Santa delivered early this year to Toronto-based visual effects studio GVFX, which has expanded its global operations to the Los Angeles area and brought on a new executive producer and head of business development. GVFX, which recently completed visual effects on the popular holiday film THE SANTA CLAUSE 2, has opened a new location in Santa Monica to augment its expanding efforts in Toronto and Vancouver. Ron OBrien, president and CEO of GVFX, also announced that Mickey McGovern has joined GVFX as executive producer and former Sony Pictures Studios executive John Gelwicks has been named head of business development. Both will be based in the new Santa Monica office. Mickey McGovern was executive producer at the recently shuttered London-based visual effects company, Mill Film. There she was involved in the production of visual effects for features including BABE: PIG IN THE CITY, ENEMY OF THE STATE and LOST IN SPACE. Previously, she had worked as a visual effects producer on LOOK WHOS TALKING NOW, SPEED and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, among other films. In his new role, John Gelwicks will oversee all business development activities for GVFX in Santa Monica. Between 1994 and 2002, he represented Sony Pictures Studios operations and post-production services throughout the entertainment arena, securing such projects as EXTREME MEASURES, PHENOMENON, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT and WHAT WOMEN WANT. GVFX Santa Monica is located at 1708 Berkeley Avenue in Santa Monica, California 90404.
