Who?
Sam Hencher
Sam Hencher's career in the film and commercials industry really began whilst doing a portrait on the street in Stockholm, Sweden.
After 100 years of long nights and numerous mind numbing mattes Sam retreated to London (Sky television, BBC, The Mill, Golden Square, VTR, Rushes) working primarily on commercials (Levis/Rover/Hyundai/Canon/Heineken to name a few). Sam has also worked on films including The Talented Mr Ripley and James Bond. He's won numerous awards including the prestigious 'gold leaf animation award'.
Sam went to work at the Framestore–CFC in London – He worked on Walking with Dinosaurs/Dinotopia and won an EMI award for best effects.
Subsequently he did a stint of freelance work worldwide – Seville in Spain for three months on contract, Tokyo – commercials, Beijing, China – and directed the national news channel look for CCTV.
Finally, after feeling a bit like there was no place for him on this planet he moved to Cape Town, South Africa where he worked as senior flame artist at Videolab and then The Refinery, where he won a best effects award at the Dogstar awards.
Then after a long year as senior artist at Condor post production he started up Voodoo Theatre with Matthew Desmond–Smith which has now been running for over two years and has done in the region of 50 commercials.
He now has hiccups.
Matthew Desmond–Smith
Matthew always wanted to be an Animator since he was 8, but his Dad wanted him to have an honest job, so he really busted a gut trying to prove himself. In the process he's done Cel, Stop frame, 3d CG, live action – won awards, inspired people to become Animators, frightened others away, and has generally had a blast moving things around – a lot.
Matthew's worked for Quay Animation, The Videolab, The Refinery, Head of 3d at Delapse, Head of Vfx at Condor and spent several years as a freelancer.
He'll now be found playing and working hard at being a studio owner with Sam Hencher. Together they run Voodoo Theatre, a studio that has a hands–on approach to work, and seeks to engage with clients on making moving images and concepts more effective and dynamic.
With a wide range of skills, and abilities rooted in experience, Matthew loves collaborating with people on challenging jobs that stretch expectations, and add wonder to the range of visual responses.
