Otto Lai
otto@fxdojo.com
SKILLS
3D/VFX: Maya, MotionBuilder, Nuke, Zbrush, Boujou, Tinkercad
Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere, Audition
Open Source: Blender, Krita, GIMP, Inkscape, Audacity
EDUCATION
MS Digital Imaging & Design Center for Advanced Digital Applications, NYU, 2005
BFA Film & Television Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, 1998
EXPERIENCE
San Diego State University Instructor
January 2011-present
Currently teaching After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, and Audition, in the Multimedia department
FX Dojo Founder/Instructor
July 2012-present
Established a learning center for Digital Art in Point Loma San Diego. Designed curriculum for all ages, centered around Blender, an open source 3D Application
Liberty School Instructor/Organizer
October 2019-February 2020
Led a 2D and 3D animation teaching providing weekly classes for at-risk youth in San Diego
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center 3D Printing Instructor
June 2015-June 2019
Taught Tinkercad workshops with the Makerlab Club, using 3D Cube printers
CoSA, Coronado High School Digital Art Instructor
March 2019-June 2019
Taught a variety of Digital Art applications in an elective program
Miracosta College Instructor
September 2015-January 2018
Taught classes in Premiere, After Effects, Audition, and Maya
UCSD Extension Instructor
April 2014-August 2014
Taught After Effects in the Digital Arts Center and Undergraduate Art Program while the regular instructor was on leave
Legend 3D Visual Effects Lead and Head Compositing Trainer, Alice In Wonderland, Shrek 1,2,3
January 2010-December 2012
After Effects and Nuke Trainer
Stereoscopic 3D compositing using After Effects
Trained, tested, and recruited over 400 artists for Transformers 3, Smurfs, and other 3D blockbusters
Art Institute San Diego Instructor
September 2010-December 2017
Classes: Materials and Lighting, Beginning 3D Animation, Camera Techniques, Compositing w/Nuke, Technical Animation, Motionbuilder, Intermediate After Effects
Platt College Instructor
April 2006-December 2012
Classes: Maya Dynamics, Maya Lighting and Rendering, MotionBuilder, After Effects and Boujou
Designed all advanced classes for Visual Effects and Compositing Major
Working Library Production Artist, Sony Playstation Home
March 2006-December 2008
3D modeling video game assets for Playstation Home and digital compositing
Reality Check Production Artist, Command and Conquer 3
December 2006-February 2007
Digital compositing
Nick Jr. Character Animator, UmiZoomi
March 2006-April 2006
Responsible for animating entire scenes ranging from easy to difficult using After Effects
Cut&Paste Design Competition Co-Founder/Producer
August 2005-May 2006
Cut&Paste was the first live graphic design competition of its kind
Nickelodeon Character Animator, Little Bill
March 1999-September 2000
Responsible for animating entire scenes ranging from easy to difficult using After Effects
MTV Networks Clay Modeler, Celebrity Death Match
June 1997-August 1997
Designed Charles Manson's head and skeleton, designed all audience members and armatures
Storyboard Artist 1997-2003 Worked closely with directors to visualize ideas
May - June 2003 Macy's Father's Day/Mother's Day Spots
February 2002 VH1 TV Moments Spot
September 2000 Talk To Taka, 1st film to be funded by Atom Films watch movie
July 2000 Sci-Fi Channel ID Campaign view sample
June 2000 NFL Corporate Promo view sample
March 2000 Comedy Central Spot view sample
February 1999 Rugrats/Lisa Loeb Music Video
VOLUNTEER
April 2019 Girl Scouts San Diego 3D Workshop
June 2018 Outside the Lens 3D Workshop
April 2018 Lakeside Library Animation Presentation
April 2015 Sweetwater Union Digital Media Showcase Judge
March 2013-November 2013 Pacific Arts Movement Programming Board
September 2013 Digital Design Showdown Judge/Consultant/Graphic Designer
March 2011-January 2012 Media Arts Center San Diego 3D Animation Instructor