Spy Post, a leading post-production company based in San Francisco, has opened a CG division and signed VFX Supervisor & Lead CG Artist Joe Henke. Under Henke's leadership, Spy Post's new division is launching into commercial campaigns for Lexus and Interactive Brokers, and continues their CG work on several high-profile feature films.
“We’re excited to meet the changing nature of our business head-on, and by adding a full-service visual effects, CGI, and animation division, we are supporting the needs of our current telecine and visual effects clients while keeping an eye on new project opportunities,” remarks Spy Post Partner/CEO Eric Hanson.

“From the visual effects perspective, we’ve had the opportunity to work with Joe on two GMC spots and a Saturn campaign,” adds Spy Post Partner/Lead Artist Darren Orr. “His skills as a character animator are unsurpassed, and he brings a deep understanding of the CG, visual effects, and compositing workflow.”

“I’ve known Darren and Eric for a long time,” adds Henke. “Our collaborations in the past have been fun and rewarding – and we produced great work. When Eric contacted me and said that they were expanding into a full-service CG & VFX house, I jumped at the opportunity. The talented producers and artists here are doing exceptional work. It’s my kind of place.”

Henke brings years of VFX supervision, animation direction, and compositing experience in feature films and commercials. Most recently, he ran his own studio, Hero Motion Pictures, where he worked on various advertising film and video game projects with clients including Electronic Arts and Carl’s Fine Films.

As Animation & Digital Effects Supervisor at CIS Hollywood, Henke contributed to such films as “The Matrix: Revolutions,” “Constantine,” “The Core,” “Scary Movie 3,” “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “The Haunted Mansion,” and “My Life in Idlewilde.”

Henke spent four years as Animation Supervisor at Wild Brain in San Francisco on numerous award-winning films and commercials, including Annie winners “Hubert’s Brain” and “Lamisil Alive!” As a freelance animator and digital artist, he has worked on the features “The Haunting,” “Flubber,” “The Relic,” “Ed” and “Species.”

“Spy Post is a unique full-service facility for filmmakers and creatives, and I’m thrilled to be a part of their continuing evolution,” concludes Henke. “I look forward to building a team that can deliver exceptional visual effects and animation for Spy Post’s film, advertising, and music video clients.”