- BIOGRAPHY -

Creating works of art has been my strongest passion my entire life. I had taken private art lessons at the Central Ohio Art Academy for twelve years, competed internationally and at the Ohio State Fair (the biggest fair in the country) and won Best of Show. Peter Jackson, after I had left, had judged work from the school before. Prior to the animation industry, I had worked for the architectural firms ranked number one (Gensler) and number two (NBBJ) in the world as an interior architect; having graduated from the department of Industrial Design at THE Ohio State University- the top rated design school in the country; given honorary admission from high school. The people that I aspire to be like are Mich Chau (president of Lucasfilm), Dennis Muren (head of ILM), Art Gensler (founder of Gensler), Steve Jobs (founder of Apple and Pixar), Phil Knight (founder of Nike), Walt Disney, and Andy Serkis (motion capture specialist- Gollum). I have studied and completed my first Masters of Arts in Computer Visualization at ACCAD at THE Ohio State University (where CGI was founded- typically getting over 200 applicants a year and accepting eight - I was recommended by a partner at Gensler); focusing my research in bio mechanical character setup. This research involved working directly with supervisors from DreamWorks SKG. At Take 2 Interactive, I did research on ways to streamline current rigs to make them lighter for game play on the award winning title NBA 2K. Later, I returned to EA Sports as a technical artist implementing rigging techniques as well as doing research on more advanced character setup for the top selling titles in the world, including MADDEN (the top selling title in North America). I was a rigging lead on this title responsible for changing all of the physiology. This title makes more money than any film or game annually. This got an 8.9 on IGN My Ultimate Evil on the cover of Star Wars Insider. At Lucasfilm, Ltd., the number one ranked entertainment company, I was apart of the team on film game convergence by collaborating on global “Star Wars” related projects while working with all three divisions: LucasArts, Lucasfilm Animation, and Industrial Light and Magic. This research involved complete analyzing and understanding of both render and real time assets for maximum output and potential (led by myself and a team of core artists and engineers). This was shown to Mr. George Lucas in Singapore. For the ease of better global communication, I was relocated (via order of the executive committee) from the Lucasfilm Animation Singapore studio (LAS) to the home office (The Presidio and the Skywalker Ranch) in San Francisco to continue research on this subject matter. I was also selected by The Director of Animation Technology (former Chief Technology Officer at Weta on The Lord of the Rings) to be on the Lucasfilm, Ltd. steering committee setting best practices and digital standards for Lucasfilm, Ltd. globally. I was also put through executive training at Lucasfilm, Ltd. with Mr. Larry Seal. There were approximately eight of us in training (head of public relations, legal, head of marketing, head of distribution). I was the only computer graphics person being trained to be a studio executive. I wrote an executive proposal entitled Offensive Attack Strategy for the President of LucasArts, Mr. Darrell Rodriguez; after reading it, he requested a digital copy and forwarded it to the board of directors at Lucasfilm. My character that I did technical direction on, Ultimate Evil, was also the character chosen for the cover of the Star Wars title, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith Edition; a very prestigious honour. I was also tasked on Indiana Jones Intellectual Property written by Mr. Steven Spielberg and instrumental in the cancellation of the XBOX 360 and PS3 version of the title. I have completed my first Masters (M.A.) in Technical Animation at ACCAD at THE Ohio State University and I am enrolled to begin my second Masters (M.S.) in computer science at Strayer University specializing in software engineering. My goal with this type of education would be that I could get into the software architecture of packages like Maya and ZENO (ILM's that I've used) and manipulate the software to better suit my needs when necessary without passing the task off to a different department. I look forward to speaking to other graphics researchers on the subject matter listed above and am always open to accepting linkedin invitations from colleagues in the industry who share my passion for doing great work and I have successfully started my own business selling my own custom software off of my website via BRENT ZORICH PRODUCTIONS that is based on experiences with previous employers. St. Charles Preparatory High School THE Ohio State University A lot of people claim to aspire to be like Walt Disney; this is why I feel as though I am: I could do his work day schedule based on my experiences and resume. I could start the morning looking and specifying construction documents on an EPCOT type park or retail store; from there I could sit down at my desk and do computer animation (both film and game) for several hours; afterwards, because I am an industrial designer, I could review and specify the products going out the door on the shelves; then, since I’ve directed actors in motion capture before and done shorts, I could handle live action responsibilities; lastly, because I am trained in marketing and brand identity, I could work on a marketing campaign and commercials for a company and package them via web, television, ads, or in motion picture. I am currently getting a second masters in engineering so I can be on the front end and handle all of the software creation as well. People say they are “Like Walt Disney” because they like Disney’s intellectual property. I say I am like Walt Disney because I can do his job. I would love to be involved in a film, game, or piece of architectural sculpture where not only I have creative control over the project, but I am given the opportunity to make people laugh, cry, shiver with fright, and become overwhelmed all within a controlled time span, as Walt Disney has done, like Snow White.   TO THE RIGHT: My character that I have done technical direction on selected for the cover of a Star Wars title; one of the most prestigious honours in entertainment. Myself at eight months old. Mike Tyson done at COAA when 14. Michael Jordan done at COAA when 15. I have always been a fan of illustrating athletes. I love the muscular tension of their bodies and I try to capture their competitive spirit. These are two pictures of myself at football and basketball in the eigth grade at St. Pius X Elementary. I am still looking for my little league soccer and baseball/ t-ball pictures. High School scholar Athlete at St. Charles Prep (3.7 GPA)   Second year Varsity Letterman award and Senior yearbook.   My childhood mentor, head of COAA, Ms. Donna Boiman (age 6 to age 18) Central Ohio Art Academy (COAA) ACCAD at THE Ohio State Universtiy   The French Field House at THE Ohio State University   Actor Jeremy Bulloch who played Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi. He and I are on linkedin together and I sent him the link to my Boba Fett in Star Wars The Force Unleashed II. A very rewarding experience in my professional career. My Boba Fett in Star Wars The Force Unleashed II Morrill Tower and my dorm room at THE Ohio State University Resident of Morrill Tower (the football dorm) 1993-1994 I took an online personality survey answering twenty questions identifying what famous character I would be and ironically I was revealed to be Boba Fett. LINK     3D ARTIST MAGAZINE INDUSTRY INSIDER Note: portions of magazine article subtext misleading. Characters shown on 360 and PS3 version of Indiana Jones and The Staff of Kings (the version I helped cancel due to gameplay) were untouched by myself. The character technical director that I hired and led did the manual work on Obi-Won and Player Tatooine (I trained and oversaw him). 3D Artist Online Article Myself in the football dorm (age 18), Morrill Tower, at THE Ohio State University with my friends, captain Dr. Greg Bellisari, MD (linebacker who went on to play for Tampa Bay in the NFL) and Bobby Houser (tight end). Greg and I were such good friends freshman year and in college I tried to get him to join my fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Many a nights playing Mortal Kombat together in the dorms. I shared a room with a walk on football player and had a Sega Genesis. I attempted to walk on the team but did not make it. I had the strength but not the speed (bench pressing 315 pounds, curling 185 pounds, and squatting 365 pounds as a freshman- I was also running the stairs at Morrill Tower as well as plyometrics and sprints at the French Field House) ; I was not used to electronic 40 yard dash time test. My hand time was a 4.9. I was also suffering from bronchitis (on anti biotics) during tryouts. I only tried out freshman year. At a 4.9, I do not have the closing speed to play in The Big Ten at OSU. I could have gone to Accelerate Ohio in the off season and dropped my forty time to a 4.6 or a 4.5 and potentially made the team as a sophomore. However, at 6'2" and 210 pounds and running a 4.6 hand time forty, I knew I would never be drafted in the NFL so I focused on undergraduate Industrial Design school instead. During training, I was eating a pound of meat everyday. I went to Coach Cooper's Football school throughout high school. Ohio State is the top design school in the country and I was given honorary admission from high school. Ohio State football is a forty hour a week job, and Industrial Design school is a sixty hour a week job: an impossibility. (In graduate school at ACCAD I was pulling near 70 hours a week; at Take Two I was at about 60 a week; and at EA Sports and Lucasfilm I was at about 70, only billing 50). I do this because I care about the quality of product. As a freshman in high school,I was the starting inside linebacker on a team that went 9 -1. Our varsity coach, who typically went 3-8 every year had difficulties assigning starting roles, I was switched to defensive end and only rotated in (that plus the injuries- pulled groin muscle sophomore year - physical therapy- and bad allergic reactions to hay fever that nearly hospitalized me junior year- shots). At tryouts for Ohio State, I tried out for strong safety and special teams. I pride myself on being one of the most succesfull alumni from the College of the Arts from THE Ohio State University and am always willing to talk to students. My cousin on my father's side - Hall of Fame Inductee Mr. Dan Marino. The Volpes, my Italian grandparents on my Dad’s side, from eastern Ohio,  are related to the Marino’s from Pittsburgh. I was approached by the editor of 3D ARTIST magazine on doing a story on both my portfolio and my biography. My scholastic research interests were discussed as was my advise to those trying to break into this industry. Lastly, the topic of film game convergence was key to the interview. This is a worldwide publication owned by Imagine Publishing and is headquartered in England.The equivilent of 3D ARTIST in athletics is Sports Illustrated. Attitude... ... team ... compete ... train ... achieve ... win ... we can ... confidence level     Astrology...   “All around their house I see the signs. They look but do not see. This is a house that will break into pieces. It’s not too late. All my pains, my regrets, I will gather them together. They will hear me calling, even though I’ve said no words. They will climb the stairs to find me. They will be scared because at first their eyes will see nothing. They will feel in her heart this place where they hide their fears. They will know I am waiting like a tiger in the trees, now ready to leap out and cut their spirits loose.”.... modified words from Amy Tan - The Joy Luck Club December 6th 1974 Sagittarius      Tiger   Sagittarius:   Steven Spielberg, Bruce Lee, Walt Disney (Dec 5th)   Tigers:   Phil Knight   Sagittarius Tigers:   Bo Jackson (#1 in two professions: baseball and football- I worked for the #1 companies in both architecture and entertainment), Giovanni Ribisi (actor- Saving Private Ryan and Avatar- the top grossing movie of all time) Myself at the Lucasfilm Holiday Party. The entire warddrobe is Hugo Boss. Affiliations...   Lucasfilm, Ltd. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Lucasfilm Animation Singapore LucasArts The Skywalker Ranch Lucasfilm Animation Take 2 Interactive EA Sports Electronic Arts Burpee Museum THE Ohio State University DreamWorks SKG ACCAD Central Ohio Art Academy (COAA) Siggraph AIA Gensler IIDA NBBJ ILM Alumni Network (linkedin) Imagine Publishing NBA NFL NCAA Jordan PGA 3D Artist Magazine Microsoft XBOX 360 Sony Playstation 3 Nintendo Wii Nike St. Charles Preparatory High School Sigma Alpha Epsilon Top of Page

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