Habib Zargarpour

Habib Zargarpour graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design with Distinction after receiving a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. He started his film career on 3D IMAX films in Los Angeles, then moving to the Bay Area to work at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as a VFX artist starting with The Mask. He developed the Nexus effect for Star Trek: Generations as well as the planetary explosion and first use of the CG Enterprise, working with VFX Supervisor John Knoll. He worked with VFX Supervisor Ken Ralston on the board game effects for Jumanji. Zargarpour also developed the first particle tornado for Twister working with Senior VFX Supervisor Dennis Muren on the test shot, and later with Stefen Fangmeier on the film VFX. Nominated for two Academy Awards and winner of two BAFTAs in Visual Effects for his work on Twister and The Perfect Storm while at ILM, some of his other film projects include Star Trek: First Contact, Star Wars Episode I, The Bourne Identity, Spawn, and Signs.

Zargarpour served as a Senior Art Director at Electronic Arts (EA) from 2002 - 2009 where he worked on Need for Speed Underground, 007 Bond Everything or Nothing, and Need for Speed Most Wanted for which he received a Visual Effects Society (VES) Award in 2006. He collaborated with Crytek on RYSE: Son of Rome, a launch title for the XBox One. In 2014 he became Director of Visuals for Global Publishing on Quantum Break, Crackdown 3, Scalebound, and ReCore.

Zargarpour has been passionate about using real time techniques in film making and combining his experience in film and games on Transmedia projects in order to cross-pollinate both industries with best practices of each. He is an active member of AMPAS, BAFTA, and a founding member of the Visual Effects Society and the 5D-Conference.