Experienced Team.
We are an accomplished team of artists and industry veterans with a long track record of successful productions.We love what we do.
Our core belief is that happy artists make happy clients. That's why we foster a relaxed work environment, employ staff artists with full benefits, and coordinate jobs with foresight.
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John Gross is a pioneer in the creation of visual effects for television. In 1992, John came to Hollywood to help co-found Amblin Imaging, where he created computer generated visual effects for Steven Spielberg’s TV series, seaQuest DSV. He was also responsible for supervising the team behind the creation of digital effects for Star Trek: Voyager.
With the closing of Amblin Imaging in 1996 John co-founded the Santa Monica based company, Digital Muse, specializing in the creation of visual effects for television, film and commercials. In 2000 John co-created Eden FX where he served as President, Creative Director and Lead Visual Effects Supervisor for the next 13 years contributing to high end television, film and special venue productions.
In 2013 John founded Muse VFX where he continues as President, Creative Director and Lead VFX Supervisor. His pioneering background and technical savvy keep him involved in all aspects of production. John’s belief in the importance of the culture of the company has won him the loyalty of many talented people who continue to help make Muse VFX a successful and evolving force in the visual effects industry.
With the closing of Amblin Imaging in 1996 John co-founded the Santa Monica based company, Digital Muse, specializing in the creation of visual effects for television, film and commercials. In 2000 John co-created Eden FX where he served as President, Creative Director and Lead Visual Effects Supervisor for the next 13 years contributing to high end television, film and special venue productions.
In 2013 John founded Muse VFX where he continues as President, Creative Director and Lead VFX Supervisor. His pioneering background and technical savvy keep him involved in all aspects of production. John’s belief in the importance of the culture of the company has won him the loyalty of many talented people who continue to help make Muse VFX a successful and evolving force in the visual effects industry.
Fred Pienkos is a founder, visual effects supervisor, and senior digital artist at Muse VFX. Drawing on his study of photography, his eye for color, composition, and lighting, combined with his technical expertise, Fred leads development of Muse VFX's efficient and optimized technical pipeline that allows artists to make art, unfettered from inefficient work flows.
Fred is from Chicago where he received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in photography and animation from Columbia College. He began his career in the Chicago advertising scene as a computer animator at Skyview Studios, Post FX, and Editel Chicago.
In 1999 Fred moved to Los Angeles to work on the Star Trek: Voyager series for Santa Monica-based Digital Muse, co-founded by John Gross. In 2000 Fred joined John at Eden FX where they continued to work together for thirteen years. In 2013 Fred and John created Muse VFX, naming it partly in an homage to the company where they first collaborated.
Fred has received five Emmy nominations with one win in 2004. He also won a Visual Effects Society award in 2004. Since then he has been nominated for four Visual Effects Society awards, including the 2013 nomination for National Geographic: Mysteries of the Unseen World in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project category.
Fred and his wife Charlotte live in Los Angeles with their two children. He coaches AYSO youth soccer, and is active in his neighborhood council.
Fred is from Chicago where he received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in photography and animation from Columbia College. He began his career in the Chicago advertising scene as a computer animator at Skyview Studios, Post FX, and Editel Chicago.
In 1999 Fred moved to Los Angeles to work on the Star Trek: Voyager series for Santa Monica-based Digital Muse, co-founded by John Gross. In 2000 Fred joined John at Eden FX where they continued to work together for thirteen years. In 2013 Fred and John created Muse VFX, naming it partly in an homage to the company where they first collaborated.
Fred has received five Emmy nominations with one win in 2004. He also won a Visual Effects Society award in 2004. Since then he has been nominated for four Visual Effects Society awards, including the 2013 nomination for National Geographic: Mysteries of the Unseen World in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project category.
Fred and his wife Charlotte live in Los Angeles with their two children. He coaches AYSO youth soccer, and is active in his neighborhood council.
Starting out in post as an assistant editor, Samantha began her visual effects career in 1996 after landing a position at Digital Muse where she learned the craft of vfx over the next 4 years.
As a coordinator at Eden FX she contributed to a Primetime Emmy win for Star Trek: Enterprise “Countdown” in 2004 and a received a VES Award Nomination in 2010 as a visual effects producer for LOST “The Incident Part 1 & 2".
Besides working in visual effects, she is also a fine art painter and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Digital Arts Certificate. Fine art and digital art experience inform her creative decisions in both producing and painting.
Furthermore, Samantha has leadership training from the Arbinger Institute. As the managing and executive producer for Muse VFX, she utilizes her years of experience and training to help guide the team in their pursuit of excellence.
As a coordinator at Eden FX she contributed to a Primetime Emmy win for Star Trek: Enterprise “Countdown” in 2004 and a received a VES Award Nomination in 2010 as a visual effects producer for LOST “The Incident Part 1 & 2".
Besides working in visual effects, she is also a fine art painter and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Digital Arts Certificate. Fine art and digital art experience inform her creative decisions in both producing and painting.
Furthermore, Samantha has leadership training from the Arbinger Institute. As the managing and executive producer for Muse VFX, she utilizes her years of experience and training to help guide the team in their pursuit of excellence.
STEVE CALDERON
Controller
Steve has years of finance, accounting and administrative experience in the media and entertainment industry. This experience has encompassed the areas of intellectual property creation, development and production/distribution through the various channels of theatrical films, television, home entertainment and digital/online.
He has experience raising equity, structuring and maintaining debt facilities, and has worked on IPOs. His career began in 1981 and has included stints at Orion Pictures, Embassy Home Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment, Pierson Television, Broadband Sports, Method Studios, Artists Management Group, The Firm and Muse VFX.
He has experience raising equity, structuring and maintaining debt facilities, and has worked on IPOs. His career began in 1981 and has included stints at Orion Pictures, Embassy Home Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment, Pierson Television, Broadband Sports, Method Studios, Artists Management Group, The Firm and Muse VFX.
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John Gross is a pioneer in the creation of visual effects for television. In 1992, John came to Hollywood to help co-found Amblin Imaging, where he created computer generated visual effects for Steven Spielberg’s TV series, seaQuest DSV. He was also responsible for supervising the team behind the creation of digital effects for Star Trek: Voyager.
With the closing of Amblin Imaging in 1996 John co-founded the Santa Monica based company, Digital Muse, specializing in the creation of visual effects for television, film and commercials. In 2000 John co-created Eden FX where he served as President, Creative Director and Lead Visual Effects Supervisor for the next 13 years contributing to high end television, film and special venue productions.
In 2013 John founded Muse VFX where he continues as President, Creative Director and Lead VFX Supervisor. His pioneering background and technical savvy keep him involved in all aspects of production. John’s belief in the importance of the culture of the company has won him the loyalty of many talented people who continue to help make Muse VFX a successful and evolving force in the visual effects industry.
With the closing of Amblin Imaging in 1996 John co-founded the Santa Monica based company, Digital Muse, specializing in the creation of visual effects for television, film and commercials. In 2000 John co-created Eden FX where he served as President, Creative Director and Lead Visual Effects Supervisor for the next 13 years contributing to high end television, film and special venue productions.
In 2013 John founded Muse VFX where he continues as President, Creative Director and Lead VFX Supervisor. His pioneering background and technical savvy keep him involved in all aspects of production. John’s belief in the importance of the culture of the company has won him the loyalty of many talented people who continue to help make Muse VFX a successful and evolving force in the visual effects industry.
Fred Pienkos is a founder, visual effects supervisor, and senior digital artist at Muse VFX. Drawing on his study of photography, his eye for color, composition, and lighting, combined with his technical expertise, Fred leads development of Muse VFX's efficient and optimized technical pipeline that allows artists to make art, unfettered from inefficient work flows.
Fred is from Chicago where he received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in photography and animation from Columbia College. He began his career in the Chicago advertising scene as a computer animator at Skyview Studios, Post FX, and Editel Chicago.
In 1999 Fred moved to Los Angeles to work on the Star Trek: Voyager series for Santa Monica-based Digital Muse, co-founded by John Gross. In 2000 Fred joined John at Eden FX where they continued to work together for thirteen years. In 2013 Fred and John created Muse VFX, naming it partly in an homage to the company where they first collaborated.
Fred has received five Emmy nominations with one win in 2004. He also won a Visual Effects Society award in 2004. Since then he has been nominated for four Visual Effects Society awards, including the 2013 nomination for National Geographic: Mysteries of the Unseen World in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project category.
Fred and his wife Charlotte live in Los Angeles with their two children. He coaches AYSO youth soccer, and is active in his neighborhood council.
Fred is from Chicago where he received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in photography and animation from Columbia College. He began his career in the Chicago advertising scene as a computer animator at Skyview Studios, Post FX, and Editel Chicago.
In 1999 Fred moved to Los Angeles to work on the Star Trek: Voyager series for Santa Monica-based Digital Muse, co-founded by John Gross. In 2000 Fred joined John at Eden FX where they continued to work together for thirteen years. In 2013 Fred and John created Muse VFX, naming it partly in an homage to the company where they first collaborated.
Fred has received five Emmy nominations with one win in 2004. He also won a Visual Effects Society award in 2004. Since then he has been nominated for four Visual Effects Society awards, including the 2013 nomination for National Geographic: Mysteries of the Unseen World in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project category.
Fred and his wife Charlotte live in Los Angeles with their two children. He coaches AYSO youth soccer, and is active in his neighborhood council.
Starting out in post as an assistant editor, Samantha began her visual effects career in 1996 after landing a position at Digital Muse where she learned the craft of vfx over the next 4 years. As a coordinator at Eden FX she contributed to a Primetime Emmy win for Star Trek: Enterprise “Countdown” in 2004 and a received a VES Award Nomination in 2010 as a visual effects producer for LOST “The Incident Part 1 & 2".
Besides working in visual effects, she is also a fine art painter and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Digital Arts Certificate. Fine art and digital art experience inform her creative decisions in both producing and painting.
Furthermore, Samantha has leadership training from the Arbinger Institute. As the managing and executive producer for Muse VFX, she utilizes her years of experience and training to help guide the team in their pursuit of excellence.
Besides working in visual effects, she is also a fine art painter and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Digital Arts Certificate. Fine art and digital art experience inform her creative decisions in both producing and painting.
Furthermore, Samantha has leadership training from the Arbinger Institute. As the managing and executive producer for Muse VFX, she utilizes her years of experience and training to help guide the team in their pursuit of excellence.
STEVE CALDERON
Controller
Steve has years of finance, accounting and administrative experience in the media and entertainment industry. This experience has encompassed the areas of intellectual property creation, development and production/distribution through the various channels of theatrical films, television, home entertainment and digital/online.
He has experience raising equity, structuring and maintaining debt facilities, and has worked on IPOs. His career began in 1981 and has included stints at Orion Pictures, Embassy Home Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment, Pierson Television, Broadband Sports, Method Studios, Artists Management Group, The Firm and Muse VFX.
He has experience raising equity, structuring and maintaining debt facilities, and has worked on IPOs. His career began in 1981 and has included stints at Orion Pictures, Embassy Home Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment, Pierson Television, Broadband Sports, Method Studios, Artists Management Group, The Firm and Muse VFX.
Emmy Awards
VES Awards
Our Partners
We've been using Fusion since the early beginnings, and remain in close collaboration with Blackmagic Design's dev team.
In collaboration with Moustrappe we create unforgettable and unparalleled content for shows, exhibits, and attractions.
We helped Lightcraft to mature the Previzion system into a production-hardened solution for realtime virtual sets.
Our virtual sets are the first to be shown in the new Smart Stage of Park City Film Studios, the premier Sundance studio.
Join the team!
We’re always looking for good people to join our team.
Right now, we’re specifically looking for:
Right now, we’re specifically looking for:
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Experienced FX ArtistsMuse VFX is looking to add multiple FX Artists to our team.
A qualified candidate will be able to provide high-end rendered elements for feature film and episodic television projects, be a workflow-savvy, creative problem solver and have experience with fluid and/or liquid solvers in Houdini. Redshift experience a plus.
As an FX Artist, you will work closely with a team to create and troubleshoot elements required for ongoing jobs in production.
Our entire team is working remote, so location is flexible.
To apply for this position, please email join-the-team@musevfx.com with the phrase "FX Artist" in the subject line. Please include a link to your portfolio or demo reel as well as a current resume with references. -
Experienced CG GeneralistsMuse VFX is looking to add multiple CG Generalists to our team.
A qualified candidate will be able to provide high-end rendered elements for feature film and episodic television projects, be a workflow-savvy, creative problem solver and have experience with Redshift, Arnold, Maya, Houdini and Clarisse.
As a CG Generalist, you will work closely with a team to create and troubleshoot elements required for ongoing jobs in production.
Our entire team is working remote, so location is flexible.
To apply for this position, please email join-the-team@musevfx.com with the phrase "CG Generalist" in the subject line. Please include a link to your portfolio or demo reel as well as a current resume with references.