Terrence Masson
Encyclopedia
Terrence Masson is an independent Producer and Director of the Creative Industries program at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He was both the ACM SIGGRAPH
2006 Computer Animation Festival Chair and 2010 Conference Chair. He also wrote the widely acclaimed book "CG 101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference".
in 1989 with a BFA
in Graphic Design
and a minor in Art History, followed by William Paterson University
in 1990 with an MFA
in Computer Animation
.
He came up through the ranks with credits in approximately 20 feature films, including three Star Wars
movies, Hook
, True Lies
and Interview with a Vampire
. Masson began his own consulting company, "Digital Fauxtography", in 1994 and still serves as a Creative Producer, Director and VFX Supervisor. He also single-handedly developed the original animation technique for South Park
in 1996.
Masson's interactive projects have included Cyberia 2, Sim City 4, Batman: Dark Tomorrow
, and Alter Echo
and the Xbox
launch title Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon
. As an award-winning Director and Producer his short animated film Bunkie & Booboo won first place in the World Animation Celebration in 1998. He currently consults with major production studios world-wide on creative development and pipeline efficiency. Masson also currently serves as an on-camera image analysis expert for the History Channel’s UFO Hunters
.
As Director of Creative Industries at Northeastern University in Boston, Masson oversees seven combined majors in Game Design and Interactive Media as well as the Creative Industries minors. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America
, the Visual Effects Society
and has been active in SIGGRAPH
since 1988, most recently as the 2006 Computer Animation Festival Chair and currently as the SIGGRAPH
2010 Conference Chair.
SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH is the name of the annual conference on computer graphics convened by the ACM SIGGRAPH organization. The first SIGGRAPH conference was in 1974. The conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals...
2006 Computer Animation Festival Chair and 2010 Conference Chair. He also wrote the widely acclaimed book "CG 101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference".
History
Masson graduated from the University of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
in 1989 with a BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Graphic Design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
and a minor in Art History, followed by William Paterson University
William Paterson University
William Paterson University is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: , , , , and ....
in 1990 with an MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in Computer Animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
.
He came up through the ranks with credits in approximately 20 feature films, including three Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movies, Hook
Hook (film)
Hook is a 1991 American fantasy film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, and features Maggie Smith, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, and Dante Basco. Hook acts as a sequel to Peter Pan's original adventures, focusing...
, True Lies
True Lies
True Lies is a 1994 American action-comedy film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Charlton Heston, and Art Malik. Eliza Dushku also appears in the film in one of her first major film roles...
and Interview with a Vampire
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles is a 1994 American drama and horror film directed by Neil Jordan, based on the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. The film focuses on Lestat and Louis, beginning with Louis' transformation into a vampire by Lestat in 1791...
. Masson began his own consulting company, "Digital Fauxtography", in 1994 and still serves as a Creative Producer, Director and VFX Supervisor. He also single-handedly developed the original animation technique for South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
in 1996.
Masson's interactive projects have included Cyberia 2, Sim City 4, Batman: Dark Tomorrow
Batman: Dark Tomorrow
Batman: Dark Tomorrow is a console video game exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox systems, based on DC Comics' Batman. It was developed by HotGen and published by Kemco in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics...
, and Alter Echo
Alter Echo
Alter Echo is a third-person action game developed by Outrage Entertainment and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms in 2003....
and the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
launch title Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon
Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon
Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon is a beat 'em up video game featuring martial artist Bruce Lee. It was released in Europe and America for the Xbox in 2002.-Story:...
. As an award-winning Director and Producer his short animated film Bunkie & Booboo won first place in the World Animation Celebration in 1998. He currently consults with major production studios world-wide on creative development and pipeline efficiency. Masson also currently serves as an on-camera image analysis expert for the History Channel’s UFO Hunters
UFO Hunters
UFO Hunters is an American television series that premiered on January 30, 2008 on The History Channel, produced by Motion Picture Production Inc., and ran for three seasons....
.
As Director of Creative Industries at Northeastern University in Boston, Masson oversees seven combined majors in Game Design and Interactive Media as well as the Creative Industries minors. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America
Producers Guild of America
Producers Guild of America is a trade organization representing television producers, film producers and New Media producers in the United States. The PGA's membership includes over 4,700 members of the producing establishment worldwide...
, the Visual Effects Society
Visual Effects Society
The Visual Effects Society is the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of...
and has been active in SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH is the name of the annual conference on computer graphics convened by the ACM SIGGRAPH organization. The first SIGGRAPH conference was in 1974. The conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals...
since 1988, most recently as the 2006 Computer Animation Festival Chair and currently as the SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH is the name of the annual conference on computer graphics convened by the ACM SIGGRAPH organization. The first SIGGRAPH conference was in 1974. The conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals...
2010 Conference Chair.
Films
- HookHook (film)Hook is a 1991 American fantasy film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, and features Maggie Smith, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, and Dante Basco. Hook acts as a sequel to Peter Pan's original adventures, focusing...
(1991) - Color of NightColor of NightColor of Night is a 1994 American erotic mystery thriller film produced by Cinergi Pictures and released in the United States by Hollywood Pictures. Directed by Richard Rush, the film stars Bruce Willis, Jane March, Ruben Blades, Lesley Ann Warren, and Scott Bakula...
(1993) - Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire ChroniclesInterview with the Vampire: The Vampire ChroniclesInterview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles is a 1994 American drama and horror film directed by Neil Jordan, based on the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. The film focuses on Lestat and Louis, beginning with Louis' transformation into a vampire by Lestat in 1791...
(1993) - True LiesTrue LiesTrue Lies is a 1994 American action-comedy film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Charlton Heston, and Art Malik. Eliza Dushku also appears in the film in one of her first major film roles...
(1993) - Under Siege 2: Dark TerritoryUnder Siege 2: Dark TerritoryUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory is a 1995 American action film set on board a train traveling through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Los Angeles. Directed by Geoff Murphy, it stars Steven Seagal as the ex-Navy SEAL, Casey Ryback and is the sequel to the 1992 film Under Siege also starring Seagal....
(1994) - Judge DreddJudge Dredd (film)Judge Dredd is a 1995 American science fiction action film directed by Danny Cannon, and starring Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Rob Schneider, Armand Assante, and Max von Sydow. The film is based on the strip of the same name in the British comic 2000 AD...
(1994) - Woodstock: 25th Anniversary (1994)
- Batman ForeverBatman ForeverBatman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is a sequel to Batman Returns , with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as Batman...
(1995) - Cutthroat IslandCutthroat IslandCutthroat Island is a 1995 action adventure film directed by Renny Harlin. The film stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a major box office bomb: listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest box office flop of...
(1996) - AnacondaAnaconda (film)Anaconda is a 1997, adventure-horror film, directed by Luis Llosa, starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Owen Wilson, and Eric Stoltz. It centers around a film crew for National Geographic who are kidnapped by a hunter who is going after the world's largest giant anaconda, which is...
(1996) - The Lord Protector: The Riddle of the ChosenThe Lord Protector: The Riddle of the ChosenThe Lord Protector: The Riddle of the Chosen is a 1996 fantasy film starring Patrick Cassidy and directed by Ryan Carroll. The film was released under the alternate title The Dark Mist.-Plot:...
(1996) - The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition) (1996)
- Return of the Jedi (Special Edition) (1997)
- SpawnSpawn (film)Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film loosely based on the comic book of the same name, by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé , the film stars Michael Jai White in the leading role...
(1998) - Small SoldiersSmall SoldiersSmall Soldiers is a 1998 American action/science fiction film directed by Joe Dante starring Gregory Smith and Kirsten Dunst. The film revolves around two teenagers , who get caught in the middle of a war between two factions of sentient action figures, the Gorgonites and the Commando...
(1998) - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenaceStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenaceStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...
(1999) - Fantastic FourFantastic Four (film)Fantastic Four is a 2005 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four. It was directed by Tim Story, and released by 20th Century Fox. It is the second live-action Fantastic Four film to be filmed. The previous attempt, a B-movie produced by Roger Corman only for the...
(2004)
Videogames
- Cyberia 2: Resurrection (1994), Virgin InteractiveVirgin InteractiveVirgin Interactive was a British video game publisher. It was formed as Virgin Games Ltd. in 1981. The company became much larger after purchasing the budget label, Mastertronic in 1987. It was part of the Virgin Group...
- Bruce Lee: Quest of the DragonBruce Lee: Quest of the DragonBruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon is a beat 'em up video game featuring martial artist Bruce Lee. It was released in Europe and America for the Xbox in 2002.-Story:...
(2002), Universal Interactive - Sim City 4 (2002), MaxisMaxisMaxis is an American company founded as an independent video game developer in 1987. It is currently a subsidiary of Electronic Arts . Maxis is the creator of one of the best-selling computer games of all time, The Sims and its first sequel, The Sims 2...
- Alter EchoAlter EchoAlter Echo is a third-person action game developed by Outrage Entertainment and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms in 2003....
(2003), THQTHQTHQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices... - Batman: Dark TomorrowBatman: Dark TomorrowBatman: Dark Tomorrow is a console video game exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox systems, based on DC Comics' Batman. It was developed by HotGen and published by Kemco in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics...
(2003), KemcoKEMCO, sometimes referred to as Kotobuki System Co., Ltd., is a Japanese video game developer and publisher established in 1984 as a subsidiary of Kotobuki Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd, located in: Seika, Japan.... - Midnight Club IIMidnight Club IIMidnight Club II is the first sequel to Midnight Club: Street Racing, published for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. Players race through cities inspired by Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo...
(2003), Rockstar GamesRockstar GamesRockstar Games is a major video game developer and publisher based in New York City, owned by Take-Two Interactive following its purchase of UK video game publisher BMG Interactive. The brand is mostly known for Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, L.A...
Books
- CG101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference (1997), New Riders Press
- CG101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference, 2nd Edition (2007), Digital Fauxtography
Special venues
- Luxor (ride film) (1993), Trumbull Co.
- Mars Odyssey (ride film) (1995), Simex Digital Studios
External links
- Terrence Masson's Official Website
- Creative Industries at Northeastern University
- Digital Fauxtography Official Website