Lon Molnar
CEO, Sr. VFX Supervisor
It takes leadership to co-found and build a successful visual effects company, just as it takes leadership to guide a team of creative yet diverse digital craftsmen on such successful projects as Zack Snyder's recently released Watchmen (2009), Babel (2006) or The Matador (2005).
Whether as CEO of Intelligent Creatures or as a leading Visual Effects Supervisor, Lon shows leadership in spades. If we don't say so ourselves, this leader's a natural.
Lon began his career in graphic design but then caught a particularly virulent strain of a well-known bug - a passion for making pictures move. After cutting his teeth in computer animation at the Vancouver Film School, Lon worked on a dizzying array of projects across North America, developing a profound expertise in animation and visual effects. Commercials, MOWs, television series and feature films have all fed his inexhaustible appetite for professional growth and achievement.
Today, Lon is a leader in Toronto's Visual Effects community with a reputation for achieving filmic excellence by working with creative people, especially filmmakers, who share the same passion for detail and design.
Lon's innovative leadership extends well beyond the Company itself. Convinced that today's leaders share an obligation to develop the leaders of tomorrow, he makes significant contributions in guiding aspiring youth at various educational facilities.
Bojan Zoric
Art Director
With his roots in the traditional fine arts and illustration Bojan Zoric became attracted to the creative challenges presented by matte painting and concept development for film and television.
While working in four major Toronto Studios in the past nine years on such films as Chicago (2002), Land of the Dead (2005), Outlander (2008), Max Payne (2008) and on numerous commercials and television shows, Bojan leaned towards environment and creature development, overall look development and eventually Art Direction.
Having joined Intelligent Creatures in 2008, Bojan has contributed to such films as Everybody's Fine (2009), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) and Battle: LA (2011).
As an Art Director, he enjoys the challenge of reconciliation between custom tailored visual development and the collaborative nature of the production pipeline.
Che Spencer
Executive Producer
Che Spencer is a Visual Communications Specialist with over 15 years of experience in television and film production. He has received recognition and moved into progressively more senior positions based on his exceptional skills in the areas of team building, client service, project management and leadership. In addition, Che has worked closely with some of the most talented and innovative producers and creative directors in North America.
Che’s proven abilities as a creative producer and talented production manager have resulted in multiple awards for clients and partners including; Gemini Award Nuremburg Trials(2001), Sports Emmy : Production Design Superbowl Graphics Package (2001) and a member of the team that received the Sports Emmy Award for best-broadcast design package of SuperBowl 2003 & MLB Tonight 2009.
Personally, Che thrives in a team-oriented, fast paced environment where his experience, ingenuity and leadership consistently produce the highest quality of product.
Darren Bell
Executive Producer
It was after his first chaotic week on set working for a small Toronto production company that Darren knew he had found his calling. He is attracted to the unpredictable nature of the business as well as to the infinite opportunities to challenge himself and learn.
Darren moved to Visual Effects after a thorough grounding in production. His production experience included contributions to the feature films K19: The Widow Maker (2002) and The Circle (2001) as well as to the television series Monk (2002). Such production experience has given him the tools to help a film come to life, from the first key strokes to the final product. His foray into Visual Effects began with The Sentinel (2006) to which he contributed as an Associate Visual Effects Producer and as an Assistant to the Executive Producer.
With a Geography degree from Carleton University, Darren knows how to find his way around any set. He is also a Certified Mediator, a qualification Darren obtained because even he believes there should be limits to chaos.
Benoit Drouin
Executive Producer
Benoit is a self-starter, with over 20 years experience in post-production.
Benoit started as a post-production editor and then moved over to the administrative side where he served as coordinator, project manager, producer and Executive VP/Operations Manager for Buzz Image Group.
At Buzz Image Group, Benoit led a team of over 100 full-time employees, developing a pipeline of sales for the Montreal, USA and the Hispanic market for visual effects and animation, for film and advertising.
He has also distinguished himself in the USA and Hispanic market by working on accounts such as, Coors Light, Sc Johnson, Burger king, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Verizon, as well as on films such as Eternal Sunshine, Brokeback Mountain, 300, Stay, The Flood and The covenant.
Benoit's experience as an administrator, dynamism and creative side are assets that make him a leader in visual effects.
Jean Yves Martel
CFO
Jean-Yves is a highly experienced executive producer. He is uniquely qualified in high-risk film financing and international corporate taxation. Jean-Yves has produced many award winning projects, including "The Old Man and the Sea", which received an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
He is co-founder of the Giant Screen Consortium and has produced many successful interactive and immersive theatre experiences as well as several IMAX features.
While working as an executive producer for FxCartel Inc. he has gained exceptional experience producing numerous special effects for major American Productions.
Selected credits include: Green Hornet (2011), Across the Universe (2007), Stranger Than Fiction (2006).
Johnny Cheung
Managing Director of International Development Asia
A Canadian citizen, upon graduating from the University of Toronto, Mr. Cheung returned to Hong Kong where he set up various businesses. He focused his financial and marketing skills on business and product development in areas such as computer components and software, advertising production designs and real estate developments.
He was the co-founder and marketing director of Cinetech Production Group, specializing in documentary short film production for HK Radio/TV, German TV and local advertising agencies.
As a noted strategist, Mr. Cheung diversified financial and business knowledge and his entrepreneurial strength has equipped him with the necessary skills for strategic international business development and operations. He was also nominated to the Chinese Canadian Entrepreneur Award in year 1998. In 2000, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Chinese in Canada in the“Global Outstanding Chinese Magazine for the Century”.
Since 1999, Mr. Cheung has increasingly focused on the market in Mainland China, networking with the Chinese government and local corporations, including media and real estate projects, marketing, capital investment and strategic planning.
Rene Pardo
Strategic Business Development
Mr. Pardo is a graduate of McGill University (Bachelor of Science 1968) and Harvard, M.Ed. 1969, Phi Delta Kappa (Association for outstanding achievement in education).
Mr. Pardo co-invented the world’s first electronic spreadsheet in 1969 and developed the world’s first on-line conference registration and messaging system which was implemented for the International Film Festival during Expo 1967.
Actively involved with technology and the arts, Mr. Pardo was the co-founder of McGill’s first computer society; and with the National Film Board and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts he co-organized the world’s first international computer art exhibit. In 1967 at the National Film Board in Montreal, Mr. Pardo created one of the world’s first artistic computer animations with Norman McLaren (often referred to as the “grandfather of animation).
Claude Chabot
Legal & Business Affairs
Claude brings over 45 years of financial experience to Intelligent Creatures. Starting as a film broker in 1964, he quickly gained experience in both sales and producing.
By 1984 he was the Executive V.P. of Cineplex Odeon Canada. After 15 years there he decided to branch out and founded Group Popcorn. Group Popcorn is active in many cinematographic activities such as tax program consultation, accounting activities and accounting revisions for government programs across Canada. Group Popcorn is also a publicity firm representing many film companies including Fox, Warner Bros., Columbia, Disney, Alliance and many more.
Claude is now an integral part of Intelligent Creatures contributing his wealth of knowledge and extensive relationships.