Laurent Antonczak is an Emerging Technology, Visual Communication & Brand’s Strategist.
He has an international experience gained as an Art Director & Creative Director in TV, Animation, Corporate Identity, Branding and Marketing. Laurent has managed and coordinated significant communication projects in studios throughout England, France, Luxembourg and New Zealand - where he specialised in developing creative strategies and communications for companies such as Toyota, Arcelor, HSBC, Ford, Exxon Mobile, Goldman Sachs, Vodafone, the French Embassy (Wellington) and RTL (RTL Group part of Bertelsmann Group is the leading European broadcaster).
Currently Laurent lectures New Media and Visual Communication at AUT University’s School of Art & Design in Auckland, playing a key role in managing and leading the Honours and Masters students in the Graphic Strand of the postgraduate department. Laurent also coordinate, with computer scientist Andrew Ensor, CoLab 'Mobile and Locative Media' research group.
Though involved in education, Laurent still concurrently leads and manages his creative company ATZ119 Limited, founded in 1998. Offering New Technology, Graphic Design & Communication Strategies this facet of his work allows Laurent to keep his hand in his professional practice and maintain strong industry links.
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Laurent Antonczak bénéficie d'une expérience internationale en tant que directeur artistique et directeur de création dans de multiples domaines comme la télévision, de l’animation, de l’identité et le développement de marque d’entreprise et du marketing pour des agences de design situées en Angleterre, en France, au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg et en Nouvelle-Zélande.
Progressivement, Laurent s’est spécialisé en création et développement de stratégies de communication (marketing & branding) ; il a notamment initié, développé et géré d’importants projets de communication pour des sociétés telles que Toyota, Arcelor, HSBC, Ford, Exxon Mobile, Goldman Sachs, Vodafone, l’ambassade de France (Wellington), RTL (Radio Télévision Luxembourg, groupe Bertelsmann)…
Actuellement, Laurent enseigne les nouveaux-médias et la communication visuelle à l’école d’Arts & de Design (université AUT, Auckland) où il est aussi en charge du développement et de la gestion du département “graphisme et nouveaux-médias” pour les étudiants de 2ème et 3ème cycles (licence et maîtrise/master). Avec Andrew Ensor, Laurent dirige le groupe de recherche 'Mobile and Locative Media' pour CoLab.
Bien qu’occupé par l’enseignement universitaire, Laurent continu à diriger et à développer sa compagnie ATZ119 limited, fondée en 1998, en créant et implémentant des stratégies de communication adaptées au besoin de ses clients via les arts graphiques & les nouvelles technologies (téléphonie, vidéo, Internet, bluetooth).
Links
An inspiring speech from the CEO of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation
(NZ Herald article by Vanessa Thorpe, Saturday 31st October, 2009)
NZ Herald article on James Camerons Avatar, creating a new world for audiences through revolutionary 3D Technology. Changing the parameters of popular entertainment, Camerons unorthodox vision has continually delivered masterful arrays of special effects throughout his 30 year span behind the camera.
Avatar takes us into space 120 years in the future onto the planet Pandora where humans can't breathe the air. The hero, Jake, lies in a box, while his virtual representative, a nne-foot-yall, electric-blue avatar explores the terrain. The article probes into the work ethics and character of James Cameron in his ability to persuade the public to clasp 3D cinema to their hearts at last.
For the full article go to: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10606341
For a preview of the film or more information, visit the official site: http://www.avatarmovie.com/
Interview with Sebastian Sylwan by Kim Hill. Sebastian is the head of research at Weta digital and visited us at AUT a fortnight ago to discuss research linkages.
ONFILM article about AUT MOCAP
Gregory Bennett
Gregory Bennett is a senior lecturer in Digital Design at AUT University where he teaches 3-D animation and visual effects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. His major research focus is 3-D animation and animation theory and practice, including developments in motion capture and 3-D stereoscopic production. Gregory is also currently a PhD candidate at AUT University, his thesis exploring issues of embodiment and mimesis in the simulation of perceptual reality in 3D computer animation which utilises photorealistic representation, motion capture and stereoscopic projection.
His current and ongoing activities in this field include developing and delivering curriculum involving the use of motion capture for 3-D character animation and the visual effects pipeline. He has also supervised a number of postgraduate student projects involving motion capture for 3-D animation and is currently undertaking ongoing research into issues around performance capture for 3D animation, and motion capture-driven dynamic hair, cloth and muscle systems. Part of this includes the ongoing development of a range of pipelines for the post-processing motion capture data for use in animation and real-time 3-D. Research outputs from these activities include conference papers and journal articles, which have so far included Developing practical models for teaching Motion Capture (presented at Siggraph Asia 2009 and published in the ACM Digital Library), and On the edge of the uncanny cliff: motion capture and animation in recent 3-D computer-generated photorealistic films (accepted for presentation at "Animation Evolution", 22nd Annual Society for Animation Studies Conference in Edinburgh, 2010).
Gregory has a background in both fine arts practice, and moving image production and post-production. He is a graduate of the Elam School of Fine Arts at Auckland University where he majored in Intermedia with a particular focus on digital moving image production and 3-D animation, and has been an exhibiting artist since 1990. Gregory has taught video production and post-production at the University of Auckland Film, TV and Media Studies Department, as well as working as an editor and sound designer. As a practicing digital artist he is represented by Two Rooms Gallery in Auckland http://tworooms.co.nz/artists/gregory-bennett/
Cristina Casares
Cristina Casares is an Animator/Director/Producer with more than 16 years experience in the industry. She is Director and founder of La Luna Studios, an animation company established in New Zealand in 2005.She has work in different facilities around the world including USA, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.
Starting in USA, she worked as a Production Manager at The Pixel Factory and was involved in the production of animated video games, TVC and Theme Park rides for Disney and Universal Studios.
In 1997 she was recruited by Chilefilms Group in Latin America as a Production Coordinator between Argentina and Chile where she was also in charge of setting up the first motion capture facility in Latin America. She has also been involved in stereoscopic productions.
In 2002 she relocated to New Zealand and worked at Huhu's Studios in animated TV Series (“Littlebrook Farm”, “Buzz and Poppy”, "Secret Island", “The Future is Wild” and “Hermie and Friends”). She is now producing her own feature film “The Magic Shoes” which is the first major animated feature film to be co-produced between New Zealand and Italy.
Background
Beginning in 1993, she studied Art Direction at one of Argentina’s most recognized art schools, the Superior School of Creative Advertisers, as well as taking intensive courses in 3D animation at the Argentine Computer Graphics School. Following that Cristina specialized in 3D character animation at the prestigious Vancouver Film School, Canada. She was also CEO of Kelly Park Film Village, responsible for the overall project development and international business and relationships.
She is also founder and a Board Member of CDC Auckland (Creative Digital Content Auckland). CDC has been formed to represent the animation, games and visual effects industry in Auckland in line with the New Zealand Digital Strategy and the Minister of Economic Development objectives. She is a member of WIFT, Film Auckland and Women in Animation
She has always been involved in education and has designed a Graduate Diploma in animation which has been running at La Luna Studios since 2005 training an average of 5-10 students per year. She has also lectured animation as well as writing the Animation curriculum for the Media Design School.
Brent Chambers
After Graduating AUT with a Diploma in Graphic Design in 1986 Brent became one of the founding animators at Freelance Animators working on contract animation work for Disney and Warner Brothers. In 1997 he and Wife Susan established Flux, and the company rapidly built a reputation as one of New Zealand's leading commercial animation houses working on campaigns for Telecom, Lotto, New Zealand Dairy and Tip Top among many others. Brent is the Chairman of Creative Digital Content Auckland and on the Board of New Zealand Institute of Screen Innovation.
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