Reflections & Insights from 40 Years of Eclectic Computer Art, Storytelling, Teaching & Learning
Description: From directing animated short films and ‘flying logos’ in the 1980’s, to first joining ILM in 1991 for Hook, to building and supervising an innovative ‘image engineering’ department for Douglas Trumbull in 1993, founding senior technical director at Digital Domain and supervising Warner Brothers' first in-house computer graphics group; Terrence’s early experiences embracing new disruptive, creative technologies in art, animation, and filmmaking energized him for the coming explosion of radically and ever-evolving creative tools. Single-handedly creating the opening title sequence for Batman Forever and the original computer animation technique for South Park in 1996, embracing ‘impossible’ never before imagined challenges was the norm. Returning to ILM to work on the Star Wars special edition trilogy, then leaving again in 2000 to focus on emerging new interactive entertainment by producing video game cinematics, supervising SimCity 4 interactive content, and as Xbox Director of Development for the Bruce Lee launch title.
20 years of collaboration, hands-on production, experimentation, mentorship, and research, publishing “CG101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference”, would be the foundation of the next 20 years, transitioning to leadership and teaching, program and curriculum development in higher education. After teaching at the Ex’pression Center for New Media in the Bay Area, Terrence relocated to the East Coast to lead the animation department and create an interdisciplinary Creative Industries program at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2006. Continuing his fascination with new emerging technologies, co-founded the augmented reality company Building Conversation in 2012. All the while, as a founding member of the Visual Effects Society, long-time member of the Producer's Guild, and contributor to SIGGRAPH, FMX, and View conferences, Terrence’s international speaking experience, including as an ACM Distinguished Lecturer, includes over 100 lectures, keynotes, and panels on storytelling, collaboration, and creative technologies. Now, after 10 years as MFA Computer Arts chair and founding director of The School of Visual Arts Graduate Center, Terrence will reflect on the depth and breadth of impact from AI technologies on creative expression and the importance of being human.
