Staff
Jeff Scheetz
School Director & Co-Owner
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.
Jon Gress
Instructor
With over 20 years of Digital & Visual special effects, film, video, audio and multimedia production experience, Writer/Producer/Director and Visual Effects Supervisor Jon Gress is one of the new breed of cutting edge independent filmmakers that can write, shoot, direct, edit and produce Hollywood sized digital & visual special effects, all using solid filmmaking experience and the latest in software and PC technologies. Jon has been on the cutting edge of digital production technologies since their beginnings and has taught production and software applications ranging from LightWave & 3DSMax to the entire Adobe Production Suite. With an extensive background in virtually every facet of production, Jon has served on numerous state film coalitions, been a keynote speaker and private consultant to many colleges and private schools, created productions for many multinational and Fortune 500 clients and is often quoted as a voice of independent moviemaking and special effects production in production trades and magazines. Jon is the Writer/Producer/Director of the upcoming independent sci-fi feature 1 Anunnaki, was the founder of Jaguar Films, Florida FX and The FX Institute where he developed the curriculum for Digital & Visual FX training which was quoted in MovieMaker Magazine as "Easily one of the best introductions into the world of visual effects."
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.
Craig Nisbet
Instructor
Craig Nisbet is back; during the early beginnings of the school he was instrumental in helping us implement the idea of making movies and he helped to make the program into what itis today. Craig started his career in digital animation in 1994, working on ride simulators fortheme parks. He has plenty of industry experience including gigs as a visual effects artist on thetelevision series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and its accompanying film, the TV seriesRoughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles, and the feature film The Ant Bully. Craig attended Hennepin Technical College in Minnesota where he studied TV Production.
Steve Warner
Instructor
Steve Warner received his formal education at the University of Arizona where he earned a BFA with an emphasis in graphic design. After graduation he started an independent design studio focusing mainly on corporate videos and commercial work. From there he joined CAE, the world's leading supplier of military training and simulations, as an Art Director and helped implement LightWave into the simulations. Steve is quite an authority on LightWave, having co-authored three books including his latest, Essential LightWave v9: The Fastest and Easiest Way to Master LightWave 3D which is sure to benefit his students.
Jason Pichon
Instructor
Besides being a DAVE School alumnus, Jason Pichon’s education background includes the University of Massachusetts and the Ringling School of Art & Design in Florida. Throughout his career, Jason has been involved in product development and design, including themed products and attractions, for companies with clients like Universal Studios, Disney, and Nickelodeon both in the United States and abroad. More recently Jason worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation where he received further training in animation, storyboarding, visual development, and layout & design as well as completed work on films like Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. Jason is also an accomplished sculptor and character designer and as an artist may be described as happiest when he can spend a day drawing and painting.
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 DAVE School, Sam also lends his talents to other creative endeavors.
Brad Murphy
Associate School Director
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
Scott Julien attended Florida State University and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Prior to joining The DAVE School team Scott worked in marketing at Full Sail Real World Education in Winter Park, Florida where he spoke to high school students across the country about career opportunities in entertainment media production. Scott also has extensive experience in audio and video production, multimedia campaigns, and live show production. Outside of the school he also operates his own marketing company specializing in business plan preparation, marketing strategies, artist development, and creating demand and brand awareness for entertainment related companies such as independent record labels, clothing lines, video production, and magazines looking to expand consumer awareness.
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.
Karla Van Horn
Housing Coordinator & Receptionist
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.
