Tim McGovern Visual Effects Supervisor

Biography:

In 1978, Tim graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a double major in Graphic Design and Photography and with a minor in Art History. While still in college Tim started work at a public television station as a graphic designer and balanced both his double major and a full time job for the last six months of his schooling. Shortly after graduating he received an offer to work at a new division of ABC in Los Angeles that specialized in animation and on-air graphic design.
Soon the lure of computer-controlled cameras and computer-generated imagery proved irresistible. Tim joined the legendary Robert Abel & Associates. Within six months Tim was working with a team of three others in creating a fifty-five second sequence of computer animation for Walt Disney’s Tron. This was his first taste of motion picture work and the first of Tim’s many screen credits.

Innovating and inventing with every production, Tim pushed computer animation to its limits. He won five Clios, a Hugo, and a Mobius award with his co-workers at Robert Abel & Associates. One of those Clios was for a ground-breaking TV commercial called “Sexy Robot”. “Sexy Robot” aired during the Super Bowl in 1985 and created a sensation. This was the first time human motion had ever been applied to a 3D computer generated character for television or motion pictures.

In 1987 Tim joined MetroLight Studios as a founding member. He spent five years with MetroLight as a Visual Effects Supervisor where he worked with directors James Cameron, David Lynch and Paul Verhoeven.

In 1989, Tim supervised the computer animated Skeleton Sequence for Carolco Pictures’ Total Recall. This work featured fluid and realistic motion of nine humans and one dog. His work won the 1990 Academy Award For Visual Effects. Tim was the first Visual Effects Supervisor with a CG or digital background to have his work recognized with an Academy Award.

In 1992 Tim was a founding member of Sony Pictures Imageworks where he held the post of Senior Vice President of Creative and Technical Affairs. While with Imageworks he also served as Senior Visual Effects Supervisor. With Tim at the creative helm the company grew to employ over two hundred and fifty people and contributed work to many successful feature films, including Speed, The Net, Wolf, In The Line Of Fire, James and the Giant Peach and Johnny Mnemonic. Tim personally supervised Last Action Hero, Hideaway, Virtuosity, Money Train, The Ghost And The Darkness and As Good As It Gets. While at Sony Tim also contributed heavily to the creative development of several pictures including Swat, with producer Joe Caracciolo, and Johnny Mnemonic 2 with Neil Canton.
Since leaving Sony Pictures Imageworks Tim has worked as an independent Visual Effects Supervisor for, among others, directors Peter Hyams, Kurt Wimmer and Rupert Wainwright. Additionally, he is developing screenplays both as a writer and as a director. Tim has been asked to direct several feature films and is currently developing three of them.

Tim has been an elected member of the Board of Directors for Visual Effects Society ( VES an honorary society with more than 1100 members) for five out of the last six year. He is also Co-chairman of the VES Awards Committee for four years. He is a member of the Advisory Board to the President of the San Francisco Academy of Art University for more than four years. Tim also serves on the Advisory Board for both the Image College of Art, Animation, and Technology ( ICAAT Chennai, India ), as well as a member of the Board of Advisors for FrameFlow a visual effects company in Chennai. In addition Tim has given more than thirty talks in the US, Japan, Europe, and India. Tim has also served as an Expert Witness in a visual effects patent trial.
 
Credits
Motion picture and tv VISUAL EFFECTS and animation
A Sound Of Thunder—Warner Bros.
Feardotcom—Columbia Pictures
Trapped—Sony Pictures
Equilibrium—Miramax
Down—First Floor Features
Supernova—MGM/UA
Stigmata—MGM/UA
As Good As It Gets—TriStar Pictures
The Ghost And The Darkness—Paramount
Money Train—Columbia Pictures
Virtuosity—Paramount Pictures
Hideaway—TriStar Pictures
I Believe—Test for TriStar Television
Look Who’s Talking Now—TriStar Pictures
So I Married An Axe Murderer—TriStar
Last Action Hero—Columbia Pictures
Total Recall—Carolco Pictures
Tron—Walt Disney Pictures

AWARDS
1990 ACADEMY AWARD Total Recall Special Achievement in Visual Effects
1988 CLIO "Hawaiian Punch" - US TV / Cinema Animation - Computer
1987 CLIO "Benson & Hedges Gold POWER" International TV/Cinema Best Graphics
1985 HUGO "Sexy Robot" - Chicago International Film Festival Best Special Effects
1985 MOBIUS "Sexy Robot" - US TV & Radio Commercial Best of Festival
1985 CLIO "Sexy Robot" - US TV / CINEMA Best Animation-Computer
1983 CLIO "7-Up Pacman" - International TV / Cinema Best Beverages
1983 CLIO "7-Up Pacman" - International TV / Cinema Best Graphics
1981 CLIO "NBC Sunday Night at the Movies" - US TV/Cinema

Finalistmemberships in ASSOCIATIONS
Academy Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Member – A.M.P.A.S Visual Effects Branch
Visual Effects Society Member – V.E.S. Board of Directors Member and Co-chair of the VES Awards Committee

EDUCATION
University of Illinois at Chicago - Bachelor of Arts
Double Major in Graphic Design and Photography with Minor in Art History
Suma Cum Laude - Phi Kappa Phi
Doctorate of Humane Letter (Honorary Doctorate Degree) San Francisco Academy of Art College

Please Contact Bob Coleman
13323 Washington Boulevard, Suite 304, Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-788-3918 M. 310-293-8718 F. 310-788-3415 http://www.d-a-a.com