Curriculum Vitae - Giant Monster

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

MFA, the University of California at Los Angeles, School of Theater, Film & Television, Animation
BFA, Arizona State University, Drawing, Tempe, Arizona

Recent presentations

2023.08, M. Chavez, I. Conradi. THE FUTURE PAST VS. COLONIALITY: Decolonial Media
Art Beyond 530 Years, presentation and talk about work exhibited at SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 in South Korea, exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2023 in Los Angeles
2023.05, M. Chavez, I. Conradi. Using Indigenous Design to Explore Contemporary Ideas in Quantum Mechanics. In Ecstatic Truth VII: Decolonizing Animation (Symposium). Retrieved from [https://youtu.be/Ww64WAdjRm0]
2022.12, “An Exploration of Quantum Art with Generated Techniques, ‘Plot Chains’ and the Future of Storytelling, An Exploration of Quantum Science with Generated Techniques,” December 13, 2022, 7:00 p.m. LA SIGGRAPH presentation and talk of our most recent works, including the production of “Mitla | Underworld,” a fully Generative AI short animated movie, “Moirai, Thread of Life,” “Nocturne,” and “Quantum LOGOS (vision serpent)” Retrieved from [https://youtu.be/FeDDNOYDeqg]

Recent exhibitions

2023.12, SIGGRAPH Asia in Sydney, Australia, Moirai, Thread of Life was awarded “Best of Show” at SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 in Sydney, Australia. link
2022.04.29 to 2022.08.31, Fission Nocturne and Quantum LOGOS (vision serpent), were exhibited alongside 44 international digital media artists and 54 works of art at the “Fission: The New Wave of International Digital Art” exhibition at Guizhou Provincial Museum.
2022.11, SIGGRAPH Asia in Daegu, South Korea “The Future Past v. Coloniality: Decolonial Media Art Beyond 530 Years,” SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 in Daegu, South Korea. link

Recent presentations

Moirai, Thread of Life

2024.07, ISEA 2024 Brisbane, with Ina Conradi, a keynote talk about our work

Quantum LOGOS (vision serpent): experiential presentations

2019.11 to present: Developing real-time artworks for a newly installed five-computer, five projectors Immersive Theater at The Institute for Media Innovation, Being There Center link
2019.11: The 2019 International Forum on Special Venue Images at the Beijing Film Academy link
2019.09: Ars Electronica Festival 2019 in Deep Space 8k theater at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz Austria
2019.09, Ars Electronica Festival 2019, Deep Space 8k Linz, Austria, Austrian Premiere as an immersive animated experience – link
2019: Artist in residence at UCLA Art/Sci Center used resources available at UCLA California Nano Science and Austrian Academy of Science to create Quantum LOGOS (vision serpent) which premiered at Ars Electronica Festival 2019 in the Deep Space 8k Theater.
2018 Lumiere Award – Hollywood, Lumiere Award 2018, Issued by The Advanced Imaging Society · Feb 2018
2018: Artist in residence at UCLA Art/Sci Center, developed materials for UCLA Art/Sci Gallery, networked with the Emerging media community in Los Angeles, and installed at Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall, Hamburg. Developed concepts for artwork short movie “Digital Medicine, Arts, and STEAM: BEFORE US LIES ETERNERDY” which won the “Industry Award for Best Infographic” a Raw Science Film Festival Award, displayed at Ars Electronica Festival 2018 in Deep Space 8k Theater in collaboration with MEVIS Fraunhofer. Co-initiated and organized ELMAN: An International University Collaboration with The European University of Applied Arts, Hamburg, an installation of student works. Presented research on work created for Media Art Nexus “Emote Project” at Media Architecture Bienalle 2018 on Digital Publics Symposium held in Beijing, China.
2017: Participated in ‘Singapore: Inside Out” Invited by the Singapore Tourism Board to present artwork in Tokyo, Japan, at the BANK Gallery, Omotesando district. http://bit.ly/2UsWnGI Participated and co-organized ON|OFF 100101010 SYMPOSIUM. http://bit.ly/2umQCjd
2016: Created original artwork for Media Art Nexus. Co-supervised concept and artwork for Jules Inc. https://www.juleszone.com, Computational Thinking content for video and games for preschoolers. Initiated a company that planned to use teacher avatars to instruct Chinese Language learning for English speakers, leveraging games with cultural heritage-based video instruction.
2014 – 2020: CEO/Founder Giant Monster Pte Ltd, a new media company that creates and maintains public art installations at Media Art Nexus http://mediaartnexus.com.
2005 – 2015: Assistant Professor in the Digital Animation Department of Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design, and Media: Relocated to Singapore to establish the first University-based Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Southeast Asia, Specializing in computer animation instruction
2002 – 2005: CLONE3D LLC Established CLONE3D LLC
2002 – 2005: Rhythm and Hues Visual Effects for Daredevil, X-Men 2: X-Men United, Cat in the Hat, Elf, Around the World in 80 Days, Scooby-Doo II, The Flight of the Phoenix and The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe.
1995 – 2002: DreamWorks Feature Animation CGI lead modeler for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, CGI Animator/Modeler for El Dorado, and CGI Animator/Modeler for The Prince of Egypt
1994 – 1995: Acclaim Entertainment CGI supervisor for Alien Trilogy, a PlayStation I game; supervised 3D modeling and animation, utilizing Acclaim’s motion capture and editing system of all the creatures within the game.
1991 – 1993: Tokyo Broadcasting System-Vision Technical and art director for television broadcast projects.
1991 – Kroyer Films Assistant animator on the feature film “Fern Gully.”
1988 – 1990: Phillips Interactive Character animation for children’s interactive titles
1987 – 1988 Freelance Digital Artist/Animator; created flying logos, rock videos, and puppet animation
1986 – 1987: Filmation West Assistant animator for feature films
1980 – 1986: LaserMedia, Laser Animation Supervisor, art director, and animator pioneering the technique of laser animation; 25 projects

Motion billboards

The Sunset Strip Playboy Building 1980, animation of a teddy bear
Hello Kitty, laser animation projected onto a building in Tokyo, Japan
Broadway:
Sandy Duncan’s Peter Pan laser depiction of Tinkerbell

Rock Concerts:

Neil Diamond Concert Opening, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.”
Created demo animation of Michael Jackson dancing
Earth, Wind and Fire’s world tour, 1983 – 1984
Ozzy Osbourne’s “Ozzy Bat” Concert Tour
Supervised and art-directed animation and digitized graphics for the most
significant projected animation in the world, 50 minutes projected on a massive stone wall of carvings of the Confederate Soldiers at Stone Mountain State Park, Georgia, 1983 – 1985. This work was documented in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest projected imagery at that time!
“The Glory of the South: Charge of the Confederacy” Created an animation of the three giant sculptures that are the main feature of the Stone Mountain Carvings riding their horses and charging into glory
Lead digitizer and animator for a laser-animated short synced to the music “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.”
Lead digitizer and animator for a laser-animated short synced to the music “Walk Like An Egyptian.”
“Wendy Dream” directed a laser-animated short that projected in laser light onto Stone Mountain, premiered in 1985
Worked with David Silverman on a laser-animated short about barnyard animals
Created and supervised work for the 1984 Summer Olympics, projected billboard and entertainment imagery on the Federal Building in Westwood, California.

Laser graphic animation promotion exercise

Designed and executed a font for teletype readout in laser light
Designed and executed commercial graphics of an eagle morphing into an
Anheuser-Busch Logo
Directed an animated short that featured characters stylized in the style of Greek athletes and timed to the song “Chariots of Fire.”
Projected my own laser-animated student short entitled Omeyotl, which also premiered at an LA SIGGRAPH meeting in 1983 at Art Center College in Pasadena

Unique Venues, Corporate Theatre, and Trade Shows

Designed and animated graphics of a map of the planet Earth that was projected onto Spaceship Earth at EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World, Florida – 1985
Southern Pacific Railroad animated short, created an animated short about the history of the railroad in the United States.
Disco graphics for a city of Houston Gay Bar
Disco graphics for The Palace Disco in Hollywood, California
Eagle – Pitney Bowes Metamorphosis recipient of an “Artistic Award from the International Laser Display Association 1989.”
Created laser-animated graphics for a Large Motocross show held in the Coliseum Sports Arena in Los Angeles
Animated the Playboy logo for film output
Created animation for the MDEC Video Disc Logo Broadcast Commercials and other Industrial projects for clients

While working as a freelance artist in Los Angeles

Baby Songs, sculpted puppets for animation for an early version of the Baby
Song Franchise
Commercial graphics for the US Air Force detailing directional thruster jets
Created computer-animated 3D ‘flying logos’ for corporate clients
Animated the main title animation sequence for “Dangerous Curves.”
Worked with Tee Bosustow at the Bosustow Media Group on an animated
graphics commercial for late-night television
Designed and animated the UCLA Film Archives title sequence

While working at Tokyo Broadcasting System Vision in Japan

Created 3D Computer Animation from design to final render for a ride
experience “ADACHI.”
Created animated ‘flying’ logos for corporate clients
Created character animation from model to final output for a Japanese Game Show
Designed and animated opening show graphics for a Japanese Televised
Awards Show
Storyboarded, pitched, modeled, and animated through final output animation featuring a local anime character playing the guitar (pre-skeleton animation)

AWARDS IN INDUSTRY

Award-Winning Feature Films

2005, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Oscar-nominated for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, won a BAFTA Film Award for Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects, and numerous other awards
2004, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, nominated for multiple awards
2004, Elf won the 2004 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards. It won the Top Box Office Films Award, the 2004 Golden Trailer Awards, the Best Comedy Award and was nominated for numerous other awards.
2004, X-Men 2, Online Film Critics Society Awards 2004, nominated for the OFCS Award for Best Visual Effects, was nominated for many other awards.
2004, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, 2004 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA nominated for the Saturn Award for the Best Animated Film and many other nominations
2003, Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat was nominated for numerous awards.
2003, The Rundown, nominated for multiple awards.
2003, Daredevil, nominated for various awards
2003, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron won the 2003 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards for Top Box Office Films; won the Young Artist Award for Best Family Feature Film in the Animation category, it won a 2004 Genesis Award in the category of Feature Film; at the 2003 Academy Awards was nominated for the Best Animated Feature; it was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Theatrical Feature and was nominated for many other awards in different categories.
2000, The Road to El Dorado, nominated for numerous awards.
1998, The Prince of Egypt, at the 1999 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards it won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Animated Film; at the Young Artist Awards, it won the Young Artist Award for Best Animated Family Feature, it also won and was nominated for several other awards including an Oscar for Best Movie.

Award-Winning PlayStation I Game

1996, Alien Trilogy was awarded the PlayStation Game Award by PS Extreme Magazine. I was the project’s artistic lead, level designer, and animator.

EXHIBITION

Screenings at Film Festivals and Competitions

Moirai, Thread Of Life
as co-director

kalakari film fest, August 31, 2024
United States Motion Picture Alliance, August 10, 2024
Award Winner
Munich New Wave Short Film Festival, May 3, 2024
Wiesbaden International Animation Festival 2024, April 30, 2024
Indie Vegas Film Festival, April 24, 2024
Green Films in Focus Fest, April 13, 2024
Women in Focus Film Fest, March 8, 2024
LOS ANGELES INDIE FILM FESTIVAL, February 22, 2024
Golden State Film Festival, February 19, 2024
Tokyo International Short Film Festival, February 4, 2024
SIGGRAPH Asia 2023, Electronic Theater
Best of Show, Computer Animation Festival
Los Angeles Animation Festival, November 20, 2023
Honorable Mention
Raw Science Film Festival, October 24, 2023
Finalist
Video Art and Experimental Film Festival, October 12, 2023
New York Animation Film Awards (NYAFA), September 20, 2023
Award Winner
Silicon Beach Film Festival®, September 7, 2023
Award Winner
Seoul Indie-AniFest, July 31, 2023
L.A. Sci-Fi & Horror Festival, July 29, 2023
Semi-Finalist
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, July 29, 2023
Semi-Finalist
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology, July 3, 2023
Award Winner
California Women’s Film Festival (Winter), June 29, 2023
Albuquerque Film & Music Experience, June 24, 2023
Finalist
Brooklyn International Short Awards, May 15, 2023
Semi-Finalist
New Media Film Festival, April 15, 2023
Award Winner
USA Film Festival, April 12, 2023
Finalist
Arizona International Film Festival, March 17, 2023
Beverly Hills Film Festival®, February 17, 2023
Award Winner
American Documentary And Animation Film Festival and Film Fund, February 3, 2023
Santa Barbara International Movie Awards, February 2, 2023
Award Winner

Nocturne
as director

Indie Vegas Film Festival, April 24, 2024
Award Winner
Golden State Film Festival, February 19, 2024
Experimental Awards – London IFF, August 27, 2023
London International Web & Shorts Film Festival (UK), June 5, 2021
Award Winner
Infinity Film Festival, April 30, 2021
4th Dimension Independent Film Festival, April 30, 2021
Finalist

Mitla | Underworld
as director

Golden State Film Festival, February 19, 2024
Chroma Art Film Festival, August 1, 2023
Silicon Beach Film Festival®, September 7, 2023
Brooklyn International Short Awards, May 15, 2023
Semi-Finalist
Hispanic International Film Festival, June 25, 2023
Award Winner
Albuquerque Film & Music Experience, June 24, 2023
Sofia International Film Festival, May 19, 2023
FEEDBACK Animation Film & Screenplay Festival, October 31, 2022
Best Shorts Competition, September 19, 2022
Award Winner
Venice Shorts, August 7, 2022
Award Nominee
NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival
MITLA | Underworld, October 22, 2022

Quantum LOGOS (vision serpent)
as director

Golden State Film Festival, February 19, 2024
Beyond The Screen Festival, February 21, 2024
Sofia International Film Festival, May 19, 2023
Hispanic International Film Festival, March 19, 2022
Award Winner
Diamond Eye, September 21, 2021
Mumbai Entertainment International Short Film Festival, November 30, 2021
Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF), September 13, 2021
Award Winner
Rotterdam Independent Film Festival, June 15, 2021
Nominee
Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift, July 10, 2021
Finalist
London International Web & Shorts Film Festival (UK), June 5, 2021
Semi-Finalist
New York Istanbul Short Film Festival, May 6, 2021
Finalist
Iconic Images Film Festival, April 18, 2021
Golden Bridge İstanbul Short Film Festival, May 7, 2021
NEW DELHI FILM FESTIVAL-NDFF (International), March 11, 2021
Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, March 30, 2021
Finalist
Latino FEEDBACK Film Festival, October 31, 2020
Flixze Film Festival, October 2, 2020
Finalist
Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival, August 31, 2020
Award Winner
NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival, September 12, 2020
Monthly Indie Shorts, August 27, 2020
The Flight Deck Film Festival, June 25, 2020
Finalist
Synergy Film Festival, August 20, 2020
Mosaic World Film Festival, July 20, 2020
New York Animation Film Awards (NYAFA), June 8, 2020
Semi-Finalist
International Fine Arts Film Festival, September 7, 2020
Raw Science Film Festival, June 5, 2020
Finalist

Chrysalis
as co-director

Golden State Film Festival, February 19, 2024
FLICKFAIR Film Festival, September 1, 2021
VONLINEFILMFEST, June 12, 2021
Golden Bridge İstanbul Short Film Festival, May 7, 2021
Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, April 30, 2021
Award Winner
CutOut Fest – International Animation and Digital Art Festival, October 12, 2018
jellyFEST – Season 7, June 1, 2018
Finalist
California Women’s Film Festival (Winter), July 3, 2018
Texas International Film Festival, April 7, 2018
Arizona International Film Festival, March 12, 2018
Connect Film Festival, November 1, 2017
Finalist
FEEDBACK Animation Film & Screenplay Festival, July 31, 2017
Montecatini International Short Film Festival, August 31, 2017
Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition, March 27, 2017
Finalist
HollyShorts Film Festival, July 14, 2017
New Media Film Festival, May 6, 2017

The Adventures of Barty and the Pirate – Short Animated Film
as director

Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival, August 31, 2020
Award Winner
Anim!Arte – International Student Animation Festival of Brazil, October 8, 2014
Aakruti-My Creation International Film Festival., September 30, 2014
9th International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, December 15, 2014
International Family Film Festival, September 26, 2014
Athens ANIMFEST, March 18, 2015
Accolade Global Film Competition, June 16, 2014
14th Bangalore Shorts Film Festival-25, June 12, 2014
Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF), September 6, 2014
UAT Digital Video Festival, October 14, 2014
San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival, August 15, 2014

[Vengeance+Vengeance] – Short Animated Film
as director

2012 Machinima Expo
The Hollywood Film Festival
The Great Lakes International Film Festival
Albuquerque Film and Media Experience
2013 Vegas Indie Film Fest!
13th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival
Colortape International Film Festival
Arizona International Film Festival
Jeridoo Universal Film Festival
Savannah International Animation Festival
Boston Science Fiction Film Festival
Canada International Film Festival
The Accolade Competition
Love Unlimited Film Festival
The California Film Awards
European Film Festival
Oaxaca Film-Fest
Urban Mediamakers Film Festival
Vegas Cine Fest
Marbella International Film Festival
Roseville Animation Festival

International Screenings within an Academic Setting

2014, VAFA Visual Art Film Animation conference, “The Adventures of Barty and the Pirate,” 22 May 2014
2013, 34th Annual International Association of the Fantastic in the Arts Conference, Orlando, FL (March 2013) presented by Ritch Calvin, Department of Cultural Analysis and Theory, SUNY Stony Brook
2012, “Perspectives in Animation,” Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education,(Lee Wai Lee) Department of Multimedia and Internet Technology (MIT), ACM SIGGRAPH Local Hong Kong, presenting [Vengeance + Vengeance] (as director), (Mar 2012).

Private Local “Invitation Only” Screenings

2013, “Animation Crossings,” FilmGarde Bugis+, presenting [Vengeance + Vengeance] (as director), (Jan 2013).

International Special Screenings

1994, Motion Capture Samples from the Alien Trilogy – Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. Issue: SIGGRAPH 94 Electronic Theater (1994).
1987, Chavez, M., ACM SIGGRAPH ELECTRONIC THEATER 1987 In Atlanta displayed work executed years earlier in laser light and projected on the side of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Part of a 50-minute animated show said there to millions of people.

PUBLICATIONS

Book

2012, Chavez, M., Cinematics and Narratives: movie-making in an academic environment. Self-published, ISBN: 978-981-07-2660-7.
2009, Chapter Contribution: Jacobson, M. J., Kim, B., Miao, C., Shen, Z. & Chavez, M. Design perspectives for learning in virtual worlds In M. J. Jacobson & P. Reimann (Eds.), Designs for learning environments of the future: International perspectives from the learning sciences. Springer.

Journals

2014, Chavez, M.J., “Animation in Context: The Outcome of Targeted Transmedia Authorship” Journal of Arts and Imaging Science 1 (4), 28-33
Chavez, M., Chang, Y. (2013) “Cinematics and Narratives: Movie Authoring & Design Focused Interaction,” Live Visuals, Leonardo Electronic Almanac (LEA).
Chang, Y. K., Morales-Arroyo, M. A., Chavez, M., & Jimenez-Guzman, J. (2008). Social interaction with a conversational agent: an exploratory study. Journal of Information Technology Research (JITR), 1(3), 14-26.
CHAVEZ, M., & LIORET, A. (2006). Artificial Beings That Look Back At Us.
Chavez, M., (1985), UCLA Animation Workshop Journal Animatrix#2, Laser Animation

Conference Proceedings

Sole or as the first author

Chavez, Mark J., Mak Hon Keat (2014). Game Design and Appeal: designing for the user. 7th Annual International Conference on Computer Games, Multimedia and Allied Technology, Singapore, 03/2014, DOI: 10.5176/2251-1679_CGAT14.33.
Chavez, M. J., & Kyaw, A. S. (2011). A gesture-based interface and active cinema Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (pp. 309-310): Springer.
Chavez, M., & Yi, L. L. (2010). Cinematics and Narratives: exploitation of real-time animation. Paper presented at the Cyberworlds (CW), 2010 International Conference on.
Chavez, M. J., Gregory, A., Yeung, L., & Xueli, W. (2009). Voyage to the Age of the Dinosaurs project, an experiential learning situation with undergraduates, graduates, and visiting professionals. Paper presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH ASIA 2009 Educators Program.
Chavez, M. J. (2008). Animation Trends in New Media in Southeast Asia. PISAF-
한국만화애니메이션학회 국제학술대회 공진화 (共進化) 하는 만화
애니메이션, 31~ 37 쪽 (총 7 쪽).
Chavez, M. (2006). Artificial Intelligence and Dynamic Design: Adaptive Real-Time 3D Characters. Paper presented at the Information Visualization, 2006. IV 2006. Tenth International Conference on.
Chavez, M., & Lan, T. S. (2006). Establishing intelligence in dynamic real-time 3D characters.

Paper presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH 2006 Research posters.

Chavez, M. (2005). Avatar teachers: CLONE3D and NTU/SADM. Paper presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH 2005 Educators program.

Secondary Author

Chang, Y.-K., Chavez, M., Morales-Arroyo, M. A., & Jiménez, J. (2012). An Active Cinema Experience: A Study on User Expectation and Perceived Gratifications of a Real-time Animated Film System. Paper presented at the Information Technology: New Generations (ITNG), 2012 Ninth International Conference on.
Shen, Z., Miao, C., Zhang, L., Yu, H., & Chavez, M. J. (2010). An emotion-aware agent platform for interactive storytelling and gaming. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the International Academic Conference on the Future of Game Design and Technology.
Jacobson, M. J., Kim, B., Miao, C., Shen, Z., & Chavez, M. (2010). Design perspectives for learning in virtual worlds Designs for Learning Environments of the Future (pp. 111-141): Springer.
Jacobson, M. J., Miao, C., Kim, B., Shen, Z., & Chavez, M. (2008). Research into learning in an intelligent agent-augmented multi-user virtual environment. Paper presented at the Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology, 2008. WI-IAT’08. IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on.
Hamilton, E., Baylor, A., Chavez, M., Cole, R., Digiano, C., Hurford, A., . . . Lesh, R. (2007). Assessment of Group and Individual Learning through Intelligent Visualization (AGILeViz). Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 2007 conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education: Building Technology-Rich Learning Contexts That Work.

Gallery Exhibition

2014, International Group Exhibit, “ELECTRON SALON,” Los Angeles Center For Digital Art (LACDA), January 9-February 1, 2014, “Anatomical Study, Composition1: Human Head”, 2013, digital print, 104 East Fourth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
2013, The Tenth Annual “SNAP TO GRID: the UN-Juried Exhibit,” Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA), December 12, 2013-January 4, 2014, “Anatomical Study, Composition1: Gray Scale Study, human Head”, 2013, digital print, 104 East Fourth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
2009, Exhibition @ Gallery/Gallery EX KYOTO, Film Co-Director, Producer.
2009, The Fifth annual “SNAP TO GRID: the UN-Juried Exhibit,” Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, digital print, “CaN drawing,” (Nov – Dec 2009).
2008, DIGITAL FRINGE 08, part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, entered a digital print from a series titled “Vato: It’s All About Me” (Sept-Oct 2008).
2007, “Boundaries,” X position ‘O’ Contemporary Dance Fiesta 2007, Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, Animation Producer http://www.xposition-o.com/po_rm.html, (Aug 2007).
2005, Chavez, M., The Princess of Planet Delight, Second Beijing International New Media Arts Exhibition and Symposium, China Millennium Museum, Beijing, China, selected to display work in a gallery setting, (June – July 2005).
2004, Arroyo Arts Collective 11th Annual Discovery Tour, interactive installation of virtual conversational 3D character, (Nov 2004).

AWARDS BASED ON RESEARCH

Awards Received At International Film Festivals and Competitions

2013 The Great Lakes International Film Festival Best In Genre – Animation Award
VIFF! Vegas Indie Film Fest! – Bronze Bulb Award
13th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival – Animation Award
Colortape International Film Festival – Nominated for Best Animation Award and Best Direction Award
AHOF’s Savannah International Animation Festival – Best Game Animation Award
Canada International Film Festival – Royal Reel Award
The Accolade Competition – Award of Merit
2012 Love Unlimited Film Festival – Best of Fest Visual Effects
The California Film Awards – Best Animated Short Award
Urban Mediamakers Film Festival – Third Prize
Vegas Cine Fest – Honorary Mention
Marbella International Film Festival – Best Animation Award

Research Paper Award

2010, CGAT -Computer Games and Allied Technology 2010 Best Research Paper Award, Cinematics and Narratives: Development of a Prototype System, Chavez, M., Liu, L., (Apr 2010).

Service Award

2008, Special Recognition Award Yellow Ribbon Celebrating Second Chances Awards
2008, in recognition of work done with inmates in the Singapore prison system as part of “Creating Socially Relevant Content in the Digital Animation Form” in the Singapore Prison System (Sept 2008).

Awards Received As a Student

1987, The Card Walker Award for animation: For overall accomplishment in the area of animation and computer-generated imagery
1985, The Student Academy Awards: honorable mention for an animated short entitled Omeyotl: the work was done in photographed laser light

GRANTS

As Primary Investigator

2012 – 2017, MDA/IDM/2012/8/8-80 Vol-01 “Multi-plAtform Game Innovation Centre (MAGIC)” 10mil SGD awarded to a team of researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Games Solution Centre (GSC), and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). My research subtopic, “Game Design for Entertainment: a Content Development Think Tank,” awarded 460k, role: PI (Nov 2012 – Nov 2017)
2008 – 2011, NRF2008IDM-IDM004-003 1.7mil SGD, National Research Foundation/Media Development Authority, role: PI, “Cinematics and Narratives: Creating stories within real-time visual toolsets” resulted in the award-winning short film [Vengeance+ Vengeance] (Nov 2008 – Nov 2011)
2006 – 2012, SUG/NTU 90k Grant 2006 Project Period – “Don’t Do That, Do This” Exploring Real-Time Authoring Toolsets and Addressing Socially Relevant Issues with the Medium of Digital Animation, Primary Investigator, 90k Singapore dollars. Singapore Prison System at Kaki Bukit Prison School in collaboration with and Coordinated with the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE)
2006 – 2008, RCC2/ADM 5k Grant 2006 Project Period – “Creating Socially Relevant Content in the Digital Animation Form,” Preliminary research leading to Start-Up Grant (SUG)
1988, The Symbolics Corporation 1988 – received a grant in the form of a high-end Symbolics computer system to execute advanced computer-generated imagery for Master’s computer animation research.

As co-Primary Investigator

31/12/2012-31-12/2013 Institute for Media Innovation, IMI, Seed Grant, Project Title: ‘Unframed Part 2”, M4080760.B40, PI Ina Conradi, Co-Pi Mark Chavez
15/8/2011-14/8/2012 Institute for Media Innovation, IMI, Seed Grant, Project Title: ‘Unframed Part 2″, M4080760.B40, PI Ina Conradi, Co-Pi Mark Chavez
2009 – 2011, Tier1 grant #200604393R Academic Research Fund (AcRF) – Exploring kinetic-audiovisual parameter mapping in virtual instrument performance and interactive installation, Singapore S$50,000. (Mar 2009 – Feb 2011)
2008 – 2011, NRF2007IDM-IDM003-068 – Serious Immersion and Embodied Learning: Traces of Dinosaurs in Earth System Science (Co-PI) Immersive Virtual Environments, NRF/MOE grant approved, S$1.3 million. (Dec 2008 – Nov 2011)
2007 – 2010, NRF2008IDM-IDM001-030 – Intelligent Agent-Augmented Multi-User Virtual Environments: Research into Designs for Learning Environments of the Future,
NRF/MOE grant approved, S$1.69 million. (Dec 2007 – Nov 2010)

INVITED TALKS

2015, Keynote address, Chavez, M., 8th Annual International Conference on Computer Games Multimedia & Allied Technologies (CGAT 2015), “Designing for Animated Interactive Learning Experiences,” (April 2015)
2015, Chavez, M., The Art of 3D stereo Media, “A Proposed Design Structure for Interactive Learning Experiences,” (April 2015)
2014, Chavez, M., PISAF Puchon International Student Animation Festival, “Game Design and Appeal Commercialization” (Oct 2014)
2014, Chavez, M., Visual Art Film Animation VAFA 2014 Conference, “Game Design for Entertainment: A Content Development Think Tank” (May 2014)
2012, Chavez, M., Science, and Art: Third International Forum on the Innovations in Digital Media, Focus: Serious Games and Educational Digital Media, Sponsored by Beijing University of Technology, “Cinematics and Narratives: movie-making in an academic research environment,” (Nov 2012)
2011, Chavez, M., Capital City Arts Initiative lecture series on contemporary art practice, Nevada Neighbors XXXV: Emerging Animation (Sept 2011)
2011, Keynote address, Chavez, M., “Future Cinema” Defense Science Research Conference 2011 – Symposium on Serious Gaming, (August 2011)
2010, Invited presentation: Chavez, M., “The Future of Cinema and 3D Stereoscopy: Challenges Facing Film-Makers,” 11th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) in Jeonju, South Korea, (May 2010).
2010, Chavez, M., “Creative Imagination and Cultural Technology,” International Symposium in Seoul, South Korea, ” Specialization and Collaboration: Approach to Interdisciplinary Research in Contemporary Animation,” (Feb 2010).
2010, Chavez, M., “From Passive to Active: Adaptive Design and Future Visions with Real-time Simulation in Animation” University of Technology Sydney: SIAF Symposium 2010 ‘Aesthetics and Timing in Animation’ (Sept 2010).
2010, Chavez, M., ” Cinematics and Narratives: Prototype1.2″, Breinbjerg, Morten. “Poiesis of Software Use.” ISEA2010 RUHR 16th International Symposium On Electronic Art.
2010, Chavez, Mark, and Liu Lin Yi. “Cinematics and Narratives: an exploitation of real-time animation.” Cyberworlds (CW), 2010 International Conference on. IEEE, 2010.
2009, Chavez, M., Computer Games, Multimedia and Allied Technology 09 Conference, Workshop titled “Advances in Games Technology” presenting “Cinematics and Narratives – Immersive encounters in Co-Space.”
2008, Chavez, M., PISAF Puchon International Student Animation Festival, “The Expansion of Animation in the New Media Environment.”
2008, Chavez, M., Teaching Cinematic Literacy in the Singapore Prison System, Presented a paper at the Machinima China Festival May 2008, Organized by AKQA, Association of Machinima Arts & Sciences (AMAS) and The Comics Art Association of Wuhan (CAA), Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
2007, Keynote address: Chavez, M., International Teaching Philosophies Panel at The Broadcast Education Association, (Apr 2007)
2004, ACM SIGGRAPH, displayed research of work that encompassed the creation of a piece, “CLONE3D Artificial Comedy and Real-Time 3D Characters” 3DX Demo or Die, state of the art in real-time graphics (Aug 2004)
2004, ACM SIGGRAPH Los Angeles Local Chapter meeting at Otis School of Art and Design showed research done on web-based real-time 3d characters
1983, Chavez, M., ACM SIGGRAPH Los Angeles Local Chapter Meeting 1983 at the California Institute of Technology, conducted an animated short executed and projected in laser light.

CONFERENCE ACTIVITY/PARTICIPATION

Program Chair

2013, SIGGRAPH Asia Art Gallery Chair, coordinating a small team of international jurors, curators, and artists for the SIGGRAPH Asia 2013 Art Gallery during November of 2013 in Hong Kong, PRC
2008, SIGGRAPH Asia Educators Program Chair, The first ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia

Papers Presented

2014, Chavez, M., Society for Animation Studies Annual Conference 2014 “The Animator,” “The Challenges of Design in Transmedia Authorship.”
2013, Chavez, M., Jayabalan, S., Sarvaiya, S., Mak H.K., CGAT 2013 Workshop: Advances in Games Technology, “An Investigation in Appeal in Talking Characters.”
2011, Chavez, M., ISEA2011 Istanbul the 16th International Symposium on Electronic Art, Paper: Active Cinema.
2011, Chavez, M., The Rise of the Creative Economy, The 23rd Society for Animation Studies Annual Conference, Cultural Center of the University of Indianapolis, Athens Campus, Panelist: “Animation Studies – Pedagogy and new frontiers.”
2011, Chavez, M., Popular/American Culture Associations – SWTX PCA/ACA 2011 Joint Conference “Experiments with an Animation System Designed to Manipulate Emotion Dynamically.”
2010, Chavez, M., Liu, L., Animation Evolution, The 22nd Society for Animation Studies Annual Conference, Edinburgh College of Art, 9-11th July 2010, “From Active to Proactive: New Opportunities for Real-time Simulation in Animation.”
2009, Chavez, M., Gregory, A., Voyage to the Age of the Dinosaurs: An Experiential Learning Situation with Undergraduates, Graduates, and Visiting Professionals. Presentation, SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 Educators Program Yokohama, Japan.
2009, Chavez, M., Conradi, I., Liu, L., Cinematics and Narratives: Creating an Archetypal Character-Based Experience. ISEA2009 – 15th International Symposium on Electronic Art.
2008, Chavez, M., Animation Unlimited, The 2008 Society for Animation Studies Conference, Art Institute at Bournemouth, “Philosophies and Methodologies in Animation Research.”
2007, Chavez, M., ACM SIGGRAPH Singapore Chapter Jakarta, Indonesia Tour, Accompanied a group of businesspersons and students interested in computer graphics and animation through studios in Jakarta, presented research “Creating Socially Relevant Content in the Digitally Animated Form.”
2006, Chavez, M., “Artificial Intelligence and Dynamic Design: Adaptive Real-Time 3D Characters,” Information Visualization, 2006. IV 2006. Tenth International Conference on, vol., no., pp.804,810, 5-7 July 2006, DOI: 10.1109/IV.2006.24
2006, Chavez, M., “Interactive Media and Real-Time 3D Characters,” Institute for High-Performance Computing in Singapore.

Research Poster

Chavez, M. and Aung, S.K., “A Gesture-based Interface to Active Cinema,” ACII 2011, 4th International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction, conference. (Oct 2011)
Chavez, M., & Tan S., Intelligence in Dynamic 3D Characters, ACM SIGGRAPH 2006 Research posters SIGGRAPH. (2006)

MEDIA COVERAGE

Magazine Publications

2013, Chandock, Ishpreet, AnimationXpress.com Exclusive: Vengeance + Vengeance wins Best Animation Award at the 13th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival.
2012, UCLA Feature Stories & News – Alumnus Wins Best Animation Award at The Marbella Film Festival in Spain, Announcement.
2012, Chandock, Ishpreet “[Vengeance+Vengeance] wins the Best Animation Film Award at the Marbella International Film Festival 2013 – In Repartee with Mark Chavez” Animation Express.
2012, Hallett, Nicole, Euro Weekly News, “Talent on the silver screen: Seventh Marbella Film Festival, close with a glitzy bang”.
2010, Chavez, M., “From the Animation Industry to Academia and Research” Computer Graphics (CG) Quarterly, Volume 44, Number 1, ACM SIGGRAPH Publication, Visual Research, Evaluation, and Assessment in the Age of Computer Graphics.

Television Interview

MediaCorp, News, News and Current Affairs (Chinese), Gun Violence in the United States, (Jan 2013).

Radio Interview

Giles Brown, Talk Radio Europe, Live on Air Interview, Sat 6th Oct 2012, 88.9fm & 91.9fm

CAMPUS OR DEPARTMENTAL

Talks

2013, EXTRAVAGANZA@SCAPE is an annual nationwide art competition organized by the Visual Arts Society of NTU, the Comics and Animation Society of NUS, and Collateral Damage Studios, a local arts group. As guest speaker to talk about my work in the field. (Sept 2013)
2011, Chavez, M., From Pencils to Pixels – Innovations that Transform Digital Animation, “Future Cinema: Simulation in Animation” Nanyang Technological University, North Academic Complex, (Apr 2011)

Exhibition

2011, Port of Call: Selected Works by Faculty from Nanyang Technological University’s School of Art, Design & Media (ADM), ADM Gallery 1 & 2, (Feb – Apr).
2010, The International Animation Journalist Visit to ADM Animation, Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design and Media, Outer Gallery, Animation Faculty Exhibition, Outer Gallery, (Nov 2010).
2010, The International Academic Advisory Panel (IAAP), Animation Faculty Exhibition, Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design and Media, Outer Gallery, (Nov 2010).
2008, ISEA 2008 Conference IMI/ADM Demo-Graphics, “Artificial Comedy – web-based character interaction,” Nanyang Technological University School of Art, Design and Media, (July 2008).
2008, IMI/ADM Demo-Graphics, “Films from the Singapore Prison System,” ISEA Conference /IMI NTU, Nanyang Technological University School of Art, Design and Media, (July 2008).

Screenings

2012, Research Seminar presentation in School of Communication and Information, Talk and screening: Mark Chavez – Cinematics and narratives: creating stories within real-time visual toolsets (February 20)
2012, ADM Research Lecture Series – Talk and screening: Mark Chavez – Cinematics and narratives: creating stories within real-time visual toolsets, 14 March 2012

TEACHING

Development Of Teaching Materials

Title of CourseCurrently Known As
Animation Development and PreproductionADM Final Year Project
Gameplay Motion
Animation Seminar I
Animation Seminar
Visual Effects 2
Visual Effects 1
Introduction to StoryboardingStoryboarding
3D Modelling Workshop 13D Modelling 2
3D Modelling Workshop 23D Modelling 1
Advanced 3D Production
Introduction to 3D Production3D Production
Foundation Drawing (Figure Drawing) 1Foundation Drawing 1
Foundation Design & Time 1& 2Foundation 4D 1& 2

Teaching Award

Recipient of a Certificate of Honor for the Koh Boon Hwee AY2011-2012 Scholars Award for Inspirational Mentorship

Short Courses

2006, Creative Learning with Storytelling (current) – Established an initial 10 to 15 week course teaching cinematic storytelling techniques to inmates of the Singapore Prison System at Kaki Bukit Prison School. Plans are to expand this program with these initial inmates into a program that authors serialized cinematic content.
2005, SiTEX Your Digital Playground 30 November through 3rd of December – Presented research into responsive talking real-time 3D characters at a consumer-oriented electronics product show. MEDIAction! Media Conference – presented proposed SiTEX exhibition materials to MDA officials.
2006, MIXED REALITY SUMMIT, 27 November 2006 (Mon), 1 pm – 5.30 pm, Lecture Room One @ Level 2, Educational Wing, Nanyang Executive Centre, Nanyang Technological University – presented research concepts and focus “Self-Aware Characters with Creating Adaptive Design: Intelligence And Artificial Comedy”
2006, MACHINIMASIA SUMMIT 25 Sep 2006 (Mon), 2 pm – 5.30 pm, AV Lecture Room B1.1, School of Art, Design & Media (ADM), Nanyang Technological University – functioned as master of ceremonies and presented research concepts and focused on “Self Aware Characters Creating Adaptive Design: Intelligence And Artificial Comedy”
2006, The International Digital Media & Entertainment Exhibition and Conference Animation & Visual Effects Seminar, 21st June 2006, Wednesday | Singapore Expo – The Animation and Visual Effects Seminar showcases the latest projects from the world’s leading production companies and education providers. Created a 20-minute presentation covering “History of Animation in a real Time Context”
2006, Arizona Western College – “Working in the Animation Industry” presented a summary of work created professionally to the students of Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona
2006, VCamp – History of Animation in a Real-Time Context, Current Research: Conversational Characters in Real-Time Media Presented a brief paper about the history of real-time media and the potential for the future at VCamp. VCamp, held in conjunction with the Singapore Science Centre, is open to Secondary 2 & 3 students in Singapore has over 100 participants from over ten schools.
2006, Investigations in Emergent Theater, Wrote a brief for the Dean detailing possible avenues of research with MIT 01/17/2006
2006, Institute of High Performance Computing Seminar Series, “Conversational Characters in Real-Time Media,” presentation of research focus and previous work to members of the Institute of High-Performance Computing
2005, In the Master’s Program Room NTU/SCI, I Presented the focus of my research to the graduate students and faculty of the School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University
2005, Presented a lecture entitled “Real Time Character Animation” for the Computer Engg (BEng and MSc) departments Computer Game Programming/Computer Game Design class taught by Edmond Cyril Prakash (Asst Prof)

DEPARTMENTAL/UNIVERSITY SERVICE

2014 – 2005, Animation Committee Member: revised the curricula for the animation area and introduced new classes
2011 – 2008, URECA Faculty Advisor
2011, VICE CHAIR of the Research Grant Administration Support in Schools Committee, co-authored the final report submitted to the Research Support Office (RSO)
2011, Research Committee Member, Worked on arranging with Wahlian Pte Ltd and their local subsidiary Tornado Entertainment (http://www.tornado-ent.com/) an arcade/entertainment center, to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a Center (for interactive research) at the School of Art, Design & Media
2010 – 2008, FYP Committee,
2010 – 2008, Research Committee
2008, Invited Professor Vibeke Sorensen to conduct a two-week workshop at ADM in October 2008, as an Artist in Residence, organized classroom activities, accommodations in the university, introductions, and public talk, etc.
2008, Invited Vibeke Sorensen to Singapore to take part in SIGGRAPH Asia, organized accommodations in the university, introductions, and a public talk.
Reappointment Review Committee 2009-10, 2008-09

Public Service

2008 – 2007 “Creative Learning with Storytelling” current – Teaching Creative in the Singapore Prison System at Kaki Bukit Prison School, a collaboration with the Yellow Ribbon Project and SCORE (Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises), creative learning with storytelling in Machinima for the student inmates as part of their rehabilitation.

OTHER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Grants Proposed But Not Awarded

2010, GAMBIT Local Call-For-Proposal – Character Constructor
2008, Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund (AcRF) TIER 2, A Toolset for Building Cognitive Agent-Based Emotion-Sensitive Systems, as co-PI.
2007, NRF2007IDM-IDM005-004, “Creative Learning with Animation (CLA),” written as Primary Investigator as an interdisciplinary research program designed to develop technologies that nurture creative intellectual insights, provide an integrated approach toward animation. (NRF/MOE)
2007, “The Discovery Center’s Virtual Hostess” 4 January 2007 Proposed – Brand-able kiosk character for the center in the form of an intelligent virtual agent. (Proposed for private funding)
2006 “Detecting Autism in Early Childhood” – exploration study, in collaboration with the School of Computer Engineering’s Center for Computational Intelligence (Tier 2 Grant Applied for as Co-PI)
2006 “Self-Aware Characters” (Cognitive Cinema) Engaged in research that encompasses the creation of real-time characters with AI-backed personalities. (work related to SUG project)
2006, Tier 2 Grant Proposal, Episodic Explorations in Cinema, Creating Movies with Real-Time Media
2006, SIPA/MDA Collaborative Grant Opportunity, Exploring Real-Time Authoring Toolsets and Addressing Social Issues in the Medium of Digital Animation
2006, “Digital Info Technology Pte Ltd” to develop licensed character properties and existing characters not exclusive to the Hollywood style.
2006, “Directions for possible collaboration with HGI GAMES” 24 July 2006 – Proposed a collaboration that included the integration of a library of humanoid real-time 3D characters with the ability to modify their likeness to suit your taste.

SERVICE TO PROFESSION

Service as a Reviewer

2013 – 2009, External Examiner for Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of InfoComm Technology (ICT)
2009, Computers & Graphics, An International Journal of Systems & Applications in Computer Graphics, reviewer for SIGGRAPH ASIA 2009 Best Education Papers special issue
2009, SIGGRAPH Asia Education Programme Paper Reviewer, Juror and Mentor
2009, Eurographics Educators Program Juror
2009 – 2008, Served on the steering committee of the initial proposal for SIGGRAPH in Asia 2008 and 2009 – held in Singapore during December 2008
2009 – 2008, Served as a Local Singapore SIGGRAPH board member – a branch of the ACM SIGGRAPH a special interest group in computer graphics and interactivity.
2006, Short-listed video entries for COMGRAPH 2006 – computer-generated imagery and animated film festival run by Singapore SIGGRAPH.
2006, Research + Art Exhibition DIME-ARTS 2006 – juried selection for the art show http://www.dime2006.org/ Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand
2005, ImageReel – Conducted a short presentation as a Singapore SIGGRAPH and NTU/ADM member in a public forum at the National Youth Park.
2005, Chaired short listing review committee for video entries for COMGRAPH 2005 – computer-generated imagery and animated film festival run by Singapore SIGGRAPH.
Consultant – Haptek Inc. (1995) regarding appropriate methods to use for creating technology that would result in real-time web based agents.