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BIOGRAPHY

Larry Kasanoff

George Johnsen

Wesley Hein

Joshua Wexler
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George Johnsen

George Johnsen is Chief Technology/Animation Officer of Threshold Digital Research Labs (TDRL), a groundbreaking global digital animation and effects production studio.

As a developer of technologies for the entertainment industry, Mr. Johnsen has and continues to work with industry giants such as IBM, Sony, Audio Technica, and Crown to provide better tools for digital production and post-production world. Mr. Johnsen is himself a pioneer of digital post-production. Prior to joining TDRL, Mr. Johnsen co-produced the hit sci-fi TV series Babylon 5. Johnsen utilized his ability to combine and streamline various in-house visual and audio effects to create an independent digital operation for Babylon 5.  The operation became the standard in the industry for streamlined efficiency, controlled costs and high creativity. 

Prior to Babylon 5, Mr. Johnsen founded the digital audio studio, EFX Systems, where he was instrumentally involved in almost every pivotal breakthrough as Hollywood moved into the digital age.
   
Among those events for which Johnsen played a crucial role:
  • The first film posted on tape ("Big Surf," 1982)
  • The first digital theme park production ("The Power Plant" for 6 Flags,  Baltimore, 1984)
  • The first digitally-recorded film score ("The Man With Two Brains," 1984)
  • The first all digital television show (Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories," 1986)
  • The first all digital motion picture ("Final Approach," 1988)
  • The first digital corporate industrial film (NDEI's "Spirit of Flight," 1989)
  • The first entirely digital (picture and sound television series (WB's "Babylon 5")
       
Additionally, while at EFX, feature film credits include:  Mortal Kombat, The Mask, Disclosure, Dumb and Dumber and Talk Radio.  Active in projects featuring computer images since The Last Starfighter andTron, Johnsen is currently developing new methods to bring cost effective computer generated imagery (CGI) to television shows.  He is also the producer of the IMAX format film Avenue of the Giants for the Dunsmuir Conservancy.

Mr. Johnsen served as a key member of design teams contributing to every aspect of the experience on numerous highly-celebrated theme park attractions -- including King Kong and Earthquake for Universal Studios, Hollywood; Ghostbusters, The Hanna Barbera Jetsons/Flintstones Adventure, and Alfred Hitchcock - The Art of Making Movies for Universal Studios, Florida; Cranium Command for EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World; The Boy From Mars for the Kennedy Space Center; RoboCop: The Ride for Running W Productions/Iwerks, Armageddon: The Ride for Euro Disney and Hershey’s 3-D Really Big Show for Hershey Theme Park

Most recently Mr. Johnsen oversaw special effects and animation production Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big, a fully CGI theatrical short for Nickelodeon.

Mr. Johnsen majored in cinema and art at the University of Oregon.




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