Testimonals

Justin Gladis

Lead Environment Artist, Blue Sky Studios

Jacob is the rarest kind of talent. He is a formidable Lighter and Compositor, bold in Look Development, and skilled painter and designer. I've most deeply respected his approachability and great humor, even on short deadlines and difficult circumstances. We've worked closely on some very unusual generalist-led sequences and he has always tackled each task with humility, true collaboration, and while also excelling in developing and pitching his work to Directors and Art Directors. I've felt privileged to work closely with him and have now seen him shine in leading his own team with the same skill and spirit that always has made him stand out. I see only greater things in the future for him and offer my highest recommendations.

Jacob is the pinnacle of skill, positivity, and kindness. He was always ready to work and always with a smile. He took my shot lighting notes graciously and hit them very quickly. His ability to move quickly through numerous shots was a real asset. He had a welcomed sense of humor when things were difficult for everyone in the sequence. He not only did his own job but was always looking to help others or always asked if there were tasks he could help me out with. He was knowledgeable and friendly when reaching out to others in upstream depts.

Jacob was very adept in using the key light rig and applying it quickly and efficiently. He checked everything in the scripts and always asked good questions when they arose.

Jacob was always a team player. When the dreaded "Redos" began on our sequence, he stepped up to the plate and took on the very arduous task of documenting all shots on a spreadsheet, checking all redos for a particular sequence, updating the shots, re-rendering them, and then sent them back to render. It was not an easy task, yet he did it with a smile and was always gracious about it.

Jacob is a strong communicator as well. He was patient and always let me know if he had a road block of any kind. He always expressed interest in helping me if I had any tasks to help alleviate my load.

Jacob always hit his deadlines or exceeded his deadlines. I knew I could assign him the more complex shots because he worked so efficiently.

He is gracious and humble while still exuding the confidence needed to succeed. He is always willing to help but also very open to suggestions and tips. He asks questions which is a huge asset to learning. As a friend, he was the best cube mate anyone could ever have. I am not sure how work life will be without him by my slde.

Rosalinda Malibiran

Lead Lighting Artist,
Blue Sky Studios

Nikki Tomaino

Lead Materials Artist,
Blue Sky Studios

I’ve been fortunate to have collaborated with Jacob over several productions at Blue Sky Studios. As a team member, a leader and an artist, he is a stand out at the company. Upon first coming to Blue Sky, it was clear that he could grasp our technical workflows very quickly while also keeping in step with any creative challenges presented to him. He maintains a very clean and efficient workflow, allowing him to maneuver challenging creative notes within very tight schedules. His aesthetics are spot on and celebrated by Art Directors. In no time, Jacob was leading a team of artists through sequence lighting. My role as a Character Lead in Materials, meant that collaborating with him and his team was vital to the final look and success of a sequence. It is in this capacity that I grew to appreciate just how special it is to work in a team with someone like Jacob. His skills, kindness, and fervent devotion to his craft are rarely found in one artist. You will be hard pressed to find a better candidate to round out your team.