Dear all, I am delighted to invite you to a unique and extraordinary event featuring renowned witchcraft practitioner, Paul Hudson. This event, titled "Taking Your Witchcraft Skills to the Next Level with Paul Hudson," promises to be an enlightening and captivating experience. Paul Hudson is a distinguished expert in the realm of witchcraft, with years of experience and a vast knowledge of both traditional and modern practices. His expertise in various aspects of witchcraft, including spells, rituals, and divination, is unparalleled. Paul has dedicated his life to empowering individuals and helping them unlock their full potential through the mastery of witchcraft. During this event, you will have the incredible opportunity to learn from Paul firsthand.
Emily is a bright, cheerful team member with a positive outlook on life. Born and raised in the East Bay, Emily currently resides in Richmond, CA. She is well traveled and has visited Singapore, Peru, and Ghana while working on documentaries in college. She attended Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in creative producing.
Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Jeff has been working in the television and feature film industry for over 33 years and brings a comprehensive skill set spanning compositing, simulations, lighting, matchmoving, photogrammetry, layout, and on-set data collection. The combination of friendly and talented people, along with top-notch projects, and an extremely positive productive environment, makes it a pleasure to be part of the Whiskytree team.
During this event, you will have the incredible opportunity to learn from Paul firsthand. He will guide you through advanced techniques and exercises that will elevate your witchcraft skills to new heights. Whether you are a beginner or have been practicing witchcraft for years, Paul's teachings will undoubtedly inspire and transform you.
Taking your witchcraft skills to the next level with Paul Hudson
With over 20 years of experience in Visual Effects, Aidan Fraser has worked on such projects as Star Wars: Episode III, King Kong, four of the five Pirates of the Caribbean films, two Star Trek movies, Wonder Woman 1984, and recently Obi-Wan Kenobi. He also has experience working on episodic shows and animated features.
As a Visual Effects Supervisor at Whiskytree, Aidan works with and guides our talented artists to make stunning visuals for some of the world’s biggest feature and episodic projects.
Aidan holds a degree in Film and Digital media from UCSC, and has been involved in some kind of filmmaking project or another since the age of 7. His career informally started at the age of 15, when he won The Visions of US Award from the American Film Institute.
When not at work, Aidan enjoys the outdoors as well as landscape photography.
“There is a great sense of collaboration at Whiskytree. I think we are all driven to create something never seen before.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kingdom, Space Sweepers, Wonder Woman 1984, Ad Astra, Love, Death & Robots, Velvet Buzzsaw, 7 Splinters in Time, The Cloverfield Paradox, Rings, Office Christmas Party, Star Trek Beyond, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, The Walk, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Need for Speed, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, The Lone Ranger, Star Trek: Secrets of the Universe, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Space Out, ParaNorman, Lifeline, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, The Other Guys, Iron Man 2, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Surrogates, The Warrior and the Wolf, Coraline, Adam, The Narrows, The Heart is a Hidden Camera, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, King Kong, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, xXx: State of the Union, My Big Fat Independent Movie, The V-Party, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D, Van Helsing, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Independent Lens, Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story, The Broken Wings of Elijah Footfalls, Space Out, The Last Supper, Limbo
Paul Hudson
Tools Developer
Paul holds a degree in computer science and engineering with a minor in film from the University of Akron.
In high school, Paul painted his bedroom wall as a blue screen and for his 10th grade research paper he chose to write about Jurassic Park, noting that it was a crossover of the different philosophies of Phil Tippett and Dennis Muren.
At Whiskytree, Paul leads most programming and app building tasks including the development of custom tools needed for various projects. His ability to bridge the gap between technical and artistic frameworks allows him to assist his fellow artists in problem solving so that they can complete tasks easier, better, and faster.
Hailing from a small town in Ohio, Paul enjoys city life in San Francisco where he and his wife, Melissa are raising their children. In his free time, Paul enjoys traveling, attending concerts at intimate venues and neighborhood exploration. With an eye for framing and composition, Paul is an avid photographer.
Paul is the godfather of Salsa Friday, a weekly Whiskytree ritual that caps the week with salsa music, chips and dip.
“This is a labor of love.
Many in our group could be working in a booming Silicon Valley startup but they choose to work here, in VFX.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Babylon, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Perfect, Monster Hunt 2,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Elysium, Thor, Hereafter, Alice in Wonderland, The Mist, Evan Almighty, Spider-Man 3, Snakes on a Plane, Sin City
Michael Kennen
Compositing Supervisor
Michael has been a part of the commercial and motion picture industry since the early 90’s. After working as an assistant feature film editor in Los Angeles, Michael moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area and worked for many years at the commercial post production house Varitel Video. He worked his way up from assistant editor to colorist and finally to Flame compositor.
In the early 2000’s, Michael moved from the commercial industry to the motion picture industry while he worked as a compositor utilizing various programs such as Flame, Shake, After Effects, and Nuke. During this time, Michael worked for numerous VFX companies such as ILM, Sony Imageworks, Rhythm + Hues, Tippett Studio and The Orphanage, to name a few.
Michael joined Whiskytree in 2014 as Senior Compositor, and has since worked on a wide variety of projects, including films, commercials, games, and virtual reality worlds.
“I was drawn to Whiskytree by the size of the company,the quality of work,
and the skill level of the artists working here.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Babylon, Andor, Obi-Wan, Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Perfect, Monster Hunt 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Transformers: The Last Knight, Tomorrowland, The Revenant, The Last Witch Hunter, The Big Short, Thor: The Dark World, Star Trek, Pacific Rim, Chasing Mavericks, The Amazing Spiderman, Battleship, Cirque Du Soleil, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Super 8, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Mars Needs Moms, The Other Guys, Iron Man 2, Alice in Wonderland, The Box, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Live Free or Die Hard, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Zodiac, The Messengers, The Last Mimzy, The Good Shepherd, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Danika, Pan’s Labyrinth, King Kong, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Sin City, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, The Cat in the Hat, Seabiscuit, Baby Bob
Andrew Martin
Production Manager
Andrew has a background in Animation and Computer Science, combining the two majors for a broad understanding of the VFX process. This dual perspective allows him to tackle production tasks using methods not normally considered.
Andrew has worked in motion graphics for children’s media in Chicago, in Render Wrangling for animated features, and in VFX production management for film, theme attractions, and commercials. He has had opportunities to work on set supporting VFX Supervisors and matchmove artists as well as wrangling set data.
At Whiskytree, Andrew is a Production Manager focusing on day-to-day communications, scheduling, and organization. His technical skills are also leveraged for workflow optimization. Ensuring that artists are able to focus on their areas of expertise by documenting and working through organizational and technical challenges is one of his motivating factors.
A Midwestern native from Ohio, Andrew enjoys staying active with hiking and swimming during the week, and barefoot waterskiing on the weekends. He also enjoys volunteering with various community groups, watching or reading science fiction, and exploring new corners of the Bay Area.
“Collaborative storytelling with a cohesive team is a rewarding and inspiring environment for those of us in production management”.
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Black Widow, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Terminator: Dark Fate, Us, Captain Marvel, Bumblebee, A Quiet Place, Mother!, Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Deepwater Horizon, Warcraft, Captain America: Civil War, Ant-Man, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Mission: Space, Velocicoaster, The Boss Baby, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda 3, Home, Penguins of Madagascar, Rocky and Bullwinkle, How to Train your Dragon 2, Almost Home, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Turbo, The Croods, Rise of the Guardians, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Emerald May
Systems Technician
Born on the high grounds of the Pacific Northwest, Emerald was a quiet child, taking apart electronics and drawing comics. In college, she studied acting, stage lighting, and majored in TV/Radio with a focus to work in the film industry. In her spare time, she taught herself how to build computers and write software.
After college, Emerald moved to New York City and tried bartending. Still flying half a ship, she happily landed a gig a few years later in San Francisco as a software developer. Now at Whiskytree, Emerald assists with monitoring and managing the render farm, updates software tools for artists, deploys OS updates, archives footage, assists with plate loading, and more. In her free time, she is probably streaming games online, editing videos, or going for a chill drive.
“It is exciting to work with a highly talented team who care about the art and technology behind creating world-class visual effects!”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Babylon, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper
Emily Manheim-Jones
Associate Producer
Emily is a bright, cheerful team member with a positive outlook on life. Born and raised in the East Bay, Emily currently resides in Richmond, CA. She is well traveled and has visited Singapore, Peru, and Ghana while working on documentaries in college. She attended Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in creative producing.
Most of Emily’s professional experience is on-set, and her can-do attitude, desire for new experiences and her knowledge of the different areas of the production pipeline make her a valuable addition to the Whiskytree team. Emily is responsible for keeping clients up to date on each project. She helps to schedule all the shows and relays any feedback to the Whiskytree team so that everyone is on the same page.
Emily likes to travel and enjoys being outdoors, hiking, backpacking and camping. She also enjoys macro photography and taking candid shots of people in their everyday setting.
“I greatly enjoy working with a team that has so much passion for the power of visual effects. Everyone has their hands on some part of each project making this a fun and collaborative work environment where everyone has a voice.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Babylon, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Perfect, Monster Hunt 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Gina’s Journey: The Search for William Grimes, Zola Jumped In, Blood Ransom
Brian Meanley
Visual Effects Supervisor
After beginning his career on the East Coast, Brian relocated to California in 2012 to join the Whiskytree family. He has 15 years of visual effects experience in commercials, animation, and film.
Brian started at Whiskytree as a Technical Director, serving as a bridge between both the technical and the creative side of projects. Now, he continues to be a key member of the Whiskytree team as Visual Effects Supervisor.
Brian enjoys camping, hiking, running, and being outdoors in his free time. Some of his favorite, somewhat local, places to visit are Big Sur, Sonoma County and the Mendocino Area.
“We’re a small team
and we complement each other well which allows us to act quickly and try new things.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Perfect, Monster Hunt 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Warcraft: The Beginning, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Tomorrowland, The Revenant, The Last Witch Hunter, The Big Short, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Elysium, Bighorn, Crooked Lane, The Bureau, Tweet
JP Monroy
CG Supervisor and Director of Artist Development
JP spent his early life growing up in Guatemala City, Guatemala. As a youngster he enjoyed making clay figures and mini movies with the help of his good friend, Carlos, and his brothers, Jorge and Jose.
From an early age, JP had an interest in art, technology and VFX, but the real catalyst for JP’s career came after attending an SFSU conference where Jonathan Harb, Whiskytree CEO & Founder, happened to be speaking. After the conference, JP introduced himself to Jonathan and soon after began his career with Whiskytree. He started as an apprentice in 2007 and has since earned his keep as CG Supervisor and Director of Artist Development.
Having graduating from San Francisco State University, JP holds a degree in fine art with an emphasis on painting and drawing.
“Since starting as an apprentice,
I’ve gained artistic, career, and life experiences that have helped shape me.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bubble, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Perfect, Monster Hunt 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, The Big Short, Tomorrowland, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Elysium, I’s, Captain American: The First Avenger, Thor, Sucker Punch, Rango, TRON: Legacy, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Theif
Pierre Nahoum
Technical Director
Pierre grew up in the eastern suburbs of Paris. At an early age, he knew he wanted to work in film animation. He started his education at ArtFx, a school located in France, before moving to the United States in 2010 to finish his studies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pierre became an official member of the Whiskytree family in 2014. His artistic and technical contributions to the studio are felt in his ability to bring designs to life. In applying his modeling, shading, and lighting abilities, Pierre can recreate anything from real-life cityscapes, to a hand sketched monster from the most imaginative mind.
During his weekends, Pierre likes to spend time with his wife, Madiana, and his dog, Mellow, a German Spitz. Together they enjoy exploring the Bay Area, trying new cuisines, and finding other dog-friendly activities.
“We have a consistent visual identity
and good company culture.”
Haunted Mansion, The Mandalorian: Season 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Foundation, Nightbooks, Godmothered, The Captain, Bolden, The Other Side of the Wind, Shatterbox, Skyscraper, Monster Hunt 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Legendary, Tomorrowland, The Big Short, The Invisible Highway, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Interlude, Nuisible
Jeff W Smith
Senior Matchmove/Layout Artist
Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Jeff has been working in the television and feature film industry for over 33 years and brings a comprehensive skill set spanning compositing, simulations, lighting, matchmoving, photogrammetry, layout, and on-set data collection. Beginning at Boss Films under Richard Edlund’s tutelage, Jeff contributed to projects like Air Force One and Desperate Measures as a CG generalist.
Following his time at Boss Films in 1997, he joined Sony Imageworks as a compositor. Over a six-year period, he thrived in Matchmove/Layout, collaborating on films including Cast Away, Spider-Man 1 & 3, and Hollow Man, working alongside VFX legends Ken Ralston and John Dykstra. Jeff’s journey continued through studios like ILM, Digital Domain, and Rhythm and Hues. He later oversaw Matchmove/Layout at Laika, contributing to films like The Boxtrolls and Kubo, revolutionizing matchmove pipelines.
Returning to his birthplace, LA, Jeff worked on projects like The Walking Dead, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and The Tomorrow War.
Among Jeff’s hobbies are: golf, hiking, and spending time with his dog at the beach.
With Jeff’s tenured career in visual effects, he brings to Whiskytree his artistic skillsets with hands-on experience. This enables him in tackling technical challenges, helping the team to create a refined workflow in delivering high-quality assets
“The combination of friendly and talented people, along with top-notch projects, and an extremely positive productive environment, makes it a pleasure to be part of the Whiskytree team!”
In the early 2000’s, Michael moved from the commercial industry to the motion picture industry while he worked as a compositor utilizing various programs such as Flame, Shake, After Effects, and Nuke. During this time, Michael worked for numerous VFX companies such as ILM, Sony Imageworks, Rhythm + Hues, Tippett Studio and The Orphanage, to name a few.
Through interactive demonstrations, practical exercises, and in-depth discussions, Paul will explore a wide range of topics. These will include harnessing the power of intent, enhancing your intuitive abilities, and manifesting your desires through spells and rituals. Additionally, he will provide insights into connecting with natural elements, understanding the cycles of the moon, and using divination tools effectively. Paul's unique approach to witchcraft combines ancient wisdom with modern applications. By incorporating elements of psychology, mindfulness, and energy work, he offers a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to witchcraft that is both accessible and powerful. His teachings are designed to empower individuals to embrace their authentic selves and manifest positive change in their lives. The event will take place on [date], starting at [time] and will be held at [venue]. This will be an intimate gathering, allowing for personalized attention from Paul and ample opportunity for interaction and questions. Tickets for this event are limited, so be sure to secure your spot early to avoid disappointment. Whether you are seeking to deepen your knowledge, expand your skill set, or simply explore the world of witchcraft, "Taking Your Witchcraft Skills to the Next Level with Paul Hudson" is an event not to be missed. Join us for a transformative and empowering experience that will unlock your true potential as a witch. We look forward to seeing you there! Warm regards, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Channeling elemental energies: Advanced witchcraft skills with Paul Hudson"
1. Sandra Johnson - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Taking your witchcraft skills to the next level with Paul Hudson." I was hoping to learn some advanced techniques and expand my knowledge of witchcraft, but the course was extremely basic and didn't offer anything new or interesting. The content felt rushed and incomplete, and I didn't feel like I gained any valuable knowledge or skills from it. Overall, it was a waste of time and money.
2. John Smith - 2/5 stars - I signed up for "Taking your witchcraft skills to the next level with Paul Hudson" expecting a comprehensive course that would challenge me and help me grow as a witch. However, I found the course to be quite repetitive and lacking in depth. Paul Hudson spent too much time on the basics that I was already familiar with and didn't provide enough advanced techniques or insights. The course felt like a missed opportunity to truly take my witchcraft skills to the next level, and I feel somewhat unsatisfied with my purchase.
3. Emily Thompson - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Taking your witchcraft skills to the next level with Paul Hudson," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The course seemed more like an introduction to witchcraft rather than an advanced level course. The lessons were overly simplistic and lacked the depth and complexity I was after. While Paul Hudson is knowledgeable and engaging, the content just didn't deliver on its promise of taking my witchcraft skills to the next level. I would recommend looking for more advanced courses elsewhere.