With over 20 years experience in media production, Jeff Scheetz has amassed a thorough knowledge of visual story telling through film, video, and animation. Jeff and his wife Anne founded The DAVE School in 2000, offering a program of complete immersion in the art and science of computer animation with extensive practice under industry level supervision. Many of the school’s animation and visual effects shorts are award winners. Before The DAVE School, Jeff worked for the pioneering visual effects company Foundation Imaging where he supervised visual effects projects for Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5, and Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles. In addition, he also worked for Nickelodeon Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Walt Disney Imagineering, and The Disney MGM Studios, where he met Anne.
Anne Scheetz Office Manager & Co-Owner
From the earliest stages of development, Anne Scheetz has played a principal role in the planning and organization of The DAVE School. In addition to caring for their daughter Emilie, Anne manages many aspects of the school's operations. Her previous career relied on her vocal talents. As an on-air personality she co-hosted a morning radio show in the Northeast and served both the Orlando and Los Angeles markets as a news and traffic reporter.
William Vaughan Instructor, Director of Industry Relations
A recipient of several New Media Addy awards, William Vaughan has an extensive background in creative 3D for print, web, multimedia, games, and broadcast. During the last 12 years, he has delivered award-winning work for clients such as Compaq, New Line Cinema, and Halliburton. William has also trained artists at several studios and schools around the world and contributed to six LightWave 3D books throughout 2003 and 2004. In 2002, Vaughan joined NewTek's marketing team as the LightWave 3D Evangelist, working closely with the LightWave development team, key accounts, and the growing number of end users to enhance LightWave's features set. William's focus is on continuously improving the quality of education at The DAVE School, while further establishing the school's presence in the industry as Director of Industry Relations. William is also the creator of the toy Tofu the Vegan Zombie.
Dave West Instructor
Born in the woods and raised by wolves, Dave West started his career doing freelance video productions in Hawaii over 15 years ago. Southern Oregon came next where Dave changed his focus to computer modeling and animation, producing national commercial spots for ad agencies, production companies, and network affiliates. The Hollywood bug bit next and Dave moved to Southern California for a character animation position at Foundation Imaging working on such shows as Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog, Beetleborgs Metallic and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It was during this time he became Foundation's Motion Capture Supervisor. Dave and his crew worked on the CG television series Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles, Max Steel and Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future.
Ron Thornton Instructor, Director of Special Projects
Ron Thornton is a veteran artist with nearly thirty years of experience in the visual effects industry. He has always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy and his career began with BBC shows like Dr. Who and Blakes 7. Ron migrated to the United States in 1985 and continued work in traditional miniature and optical visual effects until 1990 when he started to use LightWave on the Video Toaster. In 1992 Ron formed Foundation Imaging to produce the visual effects for the television show Babylon 5, for which he garnered an Emmy Award. Foundation went on to create visual effects for many features and TV shows, including Star Trek: Voyager,Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Contact and The Jackel. Ron also created and produced a 13 episode TV series called Hypernants for ABC. Since then Ron has produced the animation for more than 100 episodes of fully computer generated TV with shows such as Roughnecks: The Starship Trooper Chronicles, Max Steel and Captain Scarlet. In his time off Ron’s hobby is piloting Russian military aircraft.
Sam Mendoza Instructor, Critical Staff Member
Sam Mendoza has been involved with the production of digital media for many years. Originally from New York, he moved to Europe while working for the military. His travels finally landed him in Florida, where earned an A.S. in Digital Media. Recently, he taught 3D modeling and animation for LightWave 3D and 3D Studio Max at Full Sail Real World Education in Winter Park, Florida. In addition to his contributions to The DAVESchool, Sam also lends his talents to other creative endeavors.
Ivan Young Instructional Assistant
Originally a traditional artist specializing in drawing and ink, Ivan Young saw 3D computer animation and visual effects as a way to take his art to a new level. He purchased LightWave 3D in 1995 and started teaching himself in his spare time. After a few years Ivan decided to learn a new vocation, and in 2002 enrolled at The DAVE School for professional training. Ivan later left his own business entirely by 2004 and made the transition to becoming a 3D artist. He has since worked for Buzzie Productions as a vehicle modeler on Furby Island, as well as for TreeTop Productions on a freelance basis. Ivan currently works at the DAVE School as an editor and instructional assistant; he finds teaching at the DAVE School very rewarding, as he really enjoys being able to take his love and interest in computer animation and help others achieve their own 3D goals.
Brad Murphy received his Film and Video Production degree from Point Park
University in Pittsburgh. Most of his film and video curriculum was
completed at Pittsburgh Filmmakers' Media Arts Center, one of the oldest
independent media arts centers in the country. After a brief internship at
WQED, the public television station in Pittsburgh, Brad headed south to
Orlando where he worked his way into numerous television projects for
companies such as Animal Planet, Walt Disney World, Travel Channel, and
Haxan Films among others as either an office manager or production
coordinator. Although fairly creative in his own right, it is typically his
organizational skills and focus for which he has come to be recognized.
Scott Julien Admissions Coordinator
coming soon..
Saham Ali Director of Information Technology
Saham Ali has come a long way since he started tinkering with his first 80x86 in 1993. After creating Osceola County’s first school web page for Kissimmee Middle School in Florida, he knew that he was destined to work with computers, digital media and computer graphics. Saham’s early introduction to 3D and computer graphics in high school was with the Apple LCII’s LEGOLOGO, 3D Studio Max, and LightWave and he was soon creating logos for the morning announcements. Then he started his own company called DVNT Computers and put his knowledge to work. After high school Saham attended The DAVE School to further his knowledge in computer animation and the science of visual effects. His first break after graduation was with Ron Thornton; that job took him to England where he worked on Gerry Anderson’s New Captain Scarlet. With credits ranging from TV series and PC video games to architectural models and other freelance projects, Saham joined The DAVE School staff to help push the computer animation and visual effects technology envelope.
Daniel Skinner Internet Communications and Media Manager
coming soon...
Karla Van Horn Receptionist & Housing Coordinator
Karla Van Horn moved from Costa Rica to Orlando in 1996, where her family
has owned and operated Reptile World Serpentarium since 1976. While working
there Karla learned how to milk venom from snakes, later used by
pharmaceuticals and research facilities in order to produce anti-venom and
other medicines. Karla is likely the first voice you will hear when you
call DAVE School, however receptionist is only one of her many
responsibilities. In addition she runs our school housing program, but can
also help you find alternative housing in Orlando. Since starting with DAVE
School she has found a hidden affinity for helping students and has been
refining that know-how ever since.
