Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Browne.
Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was 24, I started my own visual effects and animation studio. We took up an entire floor of a downtown building in Vancouver, Canada. With a staff of 40, we tackled television commercial work, live-action visual effects, and animated content.
During this time, I wrote and directed about a half dozen commercials. I series directed an animated TV show and was a vfx supervisor on many live-action films.
After nine years of being in business, I decided to take on a new opportunity. One of Canada’s largest animation studios BARDEL ENTERAINMENT, asked me to join their company to oversee their CG division.
I helped grow the studio from 80 to 500 artists at three different locations.
DREAMWORKS eventually reached out for me to come to work for them directly in Glendale to help supervise one of their biggest franchise shows FAST AND FURIOUS: SPYRACERS. So, I moved from Canada down to LA.
I was soon promoted from CG SUPERVISOR to a studio-wide VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR position.
After completing this for several years, I decided to take a new opportunity to help oversee a new division at SONY PICTURES ANIMATION.
During my time at many of these studios and continuing to this day, I have been creating independent films on the side. I have written, directed, visual effects supervised, shot, and cut many of these productions entirely on my own.
This includes my latest production PLEROMA. which is making a big splash internationally at film festivals, winning awards (including a LEO AWARD – one of Canada’s Top Honors).
Most recently, the film was screened theatrically at the SONY PICTURES lot, receiving an overwhelming response.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running a company from the ground up is never smooth. You have to move quickly and innovate, especially in an industry that relies on the evolution of technology so heavily.
You not only have to push the boundaries of what the tech can do, but you must constantly envision new and impressive visuals creatively.
This has continued to each production studio I have worked for. I’ve been fortunate to be in a key position to help oversee explosive growth.
And with these major commitments working for other studios, it is always a challenge to find the time to create your own content. But what you learn on your own always has a direct bonus to what you can bring to the table at work.
They feed off each other.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As an owner of a boutique studio, you get the rare opportunity to choose the level of involvement one can have with the projects that the studio takes on. In this respect, I was able to write and direct many of our work.
I have worked in the capacity of visual effects supervisor on many well-known properties and franchises for Dreamworks and Sony Pictures. I was also been able to oversee the cinematography, effects, production design, and pipeline workflows for the projects I have been involved with.
But what I am most proud of is being an accomplished filmmaker who’s created many live-action science fiction films that have depth, originality, and plenty of thrills and chills.
Each project has development opportunities for feature film franchises, which include a plot about a group of alien abductees who are social outcasts. They set out on a mission to encounter the creatures who abducted them. And my latest film involves a story of an ai run corporation who turns on their human workers.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
VoyageLA Magazine, Before And Afters Magazine
Animation World Network Magazine
Filmmakers on the Cutting Edge Podcast
CG Garage Podcast
YV Art Magazine
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.chrisbrownedigital.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pseudopod7/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.browne.5623?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-browne-5b06432
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6BF5IfRBhQ
- Other: https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/pleroma-can-robot-prototype-save-workers-unleashed-ai
