We LOVE what we do.
Muse VFX is a team of artists and industry veterans with a long track record of successful productions. We foster a flexible and collaborative work environment because we know happy teammates make happy clients. With our robust pipeline as the backbone; we achieve great results.
Meet the Team
Leadership
Founder - Creative Director - VFX Supervisor
John Gross
John Gross is a pioneer in the creation of visual effects for television. He began his career in 1992, The Year of the Jean Shorts when he was recruited to Hollywood to train and prepare the visual effects team for Steven Spielberg's new series SeaQuest. After his experience on the crew of the first series to commit to CGI, he saw a need for computer-driven vfx for television, commercials, music videos, and film. John started his artist-driven visual effects company, Digital Muse, in 1996 to fill this need. Over the years, John has created client-friendly vfx companies that are collaborative and employee-driven. This has earned him an impressive track record and a loyal following with both clients and the vfx teams alike.
VFX Executive Producer
Samantha Mabie-Tuinstra
Samantha is an experienced visual effects Project Manager for film and television. Besides having produced countless visual effects for high demand tv series and films, she also has Leadership Certification from the Arbinger Institute and is a Certified Transformational Coach. (Yep, we don't know what that is either). Knowing it is possible to have the trust and satisfaction of both clients and artists, Sam helps Muse VFX build and create visual effects teams and work environments where collaboration, innovation, satisfaction, and purpose thrive.
CG Supervisor
Stefan Bredereck
Stefan is the CG Supervisor for Muse VFX and is German. So, this bio is going to be serious.
With over twenty years as a visual effects professional, Stefan's strengths include team leadership, training and utilization, complex problem solving and non-stop innovation. He is known for incredible smoke and explosion effects as well as look-development, lighting and compositing. As Muse's mad professor, Stefan is always cooking up something in the fx lab. We never quite know what he's sinking about doing next!
Founder/Chief Technology Officer/VFX Supervisor
Fred Pienkos
A Columbia graduate, Fred came to VFX via Chicago advertising and post. A visual effects wizard with a deep understanding of pipeline, color and post production technologies, Fred constantly fine tunes the powerful technological engine on which our creativity thrives. Instilling team and individual loyalty as a leader and supervisor, Fred is a crucial part of our success and happiness at here at Muse.
Controller
Steve Calderon
Steve has years of finance, accounting and administrative experience in the media and entertainment industry and that makes him a certifiable gangster. His illustrious career in breaking hearts and balancing books includes stints at Orion Pictures, Embassy Home Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment, Pierson Television, Broadband Sports, Method Studios, Artists Management Group, The Firm and most importantly, Muse VFX.
Atlanta Studio Mgr/VFX Supervisor
Steven Benjamin
Steven Benjamin is such a humble and lovely human, he was officially asked to leave Hollywood. Steven brings a diverse range of vfx experience to projects and is knowledgable in pre and post visual effects production. Over the past decade, he has served as a visual effects Generalist, Compositor, TD, and Supervisor. He relishes absorbing new information, discovering advanced techniques & tactics, and helping teams and crews discover and achieve solid creative solutions to visual effects conundrums.