BiographyBénard's obsession with creation has taken him from the humble beginnings of Lego champion of his hometown's annual fall fair to becoming a significant contributor to the VFX and 3D Animation Industry.
One year out of film school, Bénard's VFX exploits in Vancouver's rapidly expanding visual effects industry attracted the attention of Richard Branson's Virgin Digital Studios. Together they created the internationally acclaimed
Lost Boys Studios, one of Canada's top 3D animation and visual effects boutiques, known for its innovation and creative flair. Key clients include Miramax, MGM, CBC, Electronic Arts, Vivendi Universal Games, Midway Games, Walt Disney Television Animation, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Bacardi, Toyota, Visa and REM.
While helming Lost Boys, Bénard worked as a Visual Effects Supervisor, Producer and Artist on hundreds of productions, including the TV series The Outer Limits, Stargate SG-1 and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, TV commercials including Bacardi, Coke and Toyota, and game cinematics for Need for Speed, LA Rush and The Hobbit. Bénard's feature film credits as Visual Effects Producer or Supervisor include the Oscar-nominated Finding Neverland, The Snow Walker, What the Bleep Do We Know and Unnatural and Accidental.
In addition to Lost Boys Studios, Bénard has launched
Lost Boys Entertainment, a development and production company. Bénard executive produced the award-winning 3D animated short film "
Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted To Dance", with co-Executive Producer
John Williams of
Vanguard Animation("Shrek", "Valiant" and "Space Chimps"). In 2005 Bénard Co-Directed/Co-Produced the animated BRAVO Fact short "
The Orchid and the Rose" with Dennis Tal, Diffusion Film Corp. Currently in development is the feature film "
SmartParts" with Justin James, Producer and Derek Franson, Writer/Director.
After the birth of his second child, Bénard made a new lifestyle choice and set his sights on Education. Heading up the Visual Effects Stream at the Vancouver Film School during 2004-2005, Bénard developed curriculum including designing visual effects production projects, from the live-action shoot through 3D, through the final composite.
Frustrated with the over crowded class sizes and unwillingness to invest in the required development to stay up to date with industry practices Bénard once again set out on his own to work for something he could be proud of. In the Winter of 2005 he began
Lost Boys Learning which is now North America's top dedicated accredited visual effects school offering world-class training in photo-realistic 3D and compositing for film and television. At Lost Boys Learning, he has created an alternative to traditional classroom training techniques with an emphasis on Project-Based Learning and Mentorship. He brings his decade of studio, on-set and supervisory experience directly to a small group of students, emphasizing an open mind for personal exploration, new experiences and self-directed learning.
Selected Production CreditsVFX Supervisor, Producer or ArtistFilm:- Normal - Ravenwest Films Inc.
- The Orchid & The Rose - Lost Boys Studios Animated Short Film
- Unnatural & Accidental - UA Films Inc.
- The Score - Screen Siren/CBC TV
- Smart Parts - Lost Boys Entertainment (in production)
- Finding Neverland - Miramax
- What the Bleep Do We Know - Captured Light
- The Snow Walker - Infinity Media Inc.
- Air Bud IV - Keystone Entertainment/Miramax
- MVP 2 - Keystone Entertainment
- Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance - Lost Boys Entertainment/Vanguard Films
TV Series:- Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda - Fireworks/Tribune
- Stargate SG-1 - MGM Television
- The Outer Limits - MGM Television
- Poltergeist: The Legacy - MGM Television
Commercials:- Toyota - Conill Saatchi & Saatchi
- Listerine - J. Walter Thompson
- DHL - IMAX Productions
- Delaware Punch (Coca-Cola) - Lowe Lintas
- Corona - Leo Burnett
- Pepsi - BBDO
- Bacardi - Z Publicite
- Gatorade- Z Publicite
Game Cinematics:- LA Rush - Midway Games
- The Hobbit - VU Games/Sierra Entertainment
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II - Electronic Arts
- SSX 3 Tricky - Electronic Arts
- Sega Soccer Slam - BlackBox Games
- Anarchy Online - Funcom (Norway)
- NHL Rock the Rink - Electronic Arts
Awards & Recognition- 2008 Mid-Island Science, Technology and Innovation Council (Mistic) Awards New Media Finalist, Lost Boys Learning
- 2007 Leo Nomination, Unnatural & Accidental, Best Visual Effects, Feature Length Drama
- 2006 Houston Worldfest Gold Award, The Orchid & The Rose, Animation
- 2006 Vancouver Island Short Film Festival, The Orchid & The Rose, Best Technical Production
- 2004 Leo Awards, The Snow Walker, Best Visual Effects, Feature Length Drama
- 2003 Crystal Screen Awards, Coca-Cola Beat “Tornado”
- 2003 Business in Vancouver Magazine, Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneurs
- 2003 3D Festival Nomination, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, Best Gaming Cinematic
- 2002 Business in Vancouver Magazine, BC's 50 Fastest Growing Companies (No. 10)
- 2002 BC Export Awards Finalist, New Media & Entertainment
- 2001 Emmy Nomination, Stargate SG-1, Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Series
- 2001 Gemini Nomination, Stargate SG-1, Best Visual Effects, Series
- 2001 Mobius Advertising Award, GNP Insurance, Best Computer Animation
- 2001 28th Annual Northwest International Film Festival, Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance, Best Animated Film
- 2001 New York Festivals, Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance, Best Animated Film
- 2000 International Monitor Award, Bacardi Limon Campaign, Best Visual Effects
- 2000 FIAP Latin Advertising Award, GNP Insurance, Best Computer Animation, Commercial
- 2000 Circulo Creativo Advertising Award, GNP Insurance, Best 3D Animation
Professional Memberships
