walt batycki

I was a computer animator that created content for TV commercials, public service announcements, and training videos.

Animation on several big budget interactive projects for theme parks were completed, including the Alladin Flying Carpet virtual game and Hercules: the 3D Adventure. Television interstitials for ABC starring the Toy Story characters, a 3D Tinkerbell for a TV special, and animated characters for several prototypes attractions were also created. Other duties included storyboarding, writing short films, involvement in the paperless design project (which used 3D technology to project virtual mock ups of planned park attractions), and assuming the role of Creative Director for an early online project.

Hired by famed composer Michael Giacchino. Traditional animation (paper and pencil) for games distributed by Dreamworks. Other duties included writing and development.

I received several assignments over the course of a few months. All assignments were to develop new ideas for attractions at EPCOT center for General Motors.

This was a satellite position, though technically "in-house". I telecommuted via internet while I was also working at CAS. I was hired by company founders Cindy Ge and Michael Benet to develop original stories for proposed in-house animation projects. I developed several short screenplays, a full length feature, and several series concepts including pilot episodes, series bibles, and entire seasons of episode synopsis for projects to pitch.

I was hired to work for Dreamworks Interactive, but the game division was purchased by Electronic Arts while I was there, and so my employer changed. I was hired to lead an animation team on the PC game Clive Barker's Undying. Duties included training new animators, setting production schedules, animating creatures & first person weaponry, and coordinating animations with programmers for AI. The game received great reviews. Other duties included involvement in the game story, design, and game play. Promotional materials such as a “movie trailer” for the game were also created.

I perform totally unscripted family-friendly improvised comedy in the role of "Evan Greene" the talking Holiday Tree. I greet guests and banter with them through a speaker hidden in an actual tree. The tree has lights which flicker when I speak. I watch the guests from a secret room on a monitor. I was allowed to create the entire persona of Evan Green, including his name and back story, and it has been a lot of fun! Where else would you meet a tough talking pine tree from Brooklyn? Fuggedaboutit!

I am a founding member of this improvisational comedy group which has been performing in New York's Hudson Valley Region. In addition to live performances, I also run an improv workshop at the Catskill Community Center every Thursday. The workshop is free to the public and newcomers are encouraged to participate. I have recently begun offering my improv coaching services for private parties and events, as well as to small businesses that seek to nurture team building and creative thought.

Hired as the only in house animator. Created the animations for many of the humans and creatures in the Zoo Tycoon series of games distributed by Microsoft. Developed several concepts for other games and potential intellectual properties. Lesser duties included the modeling of props and minor characters.

Hired to work on a Spider-Man title for the Playstation. Duties included animating villains, story development, and drawing storyboards for cut scenes. The game was well received.

Duties included supervising the digital ink & paint division, shooting digital scenes, programming virtual camera moves, editing of TV episodes and commercials, computer animation layout, correction of overseas animations, 3D compositing. Shows I worked on include The Maxx, Ren & Stimpy, and various pilots for MTV and Nickelodeon.

I performed in the Catskill regions premier Halloween themed attraction. My role was a speaking part during an epic live horror experience. Though scripted, the role required a lot of improvisation. It involved latex makeup and heavy prosthetic appliances. I coordinated with several other performers in an unpredictable outdoor environment. I received the award for Best Character of 2013 from Headless Horseman for my performance.

Teaching teens the basics of long form Comedy Improv, and sketch comedy writing. Running an adult comedy improv workshop.

My last title was "Outreach Director" (formerly Animal Care Director, and Farm Manager) I was hired by founder and author Kathy Stevens. My duties included writing articles for the newsletters, creating web content, maintaining the Sanctuary's presence on social networks, creating short promotional videos, and organizing and promoting Kathy's book and upcoming events. Non-creative duties included managing and training farm staff, coordinating volunteers, giving tours, visiting schools for educational programs, and administrating medical care to the over three hundred rescue animals. Highlights at CAS included co-writing (and acting in) a promotional comedy sketch show with Saturday Night Live writer Paula Pell, and writing (and appearing in) an educational play.

Activities and Societies: I won the 1990 AMI-EXPO film competition for a 2D computer animated short I created at the college.