Sony Pictures Imageworks, the Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation company, has elevated two of its industry veterans to key creative leadership positions:
Michael Lasker will take on the role of Creative Director, CG Features. In addition to his VFX supervisor role, Lasker will collaborate with filmmakers as they engage on new CG feature projects at Imageowrks and help promote the company’s world-class look of picture team.
Nicola Lavender will take on the role of Director, CG Supervision. In addition to her VFX supervisor role, Lavender will oversee the studios’ CG and DFX Supervisors, providing strong leadership to those in these vital roles.
Lasker and Lavender will report to Michelle Grady, President of Sony Pictures Imageworks.
“Delivering exceptional work to our clients and stunning visuals to global audiences is a team effort that requires strong creative leadership. We are thrilled that Michael and Nicola have agreed to these additional responsibilities, strengthening the creative voice within Imageworks,” said Grady.
Lasker has over two decades of experience working on live-action and animated features. His recent credits include the visually innovative Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines and the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
“Collaborating with filmmakers, artists and innovators to push the boundaries of artistry is at the core of what we do at Imageworks. I am excited for the creative journey that lies ahead,” said Lasker.
Lavender is currently serving as VFX supervisor on the upcoming animated feature In Your Dreams for Netflix. With almost two decades of experience working on live-action and animated features, she most recently served as CG supervisor on the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Smallfoot.
“I am thrilled to lead our talented CG and DFX supervisors. These groups are some of the most passionate, creative and innovative in the industry and I am excited to see what we can achieve in the future,” said Lavender.
Sony Pictures Imageworks, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., has created visuals for more than 100 live-action and animated productions over its 31-year history. Most recently, Imageworks completed work on Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Sea Beast for Netflix, Columbia Pictures & Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home, Netflix & Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Vivo, and the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
The studio is currently in production on Sony Pictures Animation’s K-Pop: Demon Hunters, In Your Dreams for Netflix, and Columbia Pictures’ Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Sony Pictures Entertainment is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
