|
I was born in the Silicon Valley in 1964, the son of a poor IBM punch card operator. It was apparent from the beginning that my destiny was to work with computers. Both my parents were trained as traditional artists. So, of course, I ignored the arts in favor of science fiction, microelectronics, and anything 'new'.... Computers, and high technology have fascinated me since the late 1970's, where I earned extra credit in high school for drawing up plans to a single board computer. The school also offered a class in computer programming - using FORTRAN - assignments had to be typed onto punch cards! In 1980, I built some of my first 3D models. Using graph paper I would carefullly craft lists of triplets describing my primitve models. After laboriously entering this data by hand, I would be rewarded with beautiful vector graphics at a resolution of 256x192 by TWO colors. (Really, you had more choices! If you owned a green phosphor monitor, you had green & black - but, an amber monitor meant you got to see it in living amber & black! :^) A move to Reno, NV in 1981 effectively cut me off from my Silicon Valley sources of hardware and information. However, my years in Reno gave me experience in the fields of broadcast television and professional theater. After graduation from high school, I started working for the local NBC affiliate, gaining experience in all aspects of TV production from camera operator and floor director, up to master control operator and technical director. Later, my work at TV-55, an independent local music video station, would expand my video expertise to include commercial production and facilities management. Returning to college, I worked towards a Computer Science degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. My studies focused on learning to program computers, while I minored in art. During a field trip to San Francisco, I realized how far removed Reno, NV was from the hub of computer activity. At about the same time, I was laid off from my job as deck electrician on "Hello Hollywood, Hello". These factors were behind my decision to relocate to the Silicon Valley and pursue my fortunes there. My first job in the Silicon Valley was as a playtester for Epyx. Later, I worked at Strategic Simulations Inc., where I began as game tester, and advanced to the position of product manager. Their work in fantasy role playing simulators was quite fun. Next, I moved to Spectrum HoloByte, because of the work they were doing in the field of virtual reality. As network administrator and sole technical support for a heterogeneous network of over 100 Macs, IBM's, and other platforms, my duties ranged from routine network and email maintenance to performing upgrades and installations of 3 separate Novell networks. For the last nine years, I've been running ELFWorks 3D Construction Co. - a small 3D animation company providing services for the corporate and legal markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've also authored almost a dozen articles about 3D animation techniques for different magazines. Recently, I've taught 3D Animation at the SF Academy of Art College and 3D Exchange in Alameda, CA..
Erik@ELFWorks.com |