Absolute is following the addition of VFX heavyweight Dan Dixon to its staff with the hiring of two additional grade-A talents: Senior Producer Melissa Stephano and Senior CG Artist/Lighter Kevin Couture.
From Absolute press release:
Absolute is following the addition of VFX heavyweight Dan Dixon to its staff with the hiring of two additional grade-A talents: Senior Producer Melissa Stephano and Senior CG Artist/Lighter Kevin Couture.
Both talents, who join Absolute after their outstanding freelance collaborations with the studio, bring tremendous portfolios and deep industry experience. Stephano is a highly regarded postproduction professional whose experience in design, graphics and VFX includes work for Verizon, American Airlines, Optimum, Nike, Fox, American Express, Crayola, MiraLAX and Crest. Couture is well versed in lighting/rendering, texturing, and modeling. Absolute EP Sally Heath noted, "These two hires really cement Absolute's commitment to building a team of strong, talented, creative, experienced people. In Kevin and Melissa, we not only have a pair of career perfectionists, but people who enjoy the business and consistently rise to the challenges presented." Stephano joins the Absolute staff full time after helming a pair of impressive projects, for American Airlines and Verizon. For her inaugural project as a staff member, she has been hard at work on Pumagility for Droga 5, while also collaborating with mcgarrybowen, the first of many projects she has planned with both agencies. "Absolute has been a perfect match since the moment I walked into their facilities," said Stephano. "They have an amazing staff that puts out an astonishingly diverse array of great work. I love the direction they are heading in, with a constant eye on improvement and expansion." "To fill this senior producer role, we wanted someone who was not only experienced, but also intimately familiar with the locale - both production companies and agencies - and understood the needs of the business and industry," Heath stated. A veteran of both the agency and production worlds, including time spent at Click 3X, Charlex and Grey, Stephano was a perfect fit. "Melissa clearly has the talent, commitment, passion and ability to fit that description. We couldn't be happier to have her here." Couture, who is already working alongside Dixon; is a CG and lighting standout who came to Absolute to work on Droga5 and Smuggler's Pumagility campaign. "Within hours of Kevin's arrival, our Creative Director who was working on this project informed me that he was the most talented CG person he'd come across in years, and that we had to keep him, which is rare, but refreshing and exciting!" exclaimed Heath. When Heath realized that Couture had already collaborated with Absolute on a highly regarded, complex, and stunning campaign for Sherwin Williams via Buck; she knew the studio had found its new lighting guru. "Dan Dixon was naturally keen to have a colleague with an amazing eye, gravitas, humor and experience. That person is Kevin, all we had to do was seal the deal!" Heath added. Couture, who joins Absolute from freelance positions at MPC, Psyop, and Buck, to name a few, is thrilled with his new role "I'm ecstatic to be working with the incredible caliber of talent in place at Absolute, especially Dan Dixon," he enthused. "This studio is really a step ahead of the rest of the postproduction world. It's an honor to be invited into such an elite club." Both Stephano and Couture are currently immersed in a project debuting Jan. 21st in collaboration with a Washington, D.C.-based agency and a prominent New York production company. Look for a detailed announcement soon.
About Absolute:
Founded in 2004 by David Smith, one of the world's leading Flame artists, Absolute is a high-end VFX studio working within the commercial, emerging media, music video, and film communities. With offices in New York and London, Absolute over the years has collected numerous industry accolades including two BTAA awards, a D&AD pencil, a Cannes Lion, an APA Collection Diamond, three Andy wins and an MTV video statue. The New York office opened in 2007, helmed by CD Dirk Greene, to further facilitate Absolute's international client roster with a growing Flame and CG service.
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
