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Tom Kendall

Executive Producer of Visual Effects

Employer: Ascent Media/Encore

Major: Theatre

Minor: Theatre Performance

Graduation Year: 1981

Other Education: Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory

Geographic Region: Los Angeles, California

Biography

I currently work as a VFX producer for several television shows including House, Entourage, and Castle among others. I run a VFX department, which is part of a Post Production facility in Hollywood. I owned a theatre in LA for 18 years. The well rounded education that I got from UE certainly prepared me for my life after graduation. I am a firm believer that the more you are exposed to the better you will be able a decision on what it is that you what to do.

I have been in the entertainment business since 1977. My extensive background in theatre extended to the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre where I was a company member. Upon my arrival in Los Angeles, I was a founding member of the Tamarind Theatre. I started off as a production coordinator and materialized into full time producer, director, and eventually a co-owner of the Tamarind.

While at the Tamarind I produced over 250 plays and musicals. I also oversaw all day-to-day operations of the Theatre as well as the Tamarind Production Company. Duties included play development, casting, scheduling , bookkeeping, costume design, program lay out/design, marketing, fundraising and fiscal budgets. Throughout my tenure I worked with such theatre notables as Sir John Neville, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ron Glass, Paige O’Hara, George Furth, Ben Stiller, Hattie Winston, Sanaa Lathan, John Cusak, Diane Baker, Charles Busch, Nora Dunn, Richard Kline, and Wel Ferrel and among others.

In 2002, I joined the staff of Encore Hollywood, a post-production house, as a producer for television, film, commercials and music videos visual effects. I am currently the Executive Producer of visual effects. I am responsible for budgets, maintaining working relationships with artists and clients, scheduling and creative input for the following shows: House, My Name is Earl, Entourage, Big Love, Castle, Huff, Medical Investigation, Heartland, Charmed, Wanted, What about Brian, Passions, Revelations, Tell me you love me and Dirty Sexy Money among others. My commercial clients include, ESPN, the Discovery channel, Lucas Arts, Sprint, Burger King. Music videos include, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jonas Brothers, John Corbett, Don Yute and the recent Grammy award winning “God’s gonna cut you down” by Johnny Cash.

What I love about my job

I love the interactions with my staff and the various TV show personnel that come to our facility. A few years ago, I was asked back to Evansville to participate in an anniversary at Shanklin Theatre. It was a wonderful experience and at that time I remember thinking, what a great program you have with John David Lutz. It’s a very unique program that really prepares students for the professional world. I am very proud to be a graduate of the program.

My advice to people considering this field

Know that you may have to work from the bottom up. Sometimes just getting your foot in the door is all you need.

Contact Tom Kendall

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