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Derek Raymond
CG Character Animator
Professional Background
Derek Raymond is a highly skilled CG character animator with extensive experience spanning multiple facets of the animation industry, including feature animation, television projects, live-action visual effects, and video game development. Having collaborated with leading studios, Derek has established a strong reputation for his artistry and technical expertise. He is proficient in industry-standard software such as Maya, 3ds Max, and XSI, which he utilizes to bring characters to life with compelling movements and expressions.
Derek's professional journey is marked by his tenure at different prominent organizations, where he has worked on a diverse range of animated projects. Currently serving as a Senior Animator at Encore Hollywood, he is known for his ability to adapt to various creative challenges. His previous roles include Animator at Method Studios and Character/Creature Animator at esteemed companies such as FuseFX and Zoic Studios. These positions have allowed him to refine his craft while contributing to innovative projects that resonate with audiences.
Throughout his career, Derek has not only excelled in animation but has also participated in leadership roles, such as his time as Co-Founder at Rate A Reel, where he helped guide emerging talent within the animation community. His impressive portfolio showcases his versatility, having animated characters in various projects, from film and television to interactive video games.
Education and Achievements
Derek's educational background laid the foundation for his successful career in animation. He achieved his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Graphics from Arizona State University, equipping him with a strong technical grounding and a deep understanding of the principles of animation and visual effects. Furthermore, he pursued a Certificate in CG Animation and Visual Effects at the esteemed Gnomon School of Visual Effects, known for nurturing some of the top talents in the industry.
His dedication to continuous learning and professional development is a testament to his commitment to excellence in animation. Derek's educational pursuits have undoubtedly contributed to his impressive body of work and ability to tackle complex animation tasks, earning him recognition among peers and industry professionals alike.
Notable Achievements
Derek Raymond's career is filled with significant accomplishments that highlight his talent and dedication to the field of animation. Some of the notable contributions he has made include:
- Animation Projects: Derek has worked on a variety of high-profile projects that have received acclaim within the industry, showcasing his ability to create engaging and memorable characters that enhance storytelling.
- Diverse Studio Collaborations: His experience spans multiple esteemed animation studios, where he has held key positions that have allowed him to influence the quality and creativity of various productions. His portfolio includes collaborations with companies like Blur Studio, Stan Winston Studio, and Technicolor Interactive.
- Mentorship: As a former Computer Animation Instructor at Laguna College of Art and Design, Derek has played a crucial role in educating the next generation of animators. Sharing his knowledge and experiences with aspiring artists displays his commitment to the growth of the animation community.
- Freelance Opportunities: In addition to his full-time roles, Derek has pursued freelance animation work, allowing him the flexibility to contribute to a wide range of projects while expanding his network within the industry. His role as a Freelance Character Animator at Motion Theory is an example of his extensive freelance work, which demonstrates his ability to adapt and thrive in various environments.
As an individual who is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of animation, Derek continues to inspire others with his passion for the art form. His career trajectory showcases a deep commitment to excellence, innovation, and education in the world of CG animation.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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