Habib Zargarpour
Encyclopedia
Habib Zargarpour is an Iranian
born art director who is also active in visual effects
in Hollywood.
films in Los Angeles. He graduated with distinction in Industrial Design
from the Art Center College of Design
in Pasadena in 1992 and discovered his passion for design in film.
He spent 9 years at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) where he first joined the team of The Mask
in 1993 as a Technical Director. Subsequent projects included the development of such effects as the particle tornadoes in Twister, the digital oceans and stormy seas in The Perfect Storm, Spawn
’s cape, and the pod race simulations and crashes in Star Wars Episode I.
While at ILM, he was nominated for two Academy Awards
in Visual Effects
for Twister and The Perfect Storm
and garnered two British Academy Awards for those films working with Visual effects supervisor
Stefen Fangmeier
. He worked as a Digital Effects Supervisor with John Knoll
on the pod race sequences in Star Wars Episode I and on two Star Trek films: Star Trek Generations and Star Trek First Contact, working on the never before seen space anomalies and the Phoenix rocket launch sequence. Other creative projects at ILM included all digital underwater shots of Matt Damon
in The Bourne Identity
, and the alien creatures in Signs
.
Zargarpour continues to value the CG industry as the perfect mix of technical and artistic realms. Since 2003, Habib has worked as a Senior Art Director at Electronic Arts on driving and racing titles. His projects included Need for Speed Underground and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
. In 2006 he Art Directed a next generation title called Need for Speed Most Wanted for which he received a VES (Visual Effects Society
) Award in 2006.
As of May 2010, Zargarpour is a creative director of Microsoft Game Studios
.
Zargarpour is an active member of AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), and a founding member of the Visual Effects Society
.
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
born art director who is also active in visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
in Hollywood.
Biography
Habib Zargarpour has had almost two decades of experience in visual effect for film. He had worked as a graphic artist and fine arts illustrator since 1981, and began his career in visual effects for film in 1990 when he spent a few years working on digital effects for IMAXIMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
films in Los Angeles. He graduated with distinction in Industrial Design
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
from the Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in Pasadena in 1992 and discovered his passion for design in film.
He spent 9 years at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) where he first joined the team of The Mask
The Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
in 1993 as a Technical Director. Subsequent projects included the development of such effects as the particle tornadoes in Twister, the digital oceans and stormy seas in The Perfect Storm, Spawn
Spawn (film)
Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film loosely based on the comic book of the same name, by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé , the film stars Michael Jai White in the leading role...
’s cape, and the pod race simulations and crashes in Star Wars Episode I.
While at ILM, he was nominated for two Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in Visual Effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
for Twister and The Perfect Storm
The Perfect Storm (film)
The Perfect Storm is a 2000 dramatic disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It is an adaptation of the 1997 non-fiction book of the same title by Sebastian Junger about the crew of the Andrea Gail that got caught in the Perfect Storm of 1991. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg,...
and garnered two British Academy Awards for those films working with Visual effects supervisor
Visual effects supervisor
In the context of film and television production, a visual effects supervisor is responsible for achieving the creative aims of the director and/or producers through the use of visual effects...
Stefen Fangmeier
Stefen Fangmeier
Stefen Markus Fangmeier has been a visual effects supervisor of numerous major feature films, including Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Saving Private Ryan, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Twister, Perfect Storm and Master and Commander...
. He worked as a Digital Effects Supervisor with John Knoll
John Knoll
John Knoll is a visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic . One of the original creators of Adobe Photoshop , he is recently best known for his work as Visual Effects Supervisor on the Star Wars prequels and the 1997 special editions of the original trilogy...
on the pod race sequences in Star Wars Episode I and on two Star Trek films: Star Trek Generations and Star Trek First Contact, working on the never before seen space anomalies and the Phoenix rocket launch sequence. Other creative projects at ILM included all digital underwater shots of Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
in The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity (2002 film)
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency . The film also stars Franka...
, and the alien creatures in Signs
Signs (film)
Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham...
.
Zargarpour continues to value the CG industry as the perfect mix of technical and artistic realms. Since 2003, Habib has worked as a Senior Art Director at Electronic Arts on driving and racing titles. His projects included Need for Speed Underground and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
007: Everything or Nothing is a third-person shooter video game, where the player controls James Bond. Bond is modeled after and voiced by the former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, making it his final performance for the character in game and film...
. In 2006 he Art Directed a next generation title called Need for Speed Most Wanted for which he received a VES (Visual Effects Society
Visual Effects Society
The Visual Effects Society is the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of...
) Award in 2006.
As of May 2010, Zargarpour is a creative director of Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
.
Zargarpour is an active member of AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), and a founding member of the Visual Effects Society
Visual Effects Society
The Visual Effects Society is the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of...
.
Filmography
- Silver CordSilver cordIn metaphysical literature, the silver cord, also known as the sutratma or life thread of the antahkarana, refers to a life-giving linkage from the Higher self down to the physical body...
(2009) - SignsSigns (film)Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham...
(2002) - The Bourne IdentityThe Bourne Identity (2002 film)The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency . The film also stars Franka...
(2002) - Aizea: City of the Wind (2001)
- The Perfect StormThe Perfect Storm (film)The Perfect Storm is a 2000 dramatic disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It is an adaptation of the 1997 non-fiction book of the same title by Sebastian Junger about the crew of the Andrea Gail that got caught in the Perfect Storm of 1991. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg,...
(2000) - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Snake EyesSnake Eyes (film)Snake Eyes is a conspiracy thriller film directed by Brian De Palma, one featuring his trademark use of long tracking shots and split screens. It starred Nicolas Cage, Gary Sinise and Carla Gugino....
(1998) - SpawnSpawn (film)Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film loosely based on the comic book of the same name, by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé , the film stars Michael Jai White in the leading role...
(1997) - Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
(1996) - Twister (1996)
- JumanjiJumanji (film)Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy-comedy film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move. It was directed by Joe Johnston and is based on Chris Van Allsburg's popular 1981 picture book of the same name...
(1995) - Star Trek: GenerationsStar Trek: GenerationsStar Trek Generations is a 1994 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. Generations is the seventh feature film based on the Star Trek television series and the first film in the series to star the cast of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.Parts of the film...
(1994) - The MaskThe Mask (film)The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. This film was directed by Chuck Russell, and produced by Dark Horse Entertainment and New Line Cinema, and originally released to movie theatres on July 29, 1994 through New Line...
(1994) - Adventures in Dinosaur CityAdventures in Dinosaur CityAdventures in Dinosaur City is a 1992 television film directed by Brett Thompson. The story revolves around three teenagers who are transported into their favorite TV show, "Dino Saurs".-Plot:...
(1992)
Art direction
-
- Need for Speed: ShiftNeed for Speed: ShiftNeed for Speed: Shift is the 13th installment of the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed; published by Electronic Arts. It was announced in December 2008 as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Nitro and Need for Speed: World...
– Consulting Art Director (2009) - Need for Speed: NitroNeed for Speed: NitroNeed for Speed: Nitro is a 14th installment in the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed. It was published by Electronic Arts for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms, It is also the only game to date in the franchise to not be made for PC. It was announced in January as part of a...
– Consulting Art Director (2009) - Need for Speed Most Wanted – Senior Art Director (2006)
- James Bond 007: Everything or NothingJames Bond 007: Everything or Nothing007: Everything or Nothing is a third-person shooter video game, where the player controls James Bond. Bond is modeled after and voiced by the former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, making it his final performance for the character in game and film...
– Senior Art Director (driving missions) (2003) - Need for Speed Underground – Senior Art Director (2003)
- Need for Speed: Shift