The Groundbreaking Style of The Mitchells vs. The Machines

All presentations are available in the virtual platform on-demand.

Speaker(s):
Lindsey Olivares, Sony Pictures Animation, United States of America
Mike Lasker, Sony Pictures Imageworks, United States of America
Alan Hawkins, Sony Pictures Imageworks, United States of America
Nicola Lavender, Sony Pictures Imageworks, United States of America

Talk Description: Join artists from Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation for an exclusive behind-the-scenes presentation of The Mitchells vs. The Machines, now streaming on Netflix. Artists will discuss the artistic and technological challenges of creating a visual style that has never been seen before through the lens of the story of an everyday family’s struggle to relate, while technology rises up around the world!

Speaker(s) Bio: Lindsey Olivares is the production designer and lead character designer on Sony Pictures Animation's original animated comedy "The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” streaming now on Netflix. Before joining Sony Pictures Animation, Olivares worked as a freelance visual development artist and illustrator with a focus on character design and caricature. Her freelance clients have included Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Locksmith Animation, Nickelodeon, Google, Furry Puppet Studio, Titmouse, Hornet Inc, Psyop, Airbnb, Pinterest, and Facebook. Her film credits include DreamWorks Animation’s “Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted,” “Penguins of Madagascar,” and “Trolls,” as well as Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Emoji Movie.”

Michael Lasker is a VFX supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks with over two decades of experience working on live-action and animated features. His recent credits include “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” from director Mike Rianda and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and the Academy Award®-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Lasker is currently working on the much-anticipated sequel to “Spider-Verse,” coming to theaters in October 2022. Valuing teamwork and collaboration, Lasker previously served as a computer graphics supervisor on: “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” “Cloud With a Chance of Meatballs,” and “Hotel Transylvania.” He began his computer graphics career in New York City working on commercials for leading advertising agencies. Lasker received a BFA in computer graphics from Syracuse University.

Alan Hawkins is a Head of Character Animation at Sony Pictures Imageworks, most recently completing work in his role on Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” and “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,” for which he also serves as Associate Producer. Hawkins most recently served as animation supervisor on Sony Pictures Animation’s “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation,” “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” and “Hotel Transylvania 2.” Hawkins previously served as animation supervisor on the “Popeye” animation test and as a lead animator on “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” “Cloud With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” and “Arthur Christmas.” His other credits include the Academy Award®-nominated “Surf’s Up,” Robert Zemeckis' “Beowulf” and the original “Hotel Transylvania.” Alan joined Sony Pictures Imageworks in 2004 to work on Sony Pictures Animation's first feature film, “Open Season.” Hawkins is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, and grew up in Littleton, Colorado.

Nicola Lavender is a CG supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks with over 19 years of experience working on live-action and animated features. She most recently supervised the look of picture team on the animated feature THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES, responsible for crafting the stylized look of the of the movie. Previously, Lavender supervised the lighting team on the animated feature SMALLFOOT, for Warner Animation Group and served as look development team lead before being promoted to CG supervisor on THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE. Lavender joined Imageworks in 2005 and has worked on numerous projects including the Academy Award®-nominated SURF’S UP and ALICE IN WONDERLAND, I AM LEGEND, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA and EDGE OF TOMORROW. Prior to Imageworks, Lavender served as a technical director at Framestore on the features UNDERWORLD, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOLBET OF FIRE. Lavender is a graduate of Bournemouth University with a degree in computer animation and visualization.