Morris May
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for deprecated parameters".Template:Wikidata image Morris May is an American entrepreneur, TEDX speaker, award-winning Augmented reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) expert, and keynote speaker. May has over two decades of experience working in Hollywood and has also played an integral role in over 30 films. Additionally he created CGI digital effects for the films The Mummy Returns, Star Wars: Episode II, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Godzilla, and Fast & Furious. He has worked with several prolific companies including Industrial Light & Magic, Sony Imageworks, and Animal Logic.[1][2][3]
May after acquiring substantial experience working on Digital Film effects in the film industry, he established Specular Theory.[4] He serves as the CEO of this technology company based in Venice Beach that is known for its groundbreaking innovation in a variety of Immersive technologies.[5][6][7][8]
May is regarded as a pioneer in the virtual reality world, and his VR film “Perspective; Chapter 1: The Party,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, garnered national notice. Throughout his career, he has won many awards and accolades for his expertise in the VR/AR/MR including Streamy Award, VR Fest Award, two Mobius Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award, to name a few. He has also played an integral part in the Academy Award Winning films - Happy Feet best-animated feature film and Spiderman II won for best visual effects.[9]
Early life and education
May was born on September 3, 1968, in Michigan. He later acquired a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Arizona with a specialization in Theatrical Lighting, Photography, and Computers.
Career
May started his career in 1999 as a technical director at Industrial Light and Magic. After working for three years at this firm, May joined (N)tropic as a Head of CG, where he worked for over a year.[10]
In 2003, May started working at Sony ImageWorks as a senior effects artist. He served for over a year at this multi-national company and then joined Animal Logic as an FX Lead. In 2004, May established ProjectileFX, a firm that was active for nine years and offered a vast range of services in Hollywood.[11]
In 2007, May became an FX Lead at Tweak Films, where he worked for approximately a year and then joined Rainmaker Entertainment as an FX Supervisor.[12]
In 2010, May started working at Hydralux, as CGI supervisor where he offered his services for a year. For the next two years, May worked at Prologue and Method Studios in FX along with working for Google and Microsoft as an independent contractor.[13]
In 2013, May founded Specular Theory, a leading technology firm known for offering VR/AR/MR services for defense and enterprises and entertainment. It is an award-winning SBIR Phase II and Phase III company that has gained recognition for its software applications. Under the leadership of May, Specular Theory became the first-ever VR Streamy Award winner in 2016. The company also garnered much attention for the Perspective VR trailblazing original series that was featured in the Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.[14][15][16]
As of 2021, May’s Perspective; Chapter 2: Misdemeanor is set to be featured in the Sundance, as well as the Tribeca Film Festival.[17]
Filmography
| S.No | Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie | 1995 | Digital Artist |
| 2 | From Dusk Till Dawn | 1996 | 3D Team: VIFX |
| 3 | Broken Arrow | 1996 | 3D Digital Artist |
| 4 | Down Periscope | 1996 | 3D Digital Artist |
| 5 | Jingle All The Way | 1996 | Digital Animator |
| 6 | Money Talks | 1997 | Visual Effects Supervisor |
| 7 | Godzilla | 1998 | Effects Animator (CFX) |
| 8 | Wild Wild West | 1999 | Digital Compositor |
| 9 | The Mummy Returns | 2001 | Digital Effects Artist |
| 10 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | 2002 | Digital Effects Artist (ILM) |
| 11 | Underworld | 2003 | 3D Artist: Ntropic |
| 12 | Spider-Man 2 | 2004 | Effects Animator |
| 13 | The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D | 2004 | Compositor: Hydraulx |
| 14 | Robots of Mars 3D Adventure | 2005 | Visual Effects |
| 15 | Bewitched | 2005 | Digital Effects Animator: SPI |
| 16 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 2005 | Effects Animation Technical Director: SPI, Senior Effects Artist |
| 17 | Happy Feet | 2006 | Effects Lead |
| 18 | Spider-Man 3 | 2007 | Visual Effects: Tweak Films |
| 19 | Lions for Lambs | 2007 | Lead Visual Effects Technical Director: Tweak Films |
| 20 | Australia | 2008 | CG Supervisor: Hydralux |
| 21 | Bedtime Stories | 2008 | CG Supervisor: Hydralux |
| 22 | Fast & Furious | 2009 | CG Supervisor |
| 23 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | 2009 | CG Supervisor |
Immersive (Virtual Reality) Awards
- 2018 Best Branded/Commercial VR experience, VR Fest Awards
- 2017 Innov8: V-Commerce Finalist presented by Store No.8
- 2017 Lumiere Award Nominee: Best Live-Action VR
- 2016 Streamy Award Winner: Best VR/360 Experience
- 2016 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection
- 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection
- 2016 VR Fest Award Winner: Best Sports VR Experience
- 2015 Best Live-Action Music Video VR Fest Awards Nominee
- 2015 Best Branded/Commercial VR Fest Awards Nominee
- 2015 Ranked #1 Best 360 Music Video
- 2015 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection
In the media
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References
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