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Episode 434 – The Threat of AI – Crafty Apes – Co-Founder Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux is the Co-Founder of Crafty Apes, a VFX Supervisor and an Entrepreneur.
Born and bred in Alaska, Chris earned Bachelor’s degree in both psychology and sociology, but his fascination with filmmaking led him to the world of visual effects. He began his career in VFX as a compositor at The Orphanage in 2004. He worked at numerous studios such as Uncharted Territory, Cafe FX and Scanline.
Now a veteran of the film industry, his impressive resume includes compositing and VFX supervision on multiple titles, including 12 Years a Slave, Doctor Strange, Better Call Saul, among others. He has also directed music videos and led visual effects teams for U2, Chris Cornell, New Kids on the Block, Paramore, just to name a few.
Crafty Apes is a full service, boutique VFX company based in Culver City, CA & Atlanta, GA. The company was launched in July of 2011 by three visual effects veterans Jason Sanford, Chris LeDoux and Tim LeDoux. Believing that strong 2D compositing is the backbone behind quality visual effects, Crafty Apes was formed to primarily offer high-end compositing services for feature films and television clients.
Crafty Apes specializes in compositing effects and visual effects supervision. By paying extra attention to the detail and integration that 2D work requires and by working with the best technology available spread among a select group of artists, Crafty Apes can deliver a superior product to higher end clients in a shorter time period.
Their recent credits include: The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Lovecraft Country, Doctor Strange, Hidden Figures, Lalaland, Fist Fight, Pete’s Dragon, Captain America: Civil War, Killing Reagan, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Dirty Grandpa, Allegiant, Insurgent, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Mass, The 33, Foxcatcher, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, The Monkey King, White House Down, Single Mom’s Club, The Last Stand, A Madea’s Christmas and many more.
In this Podcast, Allan McKay and the Co-Founder of Crafty Apes, VFX Supervisor and an Entrepreneur Chris LeDoux do a deep dive into the paradigm shift of Artificial Intelligence: Its effect on the future of VFX, a productive outlook at AI as a way to optimized things, how to train it to your advantage and Chris’s own investments into AI entrepreneurship.
Crafty Apes Website: https://www.craftyapes.com
Chris LeDoux on IMDb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ledoux/
Crafty Apes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crafty-apes-llc
Crafty Apes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyapesvfx/
Crafty Apes on IG: @CraftyApesVFX
Crafty Apes on Twitter: @CraftyApesVFX
EPISODE 434 – CRAFTY APES – CO-FOUNDER CHRIS LEDOUX
Hi, everyone!
This is Allan McKay. Welcome to Episode 434!
I’m interviewing Chris LeDoux who is the Co-Founder of Crafty Apes, VFX Supervisor and an Entrepreneur. In this Part I of a two-part interview, we dive into AI specifically. I think it’s an extremely important topic and Chris is best equipped to talk about it.
Chris and I talk about:
- His experience launching a successful AI business;
- The paradigm shift of Artificial Intelligence – and how to train it;
- AI as a way to optimize your business;
- Why young people are the leading disruptors;
- How AI will affect the future of VFX;
- How to get ahead of AI and use it to your advantage;
- Chris’s own investment in AI entrepreneurs;
- And so much more!
Please take a moment to share this Episode with others.
Let’s dive in!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM ALLAN McKAY:
[1:11:53] One of the biggest problems we face as artists is figuring out how much we’re worth. I’ve put together a website. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com! This is a chance for you to put in your level of experience, your discipline, your location — and it will give you an accurate idea what you and everyone else in your discipline should be charging. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com!
Okay, what did you think? I want to thank Chris for joining the Podcast. I definitely would love to have him back.
I’ll be back next week with the second part of my interview with Chris. We talk about the ROI and taking the risk out of starting a business, why empathy guarantees professional success and so much more!
Until then –
Rock on!
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