Tristan Nieto

Visual Effects Artist – Cinematographer – Editor

Phone +44 (0) 7 855 761 794
Email [email protected]
Website http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/

About Me.
Over my ten-year career in film, television and video, I have worked in almost every
position imaginable. After surviving the baptism of fire that is the Australian independent
scene, I have returned to London, keen-eyed and quick-witted, with the confidence to take
on any task. I am entirely self-trained; all my skills and experience are the result of my own
investigation and hard work, and as a result I find myself drawn to others of a similar
resolve. I've worked freelance on many projects with low budgets and few resources that
have survived simply by virtue of ingenuity, camaraderie and strong coffee.

Technical Experience and Knowledge.

I have come to know Final Cut Studio inside out, from capturing to mastering and
everything in between. I have discovered and solved practically every issue one could
encounter. Covering the whole breadth of the package, I have taken projects through Final
Cut Pro, Soundtrack, Colour, Compressor and DVD Studio.
I am well known for pushing Adobe After Effects far outside its usual corporate
confines into high-end effects and 3D compositing. By incorporating Photoshop and
Illustrator I can streamline and simplify even the most daunting tasks that would have
many people looking for a flame suite.
I have extensive experience shooting with virtually every format available in every
conceivable environment. From Panasonic’s HD Varicam, to hand-cranked Pathex 9.5mm,
I have filmed frozen mountains, deserts, underwater, greenscreen and even in miniature.
I have a steadily growing background in 3D, particularly in match-moving,
modeling and compositing, whilst developing skills in Cinema 4D, Shake, PF Track and
Boujou.
On top of all this, I can confidently navigate Premiere, Media 100 and Avid, rewire
a small TV studio with minimal risk of electrocution, and load an Arriflex 435. I could
point to the business end of the Macromedia Suite, fix a Local Area Network, make a
decent espresso, hold a conversation in French and play Beethoven’s Klaviersonate No. 14
in C-Sharp Minor on the piano1.

Equipment.
I have my own editing suite, running Final Cut Studio 2 with all the trimmings. I
also have the Adobe Creative Suite 3, which includes After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator,
Flash and more. Along side this I run Shake, Cinema 4D, Poser and Blender as well as
Silhouette, Boujou and a bundle of utilities for conversion, compression and conformation.

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Possibly all at the same time, although this remains untested.

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 Recent Experience

PG Tips: Sustainable Tea - 2008

Format: Corporate
Gauge: HD
Role: Visual Effects Artist
Client: PG Tips, Scramble Soho
Director: Jamie Russell.
This short piece involved wire removal to bring to life the eponymous Monkey; PG Tips'
puppet mascot and host of the video. Produced in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance,
Monkey talks about PG Tips' commitment to sustainable growth and fair trade.

Kenji Yoshida: Artist of the Soul (in Post-Production)

Format: Feature Documentary
Gauge: Various
Role: Motion Graphics Artist
Director: Ishmael Fiifi Annobil.
In production for the 2008 UNESCO conference in Paris, this documentary explores the life
and work of one the world’s greatest, yet relatively unknown living artists - Kenji Yoshida. As
with any documentary, the film combines source material from all forms of media, and
requires intensive motion graphics to unify the piece visually whilst complimenting the
subject and his art.

Self-Portrait (in Post-Production)

Format: Short Film
Gauge: HD
Role: Cinematographer
Director: Andrea van Caspel.
Shot in a Victorian mansion in Swiss Cottage in May 2008, this surreal film follows an artist
and her connection to her self-portrait. Introspective and emotive, Self-Portrait demanded a
complex unity of symbolism and imagery, with the bulk of the story told with lighting and
composition.

Smoke & Mirrors – 2008

Format: Short Film
Gauge: HD
Role: Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Visual Effects Artist/Editor
Production Companies: Cinema Viscera & Seventh Floor Productions.
Smoke & Mirrors is an intensely stylised piece, which involved complex camera work and
strong lighting that underwent heavy grading and effects work. Over half the film was
rotoscoped and the background recreated in 3D before being composited back into the final
image. Before-and-after effects comparisons can be seen online at
http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/tristan-nieto-showreel_20.html.

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 The Rusalka – 2008
Format: Short Film
Gauge: HD
Role: Cinematographer
Production Company/Director: Wolfsbane Films/Dale Bamford.
This period horror set in the Carpathian Mountains was actually shot on location in the
Australian countryside. The film tells of 'the rusalka' - the slavic legend of a young woman's
ghost trapped in the lake where she was murdered. Without the aid of fog or snow machines,
I used a subtle combination of colours and carefully chosen camera angles to replicate the
atmosphere that is unique to the Carpathians.

The Bazura Project – 2006 to 2007

Format: Television Programme
Gauge: Various (SD broadcast)
Role: Technical Director
Production Company: Seventh Floor Productions.
Winner of 3 Antenna Awards, (Best Comedy Programme, Best Arts Programme, Best
Director), and nominated for 6 more, The Bazura Project is a weekly entertainment news
satire. As Technical Director, I supervised the entire technical team, created all effects and
graphics, shot and directed both studio and field sessions, designed and animated the
opening title sequence (which can be seen online at http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/
03/bazura-project-opening.html) and produced the final master for all 24 episodes.
The Bazura Project followed a unique format in that every episode started with a spoof of a
classic film. Amongst those covered were:
• King Kong (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/bazura-opening-king-kong.html),
• The Blues Brothers (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/blues-brothers.html),
• Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/fear-loathing-in-
las-vegas.html), and;
• Manhattan (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/manhattan.html).
In addition to covering the latest film news, interviewing film makers and reviewing new
releases, The Bazura Project also ran weekly feature stories with subjects ranging from the
first feature length film - (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/la-triviata.html), to
the life of history’s worst director, Alan Smithee - (http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008
/03/bazura-feature-story-alan-smithee.html).

Vocam – 2004 to 2007

Format: Corporate Video
Gauge: SD (DVC Pro 50)
Role: In-House Senior Editor
Directors: Dylan Volkhardt & Carlo Zeccola.
As senior editor and cameraperson for Vocam Worldwide, a company that creates OH&S
programmes, I completed over twenty projects, featuring recreations of industrial accidents,
2D and 3D animations plus online interactive components. I also created DVD menus with
foreign-language versions adhering to their respective OH&S laws and regulations.
Numerous examples of my work at Vocam can be seen online at
http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/. Please see page seven for a comprehensive list of titles.

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 Election 2007: Countdown to a Letdown
Format: One-off TV Special
Gauge: Various (SD broadcast)
Role: Technical Director
Production Company/Director: Seventh Floor Productions/Lee Zachariah.
Featuring talent from numerous entertainment shows, this one-hour special followed the
results of the 2007 Australian federal election. As Technical Director, I managed all facets of
the studio recording sessions, from lighting and camera, though to taping and audio
recording. Once in post-production I created and integrated all graphics and effects and
animated the opening title sequence whilst supervising editing and mastering. To see the
opening title sequence from this programme, go to
http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/election-2007-countdown-to-letdown.html.

Lost Time – 2007

Format: Feature Film
Gauge: SD Video
Role: Cinematographer/Co-Editor
Director: Lee Zachariah.
Lost time is a low budget feature following a young man who reunites with his old friends
after living abroad for many years. Constantly skating the edge between drama and comedy,
Lost Time needed a versatile approach that could allow seamless transition of emotions
whilst remaining entirely in the film’s single location.

The Body (in post-production)

Format: Short Film
Gauge: HD
Role: Cinematographer
Production Company/Director: Snowgum Films/Daniel Knight.
Filmed in January of 2008 on the exotic beaches of “Thailand”, (actually the slightly less
exotic beaches of Apollo Bay in southern Australia), The Body is the story of a nameless
corpse that washes onto the beach and of the two people who discover it. Tackling the
elements and some less-than-waterproof prosthetics, The Body was a unique project to work
on. Trying to create fear and foreboding on the lush and sun-drenched shores of the
Australian southern coast proved challenging.

Wagons "Snakebite" - 2007

Format: Music Video
Gauge: HD
Role: Cinematographer/Visual Effects Artist
Client: Wagons
Production Company/Director: Seventh Floor Productions/Lee Zachariah.
If Primus were a country & western band, they would be Wagons. One of the most
entertaining new acts in Melbourne, Wagons produced this music video to coincide with the
release of their latest album. For this project I worked as Cinematographer and visual effects
artist, as well as colour-timed and mastered the final product. Get ready to hoe-down at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PWA9JP1YhI

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 Compass TV Commercial - 2005
Format: Television Commercial
Gauge: Super 16mm
Role: Cinematographer/Editor/Visual Effects Artist
Client: Compass Pools
Production Company/Director: Seventh Floor Productions/Lee Zachariah.
Advertising an automated, self-cleaning pool system, this project was complex as it involved
underwater photography, graphic compositing and image manipulation. It was produced as
30 second and 15 second versions, as well as a 5 second sponsorship tag. The complete ad
can be seen on my showreel at http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/compass-pools-
tvc.html.

15/15 Film Festival TVC - 2007

Format: Television Commercial
Gauge: HD
Role: Motion Graphics Artist
Client: 15/15 Film Festival
Director: Kess Broekman-Dattner.
The 15/15 Film Festival is an annual competition where teams of filmmakers are given 15
hours to make a short film from scratch. For this ad I created a graphic that was used as the
tag at the end of 3 commercials that screened on TV and in Cinemas. The tag can be seen at
http://tristannieto.blogspot.com/2008/03/1515-film-festival-graphic.html, or check out the
festival’s website: http://www.filmfestival15.com.

The Morning After – 2005

Format: Short Film
Gauge: HD
Role: Cinematographer
Production Company/Director: Snowgum Films/Daniel Knight.
Winner of Best Short Film at Fantasia, Fitzroy and the Trasharama-A-Go-Go film festivals,
this comedy-horror, set in a small room, revolved around a character that was unable to
either move or speak. The film presented many challenges, in terms of lighting and
composition, which came from having limited time and resources whilst trying to avoid
repetition and bland uniformity. The film can be seen at
http://www.snowgumfilms.com/themorningafter/.

Heartless/Senseless – 2007
Format: Short Film
Gauge: SD Video
Role: Visual Effects Artist
Director: Joel Baldini.
A short and sweet tale of fetters and cherished possessions, Heartless/Senseless involved
complex colour grading, such as isolating individual objects and hues within a black-and-
white canvas. Produced with the assistance of the Melbourne University Filmmaker’s Fund.

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 SPASA TV Commercial - 2004
Format: 30 second Television Commercial
Gauge: 16mm
Role: Cinematographer/Editor/Visual Effects Artist
Client: Swimming Pool and Spa Association
Production Company/Director: Seventh Floor Productions/Tim Egan
Unlike most ads, the focus of this TVC was more on promoting the positive aspects of the
industry. From a brief and voice-over script, I developed a visual approach incorporating
underwater photography, graphics and visual effects to create a sense of security and trust
through symbolic imagery and association.

Mrs. Pinkwhistle “Charm the Pants” - 2004

Format: Music Video
Gauge: DV
Role: Cinematographer
Production Company/Director: Scott Jordan Productions/Scott Jordan.
Described as ‘A rock band you’d take your Grandma to see’, Mrs. Pinkwhistle combines post-
punk riffs with offensively cute electronica. This music video combined live performances
from the band with guest performances from Australian actors, including Ian Smith
(‘Harold’ from Neighbours). Bright colours and simple compositions evoked a warm and
inviting environment, reminiscent of classic children’s television.

SPASA Expo Stand - 2004.

Format: Multi Screen Looping Images
Gauge: HD
Role: Animator/Visual Effects Artist
Client: SPASA - Swimming Pool and Spa Association.
Production Company/Director: Seventh Floor Productions/Tim Egan.
During the SPASA Expo ’04, the organisers requested a series of looping animations to
showcase the year’s award winning pools and spas. For this project, I took images from their
design portfolio and combined them with a tiled motif, based on their existing corporate
identity, to create a 10-minute looping animation.

Personal Information

Education
St. Paul’s High school 1992-1998 (97th Percentile, National).

Nationality
Dual British-Australian.

Interests & Hobbies

Film & television. Music. Art. Travel. Physics & Mathematics.

Referees available upon request.

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Filmography: Vocam Projects – Tristan Nieto

Title Role Director

Confined Space Atmosphere Testing Vis FX, Motion graphics Dylan Volkhardt
Personal Protective Equipment Title design and graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Retail Manual Handling Title design and graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Carlo Zeccola
Shift Work Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Working Capital Management Motion graphics, DVD menu design Carlo Zeccola
Hazardous Substance Safety Motion graphics, DVD menu design Dylan Volkhardt
Understanding Eye Safety at Work Title design and graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Managing Change in the Office Motion graphics, DVD menu design Katrina Kyredis
Office Leadership Skills Motion graphics, DVD menu design Katrina Kyredis
Forklift Safety 2D Animations, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Forklift Stability 2D Animations, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Office Security Motion graphics, DVD menu design Dylan Volkhardt
Construction Safety DVD Menu design Dylan Volkhardt
Heights Safety 2D Animations, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Noise Safety 2D Animations, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Office Fire Safety DVD Menu Dylan Volkhardt
Industrial Fire Safety DVD Menu Dylan Volkhardt
Mining Safety DVD Menu Dylan Volkhardt
Building Site Accident Prevention DVD Menu Dylan Volkhardt
Understanding Safety for the Office Editor, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Understanding Safety for Industry Editor, Motion graphics, Vis FX, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt
Health & Hygiene Editor, DVD menu Dylan Volkhardt

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