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(written from a Production point of view)

Randolph "Randy" T. Sharp (born 19 June 1965; age 58) is a digital visual effects artist who specializes in modeling, lighting and rendering for feature films. While in the employ of Digital Domain, he has contributed to the production of Star Trek Nemesis, among others co-building with Jay Barton the Nemesis version of the Sovereign-class CGI model, as well as building the CGI model of the Argo for that movie. [1](X)

Upon closure in 2002 of Foundation Imaging, where he was employed as an instructor, Sharp moved over to Digital Domain, Nemesis being one of the first projects he worked on. Sharp has admitted to feeling great pride in his contributions to Nemesis, as he recalled, "When we went to the screening of "Nemesis" on the Paramount lot it was very nice. I had seen so much of the movie in dailies and such that I had an idea of what it was going to be like, but when it was all wrapped up and presented to us it really was a great experience. I will never forget seeing my wife cry when my credit hit the screen. Not so much because my name was up on the screen but more of the fact that she knew that I, and everyone else in that room, really worked are asses off on that project and she was very proud of me. I think I actually enjoyed that more than seeing my name. Don't get me wrong, it was cool to see it, however I am just one of many people that poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears in to the effects work. So, knowing at that point, things were done was very gratifying for me." [2]

Career outside Star Trek[]

Hailing from Santa Clara County, California, USA, Sharp did not start out in the motion picture industry, but worked for ten years as a 3D CAD designer for the semiconducter equipment manufacturer Applied Materials, before changing venue. In 1999 he joined Foundation Imaging, bringing along his strong 3D CAD hard-surface modeling skills, and has worked as CGI prop modeler/modeling supervisor on their television productions Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles (1999), Max Steel (2001), and Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future (2002). While Foundation was at the time already deeply involved with the Star Trek productions, Sharp was not part of the Star Trek team, he instead mostly working as an instructor at the Foundation Institute, Foundation's own in-house instructional facility. [3]

After joining Digital Domain, Randy Sharp has remained in their employ ever since, subsequently having worked as (senior) modeler/supervisor on big budget productions such as The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Beowulf and I Am Legend (2007), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Watchmen, G-Force, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), TRON: Legacy (2010), with Oblivion and 47 Ronin (2013) being some of his more recent work.

External links[]

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