Chieftain, whose real name is Joe Zaffuto, is a founding member and key component of Laggin’ Out Entertainment. Although he is usually seen communing in the Discord servers or streaming on Twitch, his background is in Visual Effects. From stream skins to special effects on the Laggin’ Out Podcast, his skills are on full display for hobbyists and professionals to see.
Zaffuto earned his BFA in Animation at Ringling College of Art in Sarasota, Florida; he proceeded to earn his MFA in Animation at the Academy of Art University of San Francisco, California, with a focus on Hard-Surface Modeling. His first job was as a Generalist for modeling, but he was able to find a niche by using his skills for lighting. Honing his abilities, Zaffuto soon found himself as the Lighting Lead. To this day, his tools of choice are AutoDesk MAYA for 3D graphics, Cinema 4D, and the Adobe Suite, among other various programs.
After working on films and video games with such companies as Disney Interactive and EA, Zaffuto took up teaching. As an Online Professor, he is able to pass on his skills to the next generation of 3D artists. Within his first year, he was recognized for his outstanding achievement in teaching, being able to empathize with students to help them succeed.
Zaffuto’s hard work has culminated in arguably the most impressive and important moment in his career: acceptance into the Visual Effects Society. VES is an international organization that honours individuals for their technical prowess in the field of visual effects, digital or otherwise. They review movies for internal awards, host special screenings across the globe, and offer workshops by professionals for professionals. To be a literal card-carrying-member is to be a part of a globally recognized guild that seeks to further the field of visual effects through learning and networking.
The process is no small feat. To be eligible for membership in the VES, one must meet the following requirements: up-to-date IMDB account information as proof of resume; 2 VES Members in good standing that write a letter of recommendation; and 5 years of on-the-job experience. Following this, one submits their application with appropriate fees and dues and awaits board approval, which meets bi-annually
Mr. Joseph Zaffuto, VES Member #6262, was accepted on November 13, 2019. He is thankful for the many who’ve had a hand in the journey he’s made, but there are three individuals in particular he’d like to offer a special thanks. Ms. Ellen Schmitt (Head of Production, Brickyard VFX) and Ms. Gina Downing (Lead Flame Artist, Brickyard VFX) wrote letters of recommendation on behalf of Mr. Zaffuto, for which he is incredibly thankful. Their glowing letters bolstered Zaffuto’s application and were pivotal in his acceptance. Mr. Ryan Haywood (Achievement Hunter and Rooster Teeth) worked with Zaffuto to develop his skills, but also taught him about production pipelines, giving him first-hand experience in leadership and management.
Congratulations, Chieftain, on your achievements!
Leave a Reply