PHOENIX DERBA
he/him
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Phoenix Derba is an animation professional based in Culver City, California. He seeks work primarily in virtual production, story art and storyboarding, and live-action camera departments. His most notable credit is on James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash as a motion capture and virtual stage technician. He has further experience working with Cameron's 3D camera company Lightstorm Vision as a technician.
In 2023, he graduated from the Film & Television Production undergraduate program at University of Southern California with an emphasis in cinematography. He also trailblazed Roski School of Art and Design's Visual Narrative Art minor with a focus in illustration.
Growing up in Boston, Massachusetts, he excelled in painting and won multiple honors from the Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Competition for his paintings. He also completed multiple student certification programs at Maryland Institute College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
At USC, Phoenix made his directorial debut in LGBT short film The Game is Golf, worked as director of photography on USC senior thesis He Loves Me Not, and served as graphic design lead and set decorator for College Emmy Award Winning TV drama Provenance. He continues to be involved in the production of many independent short films primarily as a director of photography and gaffer.
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In his free time, Phoenix writes and creative directs a narrative platformer game You're Not the Same with his developing partner Jamie Leodones.