Meet our alumni
Jason Korbor - Visual Effects Digital Animation
Original program: Visual Effects Digital Animation
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver/CDIS
Grad Year: 2002
Program of Study: Visual Effects Digital Animation
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Stargate Studios
Location: Vancouver
Job Title: Digital Supervisor
Primary Responsibilities: Creative/Quality control of Visual FX and management of artists.
Describe a Typical Work Day:
The first thing I would do is to assess the visual effects shots for the day, and to determine what needs to be done on them, how best to do them, and which artist should do them. After we start seeing some renders, I make sure to give technical and creative notes in order to get the shots to where the client wants them to be. If the artists are having problems on the shots, it is my job to give advice as to how to do the shots as quickly and effectively as possible.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of winning a 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or Special for Ridley Scott’s Gettysburg and my 2006 nomination for a VES Award for Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video for Steven Spielberg’s Into the West. My biggest accomplishment, however, is probably my longevity and varied career. In the decade that I’ve been doing this I’ve worked on over eighty different TV series and feature films, including The Walking Dead, The Killing and Supernatural. I’m also proud to have worked on teams of talented artists that have won or been nominated for two Emmy Awards, four VES Awards and one Leo Award.
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
The first movie I ever saw in a theatre was Star Wars in 1977. I was as thrilled as any other five year old who saw the movie, but I left the film with a burning desire to know how they made it. That desire stuck with me for my entire life and led me to this career. So I can safely say George Lucas is still a creative inspiration and hero of mine. I also grew up watching movies like Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans on television, and was thrilled by what Ray Harryhausen was showing me.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
I mostly enjoy being part of something that thrilled and influenced me at a young age. I used to get a rush at seeing my name in the credits, but at this point in my career, I’m happiest passing my knowledge on to others and nurturing them as artists.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
I think the best thing the school did to prepare me was how to work in a collaborative environment, and how to take criticism and use it to improve my work.
What advice do you have for the people beginning their careers in your profession?
The best advice is to learn as much as you can from those around you. Also, don’t get too down on yourself if you fail. You learn more from mistakes then you ever do from successes.
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
I think we’re shifting more and more to a place where there will be more telecommuting. I already work with artists in multiple countries and cities. As networks get faster, I can see this trend increasing.