Open to opportunities

Steve Watts Kennedy

@stevewattskennedy

Message

Award-winning film director and technical artist specializing in Unreal Engine.

United Kingdom

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek opportunities that allow me to blend storytelling with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.

As an award-winning film director and technical artist, I have dedicated my career to pushing the boundaries of storytelling through innovative technology. I co-head the cutting-edge creative agency Kuva, where I was instrumental in developing the PGA award-winning immersive experience, ORBITAL. My expertise in Unreal Engine, combined with a strong foundation in filmmaking, allows me to create captivating narratives that resonate with audiences.

Throughout my career, I have co-founded Planetary Collective, where I directed and edited the feature documentary PLANETARY, which premiered at SXSW 2015. My work spans various roles, including lead technical artist, compositor, and editor, showcasing my versatility in the industry. I pride myself on my ability to marry artistic vision with technical proficiency, ensuring that every project I undertake is executed to the highest standard.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Lead Technical Artist

Current

Kuva

Nov 2019 - Present (5 years 6 months)

As Lead Technical Artist at Kuva, I co-designed and maintained a production pipeline for the award-winning immersive experience ORBITAL. My role involved technical leadership, compositing supervision, and art direction, utilizing tools like Houdini, Redshift, and Unreal Engine.

Unreal Engine Houdini Redshift Nuke Art Direction Technical Leadership Animation Storytelling

Lead Unreal Engine Developer

Kuva

Jun 2016 - Oct 2019 (3 years 4 months)

In my role as Lead Unreal Engine Developer for the Little Nightmares II Trailer, I oversaw the creation of virtual sets and props, and managed post-production tasks including editing and green screen compositing.

Unreal Engine Editing Green Screen Compositing Animation Virtual Sets Team Collaboration Project Management

Co-director / Writer / Editor

Planetary Collective

Co-directed and edited the feature documentary 'Planetary', which premiered at SXSW 2015, combining storytelling with technical expertise in film production.

Writing Editing Storytelling Team Collaboration Project Management Film Production

Co-director / Writer / Editor

Planetary Collective

Co-directed and edited the award-winning short film 'Overview', showcasing my ability to blend narrative and visual artistry in a concise format.

Writing Editing Storytelling Team Collaboration Project Management Film Production

Lead PlayCanvas Developer

Kuva

As Lead PlayCanvas Developer, I designed and deployed interactive puzzles for the Transceiver project, utilizing PlayCanvas and Javascript to create engaging browser-based experiences.

PlayCanvas JavaScript Interactive Design Puzzle Development Web Development User Experience Team Collaboration Animation

Unreal Engine Developer

Kuva

Involved in the development of real-time generative artwork for the Poeisis project, focusing on complex HLSL shader development and procedural systems for creating celestial bodies.

Unreal Engine HLSL Shaders Team Collaboration Animation

Lead Unreal Engine Developer + Artist

Omniscopic

Led the development of an Oculus-funded educational VR experience, managing all aspects from C/Blueprint development to 3D modelling and motion capture.