Jason Theaker

Biography

BIOGRAPHY

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

An early love of lens-based media, in particular stop motion animation; led me into me graduating with an animation degree and a career in films, TV and computer games. Have spent most of my professional career following the varied jobs that this offers, from modelling puppet alien heads in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks to fiddling with Bob the Builders bits. I've worked in computer games with first person shooters; to spending a couple of years getting inside Daffy Duck's mind. I now teach at Bradford University.

I have taught animation, photography and digital manipulation for 14 years at Leeds College of Art and Bradford University, so am well versed to deliver and communicate on a one to one basis, or in front of large groups. I'm a qualified teacher and my second degree (from Leeds University) was specifically aimed at teaching adults. I can think of nothing more professionally rewarding than being able to stimulate inspiration in others and witness genuine development. I have a VERY strong conviction that it is my job to create the optimum environment for learning.

Publications / Exposure

Eye Doctor

This is an award winning animation I directed for the "Digital Working Media Academy" at the University of Bradford. It was for the Optometry department, who wanted an animation aimed at children, to both inform and reduce the anxiety in advance of their eye tests. It was a commercial project designed to give valuable paid work experience to students.

Over Charged

This is an animation I directed with a bunch of talented final year students who spent a few months slaving away on this! A young selfish boy is too concerned about satisfying his desire for pleasure and he disregards the consequences.

Awards and Recognition
Nov 12 Speaker at Bradford Animation Festival
Nov 12 LPOTY book and exhibition in the National Theatre
Oct 12 Award for Best Educational Video
July + Oct 12 Publication Optometry Today
July 12 Directed "Eye Doctor" for Digital Working Media Academy
June 12 School Animation Talk PHGS
March 12 Article in On landscape "Portfolio interview"
April 11 Article in Photo Radar about "theft of images"
March 11 Article in Yorkshire Ridings Magazine
March 11 Article in On landscape "Theft of images"
Jan 11 Article in Amateur Photographer "Polarization"
April 10 Article in Amateur Photographer "Composition In Forests"
March 10 What Digital Camera
March 10 Article in Amateur Photographer "The Creative Choices of a Sunrise Shoot"
Sep 09 Interviewed by Amateur Photographer
June 09 Article in Digital Camera Magazine "Movement in Landscape"
Nov 09 LPOTY book and exhibition in the National Theatre
Sep 08 Speaker at PhotoCamp Leeds Met University
Nov 08 LPOTY book and exhibition in the National Theatre
Sep 08 Guardian newspaper
Sep 08 Wharfedale and Airedale Observer
Aug 08 What Digital Camera portfolio piece

Supervision on:

Supervising external placements in industry Disney Interactive, Quantic Lab
Royal Television Society Winner: The Mascot. Director: Simon McClure
Royal Television Society Winner: A Friend of Mine. Director: Dawid Lubryka
Royal Television Society Winner: Oui Oui. Director: James Rodgers