Dane Allan Smith

In 1999, Smith founded Menithings Productions [9] which contributed visual effects for Hellboy (film). Menithings also produced The Freak [10] and Battle for Terra,[11][12] two short CGI animated films that earned a variety of awards at multiple film festivals.[13][14] Smith helped with the original feature films for the company and in 2008 Battle for Terra was released. For his work on Battle of Terra, he won the Grand Prize for Best Animated Feature at the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival.[15]

Smith's work on stereoscopic conversion included being a stereo producer [16] on director James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge 3D production. He managed over 1,400 shots that featured modeling, lighting, particle animation, compositing and stereoscopic conversion. In addition Dane helped design the proprietary pipeline deployed to convert BATTLE FOR TERRA to stereoscopic 3D for theatrical release along with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2, RIPD, and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.[17]

In 2010 he joined the Gnomon School of Visual Effects[18] as faculty where he instructs students in courses that include: Virtual Reality Production, The History of Visual Effects, and Stereoscopic Filmmaking techniques and practices.[19] In 2021, in partnership with Epic Unreal Smith launched the first ever Virtual Production course[20] of Study at Gnomon School of VFX and Gaming

Smith has been the Visual Effects Producer [21] on numerous VFX driven features, including The Walk (2015 film), Oblivion (2013 film), Deepsea Challenge 3D, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 & 2, The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 film) & Looper (film).[17] In 2015 Smith was the Visual Effects Producer [22] on Anomalisa directed by Charlie Kaufman. The film was nominated for an Oscar under the category for best animated feature.[23]

In 2017 Dane joined THE THIRD FLOOR. Dane currently serves as CSO and is the key representative to clients (Studio Management, Directors and Producers), as well as business unit employees, and the managing board throughout the global organization.[24] Dane oversees the development of projects where previs, virtual production and real-time rendering are making significant in-roads. He manages the deployment of technology that can render high-quality visuals in real-time and works really well with real-world input devices such as mocap and cameras. His hybrid Maya/Unreal approach offers a lot of great advantages and allows his team to more easily provide tools like a virtual camera (Vcam), VR scouting and AR on-set apps.[25]

Smith founded Ember Immersive in 2015 to bring premium cinematic VR experiences to the world through distribution/production of content, products (e.g. cameras), and VR Technology. Smith produced Stan Lee's Cosmic Crusaders VR. The debut episode will be presented in virtual reality, with one episode airing each day during Comic-Con International 2016 via smartphone VR viewers to be handed out at the show.[26]

Smith is also a member of the PGA as a PGA Innovation Award Jury, Power of Diversity Master workshop and the Animation and Visual Effects Committee.

Smith curated and expanded the Visual Effects Society Handbook Volume 3, as an Editor, wrote contributing content, and curated contributors to The Virtual Production Field Guide V02. He is currently editing a special edition of the VES Handbook, dedicated entirely to Virtual Production.

Smith has spoken at multiple engagements including, SIGGRAPH,[27] CES, the PGA Animation Committee panels, ASIFA/WONDERCON panel 2019, Comicon [28] VES, VRLA,[29] LA Games Conference 2019, NAB Shanghai 2019, VR on The LOT, DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD.[30] Otis College of Art and Design Digital Media Panels [31] SXSW 2020, 2021, 2022 [32] Visual Effects Society Vision Committee 2020[33] IAAPA 2021 EXPO [34] as well as The World Animation & VFX Summit [35] and keynote speaker at NAB 2021 and HPA 2022 Palm Springs, CA [34]