and/or objects through multiple cameras, with measurements, data (survey + lidar) and photos taken on set. By lining up these images it helps us verify that the characters, objects and environments are correct and can work consistently between shots and for other departments down the vfx pipeline (animators, lighters, comp etc).

When did I get started in tracking?

The first shot I tracked was on a 2004 movie called “Van Helsing” using syntheyes while working at a small company, Digiscope, in Santa Monica CA. Quickly following this shot, I started tracking on the movie “Racing Stripes”.   I owe a great deal to that team, Dion/Mary/Matt/Dave/Andy, as it was here that I gained the core concepts of camera and object tracking for visual effects work.  

What is the best part about tracking?

For me, the best part about tracking vfx shots is the amount of creative thinking it takes to “recreate the scene of the crime” as I like to call it.  I feel like a ”Detective” where every vfx shot is like a crime scene and it’s my job to recreate the camera move, build the environment, track a moving object or two and sometimes even match the exact movements of human character! That is tough! Matchmoving characters is never fun, but it is rewarding. 

What are my goals moving forward?

I’m looking for opportunities that push my tracking and modeling skills to the next level. I’m honestly not a technical guy, I’m more of a sculptor at heart. A kid who still wants to play with ‘play-dough’.  Whatever I’m doing whether its tracking, 3d modeling, drawing, or even making music... I approach it the same ... I'm just trying to figure things out, sculpt it, shape it, refine it.... trying to be better than I was before.