
Dani Morrow




20+ years in the industry
7 animated features and TV series
11 live-action movies (previs, layout)
4 shows as UE Technical Artist
2 large studio VR productions
6 postvis shows
1 series (PBS) as assistant editor
Summary
I’m a layout, postvis, and previs artist who is also a UE Generalist with a combined 20+ years of experience in animation, live action, mocap camera and virtual production for film and tv. I’m excited about the latest features in UE for animation and previs. My passions are storytelling through cinematography, animation, and working on VP or practical sets.
Software
Maya, Unreal Engine, AfterEffects, Photoshop, MotionBuilder, P4V (Perforce), OBS, some Unity3D * PFTrack, Syntheyes, 3dEqualizer * basic Nuke, ZBrush, Substance Painter * Agisoft Photoscan * Linux, some Python, Mel, Blueprints.
Skiils

POSTVIS ARTIST
Flexibility: moved between multiple shows at Halon, quickly picking up workflows & producing shots * Creativity: Painted background replacements and hair in Photoshop for set extensions and rig removal using 3d projection or 2d tracking at Halon and The Third Floor * Team: Wrote workflow documentation at Halon * 3+ years solid experience in all the basics: tracked BG plate cameras and objects in PFTrack and Syntheyes * BS and GS keying * Color grading to match looks across sequences * 3d and 2d FX in Maya and AfterEffects * Effective use of presets and render passes (depth, AO, cryptomatte, reflections, shadows, etc.) in comp (AE, some Nuke) * Fast roto and rotomation * Technical: UE & Maya rendering.

LAYOUT ARTIST
Experience as a Layout and Previs Artist: 7 animated features in rough & final layout * 11 live action shows in previs & scene layout * Tight deadlines: at Halon, I set up 3 previs sequences from script (cameras, basic blocking animation, shot timings) for 1st pass client look in 3 days (25+ shots) * Visual storyteller: I have a deep understanding of cinematic language, composition, camera motion and lensing, eye trace, character blocking, and timing. * Efficiency: I can combine basic anim skills with mocap for fast results * Mocap camera operator (2 shows) * Pipeline & communication: I was layout lead on the first team to test and use ILM’s Zeno for multi-plate layout. I enjoy troubleshooting tools to support the team. With my enthusiasm, curiosity & understanding of the needs of other departments, I get high marks for great communication. * Proficiency with lighting, modeling. texturing, and rendering.

UE Generalist
Created Metahumans in previs for the actors Scarlet Johansson and Channing Tatum for the Apple TV+ production “Project Artemis” * FBX ingestion for animation and environment; character and camera animation, including Metahuman Animator; mocap animation editing; efficient management of Levels, Sublevels, and Subscenes in Sequence Editor. * Troubleshooting performance issues for other departments, working closely with devs to QC render presets, Blueprints, Levels, and Editor Utility Widgets. * Rendering multiple render passes for comp for multiple shows (Halon, Proof). * For the short film “Europa” (currently in post), I did Techvis for Virtual Production, setting up Levels, Cameras, and onesheet reference docs with measurements and blocking layouts for the Sony / Pixomondo LED stage. * Optimization of environments, materials, lighting, level streaming, textures. * For personal project short, rigged biped and quadruped Control Rigs. * Animation, materials, lookdev, Cesium, kitbashing for personal project shorts.
2010 - present
HALON ENTERTAINMENT (2022 - 2023) -
UE Tech Artist, Postvis, Previs, MetaHuman artist
PROOF, Inc. (2021) - Postvis, Unreal Engine Render TD
THE THIRD FLOOR (2020 - 2021) - Postvis Shot Creator
MPC / Technicolor (2017 - 2018) - Layout Artist, VAD
”CRAFT IN AMERICA” (2015) - Assistant Editor
MPC / Technicolor (2015) - Postvis Artist
Digital Domain (Summer 2014) - Layout Artist
"SPACE STATION 76" (2013) - Previs Artist, Compositor
GRAPHIC FILM COMPANY (2013) - Previs Artist
SONY PICTURES IMAGEWORKS (2011-2013; 2005-2008; 2009) - Rough & Final Layout Artist
DISNEY (2011) - On-set Survey Tech
DisneyToon Studios (2011) - Previs Artist
RHYTHM & HUES (2010 - 2011) - Previs Artist
LUCASFILM ANIMATION (2008 - 2009) - 3d Story Artist
ESC Entertainment (2004 - 2005) - Camera Matchmover
INDUSTRIAL LIGHT + MAGIC (1996 - 2004) -
Layout Artist; On set VFX tech; Matchmover; Technical resource assistant.
Work History
Certifications +
Teaching
* Teaching Assistant - CGPro
UE for Filmmakers (Summer 2023)
* Speaker - CG Empowers Summit
"Layout in UE" (Summer 2023)
* Fellow - Unreal Fellowship for
Virtual Production (Fall 2020)
Education + Training
* LUXMC’s ICVFX Intensive -
Course 3 (Fall 2023)
* Gnomon Cinematics UE5 (2023)
* Epic Intensive - The Animation
Collaborative (Lectures - 2023)
* Lighting & Cinematography in UE5
- CG Pro (2022)
* Unreal Engine for Filmmakers
- CG Pro (2021)
* Karl Knass - Life Drawing
* Studio Arts - multiple classes
* Yale University
2010 - present