Alyssa Zarate
Art Director | Environment & Matte Painting Specialist | VFX Mentor
Professional Background
Alyssa is a leading VFX Art Director with over a decade of experience on projects like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Academy Award Winner), The Last of Us, and Game of Thrones. She specializes in environment design, matte painting, and creative leadership, mentoring artists to achieve cinematic excellence.
What I Offer
Workshops & Training:- Mastering matte painting and creating photorealistic environments.
- Creative leadership for managing teams and delivering on vision.
- Burnout prevention and mental health strategies for creative industries.
Speaking Engagements:
- "From Burnout to Breakthrough: Navigating the Creative Industry"
- "Designing Cinematic Worlds: The Art of Environment Creation"
- "Mastering Matte Painting: Techniques for Every Level"
Past Talks and Workshops
Alyssa has shared her expertise at events like SIGGRAPH, Women in Animation, and IM4 Media Lab, inspiring creatives to excel in their careers and build sustainable practices.
Why Choose Alyssa?
Alyssa’s ability to blend artistic innovation with leadership and mentorship makes her an ideal speaker or trainer. Her commitment to inclusivity ensures her sessions resonate with diverse audiences, driving meaningful impact.
Albert Szostkiewicz
VES Award-Winning FX Supervisor | VFX Mentor | Pipeline Architect
Professional Background
With over 20 years in the visual effects industry, Albert has led teams at Weta Digital, ILM, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. He supervised the FX for Dune, which won an Academy Award, and contributed to high-profile projects like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Fantastic Beasts. His expertise blends technical innovation, creative artistry, and mentorship.
What I Offer
Workshops & Training:- Advanced Houdini workflows for FX and procedural design.
- ACES and color science integration for film and TV pipelines.
- Pipeline optimization for seamless cross-department collaboration.
Speaking Engagements:
- "20 Years of Lessons: A VFX Supervisor’s Journey"
- "The Art of Mathematics in Visual Effects"
- "Mastering Color Spaces for Film and TV"
Past Talks and Workshops
Albert has presented at events such as SIGGRAPH, Promised Land, and studio-hosted training sessions, sharing insights on cutting-edge workflows and industry trends.
Why Choose Albert?
Albert combines a deep technical understanding with a passion for mentorship, empowering artists and teams to push creative and technical boundaries. His tailored approach ensures every session is practical, inspiring, and impactful.
We believe in creating opportunities for all artists, regardless of background. Through The VFX Mentor, we’ve mentored artists from underrepresented communities, offering free workshops and guidance to help them break into the VFX industry. If your organization supports emerging talent, we’d love to collaborate to inspire the next generation of creators.