Ashraf Ghoniem

1504 N. Benton Way

Los Angeles CA 90026

Email: ashraf.ghoniem@gmail.com

Tel: 310.467.2103

Specialties:

Crowd Simulation, Houdini, Maya, Particle Effects, Procedural Modeling and Animation, Maya Dynamics, PERL, Python, HSCRIPT, and Shake

Experience:

Crowd Artist

DreamWorks Animation

June 2006 – Present (2 years 2 months)

I was one of two people who worked on the feature animation Kung-Fu Panda in crowds. My responsibilities included crowd simulation for shot work. And pipeline development in mel and python for the cycle cloth pipeline.

FX Technical Director

Framestore CFC

March 2006 – May 2006 ( 3 months)

I was tasked with FX animation within Houdini. Including particle simulation, soft bodies, and some vex work. All for the film Blood and Chocolate.

CFX Animator

DreamWorks Animation

June 2005 – March 2006 ( 10 months)

I was working on the Feature "Over the Hedge" my responsibilities include cloth simulation and pipeline development for that task. I have developed a handful of PERL scripts for the pipeline. And run many shots for the show. I have also developed new garments for characters in the show.

FX Technical Director

R!OT Pictures

March 2005 – June 2005 ( 4 months)

Hired short term to develop and apply two fx shots in the feature "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl" my responsibilities included the development of a volumetric jet trail effect for one shot and a smoke for another shot. I developed these within Maya using Maya's fluid system and particles.

Technical Director

Elements Studios

January 2005 – January 2005 (1 month)

Elements was hired to consult for Method Studios on a Toyota commercial. I was involved with development and application of two effects shots in the spot. Within Houdini using particle systems, houdini vex builder, and rendering within mantra.

Technical Director

CIS Hollywood

November 2004 – January 2005 ( 3 months)

I was Hired Short term to create a system for the feature Constantine to make a character's hair to change from black to white. I used maya fur, mayaman, and PRMAN to accomplish this task. I also helped with some misc. particle effects on the show.

Cloth Technical Director

Sony Pictures Imageworks

March 2004 – November 2004 ( 9 months)

I was working on the feature The Polar Express. I was responsible for cloth simulations of many shots in the movie. This includes simulation and clean-up of cloth, as well as following art direction using SPI's proprietary cloth pipeline.

3dfx Artist

Digital Domain

August 2003 – November 2003 ( 4 months)

I worked on the feature The Day After Tomorrow. I was assigned to the twister team to recreate the natural phenomena of debris being picked up by tornadoes. Within Houdini.

Education

Savannah College Of Art And Design

BFA, Computer Art, 2000 – 2003

Tulane University

CS, 1998 – 2000