The award-winning VFX and animation company ups two VFX Supervisors, naming Michael Lasker Creative Director, CG Features and Nicola Lavender Director, CG Supervision.
Award-winning VFX and animation company Sony Pictures Imageworks has promoted two industry veterans to key creative leadership positions. VFX Supervisor Michael Lasker’s role now extends to Creative Director, CG Features, and VFX Supervisor Nicola Lavender adds Director, CG Supervision to her responsibilities. Lasker and Lavender report to Sony Pictures Imageworks President Michelle Grady.
In addition to his VFX Supervisor role, Lasker will now collaborate with filmmakers engaging on new CG feature projects. Lavender will now oversee the studios’ CG and DFX supervisors.
“Delivering exceptional work to our clients and stunning visuals to global audiences is a team effort that requires strong creative leadership,” said Grady. “We are thrilled that Michael and Nicola have agreed to these additional responsibilities, strengthening the creative voice within Imageworks.”
Lasker has 20+ years of experience working on live-action and animated features. His recent credits include Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, and the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.
“Collaborating with filmmakers, artists, and innovators to push the boundaries of artistry is at the core of what we do at Imageworks,” said Lasker. “I am excited for the creative journey that lies ahead.”
Lavender currently serves as VFX supervisor on the upcoming animated feature In Your Dreams for Netflix. With almost two decades of experience working on live-action and animated features, she most recently served as CG supervisor on the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells Vs. The Machines and Smallfoot.
“I am thrilled to lead our talented CG and DFX Supervisors,” said Lavender. “These groups are some of the most passionate, creative, and innovative in the industry, and I am excited to see what we can achieve in the future.”
Sony Pictures Imageworks, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., has created visuals for over 100 live-action and animated productions over its 31-year history. Most recently, it completed work on Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, The Sea Beast for Netflix, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells Vs. The Machines and Vivo, and the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The studio is currently producing on Sony Pictures Animation’s K-Pop: Demon Hunters, In Your Dreams for Netflix, and Columbia Pictures’ Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Source: Sony Pictures Imageworks
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
