Sam Nicholson

CEO and Founder

A graduate of the UCLA school of Fine Arts with a Masters degree in design, Sam has been involved in film and television production for over twenty years. From his first experience as on-set visual effect supervisor on STAR TREK I and the groundbreaking MAX HEADROOM, Sam Nicholson has led his company, Stargate Digital, to become a leader in digital imaging for high concept television and feature films.

His motion picture experience includes supervising and producing the visual effects for feature films such as GHOST BUSTERS II, HIGHLANDER II, NAKED GUN 33 1/3, 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, GURU and two current 20th Century Fox releases, UNTITLED ONION PROJECT and UNTITLED MIKE JUDGE PROJECT.

As a commercial director, director of photography and visual effects supervisor, Sam Nicholson has created numerous commercials for clients such as DHL, LEXUS and JEEP. As an interactive writer-director, Nicholson has produced and directed over 20 interactive video productions. Some of his most successful titles in the interactive movie genre were “TOMCAT ALLEY”,“MIDNIGHT RAIDERS”, “THE EXTERMINATORS”, “STAR STRIKE” and “FLYING ACES” for Sega and Sony.

Together with his creative team at Stargate Los Angeles, Stargate Vancouver, and Stargate London Sam is currently leading the industry with innovative new techniques such as Stargate's proprietary "Virtual Backlot" where entire television series can be shot with live action actors in photo real computer generated sets.

Sam recently supervised the visual effects for USA network’s epic mini series, “HELEN OF TROY”. He also produced the visual effects for USA network’s remake of SPARTACUS that was shot last summer in Sophia, Bulgaria, all the while continuously producing the visual effects for E.R., CROSSING JORDAN, LAS VEGAS, JAKE 2.0, MEDICAL INVESTIGATION, DESPARATE HOUSE WIVES, NIP TUCK and the hit Stephen King series, THE DEAD ZONE. Sam is currently supervising the Visual Effects for Steven Spielberg’s INTO THE WEST for TNT. >>IMDB details

Peter Ware

President and COO

Pete Ware has coupled a strong business background with creativity and hands- on experience in all aspects of the entertainment industry - unique characteristics among Hollywood's producers who tend to either the creative or business realms, seldom to both. Since his arrival in Hollywood in 1976, Ware has worked in a myriad of projects. Among the shows he has produced are The New Leave It to Beaver, Colombo, This Gun For Hire, Doctor Who, and Gargantua. >>IMDB details

Joe Almaguer

CFO

Before Price Waterhouse, Mr. Almaguer served as the senior accountant for corporate planning and reporting with Turner Broadcasting where his duties included S.E.C. reporting, business planning and accounting for the vast Turner Broadcasting empire.

Darren Frankel

Vice President of Post Production

Prior to his tenure at ABC, Mr. Frankel was an Associate Producer and Post Production Supervisor on several high profile movies including the Emmy nominated HBO Pictures' film "Gotti." Working closely with the film's director, producer and editor, the film was nominated for DGA, SAG and various other awards, and won awards for best sound editing and film editing among its other recognition.

In 1995, Mr. Frankel became the Manager of the Post Production department at NBC Studios, overseeing all aspects of post production on movies of the week. Mr. Frankel started his relationship with NBC several years earlier in the production area as the Co-Producer and Associate Producer on many of the Danielle Steel movies and mini-series with producer Douglas Cramer. Mr. Frankel was employed as both a creative and line producer, and was responsible for maintaining the stylistic look, production schedule and budget. Mr. Frankel was involved in eleven of the series of Danielle Steel movies including "Zoya," "Once in a Lifetime" and "Fine Things."

Mr. Frankel's long association with Aaron Spelling resulted in some of TV's highest rated programming including number one ranked mini-series "2000 Malibu Road" for feature director Joel Schumacher (Batman movies, The Client, Phone Booth). Mr. Frankel's association with Mr. Spelling included work on the famed series "Dynasty," "The Love Boat," and the television film "Rich Men, Single Women."

An unusual opportunity in Mr. Frankel's career included his work on the Disney short film "Captain EO," working with director Francis Ford Coppola and producer George Lucas.
Mr. Frankel began his training at Northwestern University in Illinois, and at UCLA in Los Angeles where he earned his B.A. in Theatre.  

Doug Ludwig

Vice President of Production

VFX Supervisor/Producer

Doug began work with Stargate in 1997 on the Emmy-nominated miniseries, ASTEROID, along with other television movies and commercials. After a season as a visual effects producer with Encore Hollywood, he returned to Stargate and has since supervised and produced visual effects for C.S.I., CROSSING JORDAN, THE CHRONICLE, FASTLANE, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, PROVIDENCE, WITHOUT A TRACE, THE WEST WING, and NIP TUCK, while also co-producing many of Stargate's long-form projects.

Before joining Stargate, Doug worked as a live-action producer on such films as the award-winning independent feature, NO EASY WAY. He holds a Masters degree in Cinema Production from USC's School of Cinema-Television. >>IMDB details

James Riley

Vice President of Development

VFX Supervisor/Producer

Riley's extensive background in the entertainment industry, includes writing, producing, and directing film projects for Disney, MCA/Universal, Paramount, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Formely the President and Creative Director of Touch TV, Riley developed and produced television programming for Pearson TV, National Geographic, Talk TV, and Dream Pictures Studio. Riley also wrote, and directed 12 live action adventure games including AMAZONIA, WIREHEAD, and SURGICAL STRIKE. Previously, Riley was the VP of Development and Production for Digital Pictures, responsible for setting up their L.A. production studios and overseeing the development, production, and marketing of 9 live action titles, including; SWITCH, PRIZE FIGHTER, and GROUND ZERO TEXAS.

Before joining Digital Pictures, Riley worked as VP of Development and Production for Crest Films, producing 14 POV feature film segments for the 1992 WINTER OLYMPICS for CBS. While at Crest, Riley also produced commercials for NIKE, MERRIL LYNCH, VISA, and AMERICAN EXPRESS and developed and marketed new camera systems, including CABLECAM™ and SKYCAM™ (currently contracted by the NFL). Prior to joining Crest, Riley worked as VP/Executive Producer for Apogee Productions, writing and producing 7 simulation films for Disney, Universal, and Mitsubishi Theme Parks, including AVALANCHE, RIVER RUN, and Disney¹s Circlevision film FROM TIME TO TIME. While at Apogee, Riley also developed and marketed new applications for digital imaging, HD projection, and simulation platforms.

In the early 1980's, Riley pioneered new media formats in live action interactive and simulation entertainment for Disney Imagineering, MCA, Universal Studios, and ByVideo. As Creative Director of ByVideo, Riley wrote and directed 37 interactive videodiscs and more than 200 interactive commercials. Later he joined Hasbro to develop, produce, and direct interactive entertainment programs for VCRs, cable, and broadcast television.

Before his work in interactive media, Riley produced and directed commercials and visual effects for feature projects in Hollywood. After graduating from UCLA, Riley was hired to produce and direct documentaries in Japan and teach new film and video production techniques at Kwansei Gakuin University. >>IMDB details

Adam Ealovega

2D Supervisor

Bio coming soon.

Dr. Joseph Meier

Chief Technology Officer

Bio coming soon.

Adalberto Lopez

3D Supervisor

Al Lopez received his education at Art Center College of Design, after which he worked as an industrial designer for the Textron Corporation. There he used his expertise to create vehicle designs that were both inspired and functional. But his sights were always set for the entertainment industry. When an opportunity arose at Encore Hollywood in 3D post-production, Al eagerly took the job and quickly became co-supervisor of the Visual Effects department. At Encore he was directly responsible for work on TV shows such as Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Charmed, and many of the crazy antics seen on Ally McBeal including the now famous "Dancing Baby". Feature film work included the 1998 summer movie Disturbing Behavior and Disney's Angels in the End Zone. In 1999, Al had the opportunity to create all the CGI animation for Fox Family's NASCAR Racers. In doing so, he co-founded Creative Logik Universe. At CLU, Al was responsible for managing all projects including: Beneath Loch Ness, Second Time Around, and James Cameron's IMAX movie, Ghosts of the Abyss. Most recently, CLU had the privilege of again working with James Cameron on his soon to be released Aliens of the Deep. Al Lopez has recently joined the Stargate team in Los Angeles as the head of the 3D department. He continues to find innovative solutions that will push the creative envelope for the future of Stargate Digitals 3D development. >>IMDB details

Victor Scalise

Editorial Supervisor

Coming to Stargate Digital in 1996 as an online editor, his responsibilities expanded to editorial supervisor for all three facilities, as well as, the lead Avid DS artist. Main title credits include the new "Twilight Zone", "The Dead Zone" and most recently the Sci-Fi Channel's original film "5 Days To Midnight". Emmy Nominated in 2001 for his work on the TNT original film "Race Against Time". He is now in his eighth year at Stargate and currently working on the pilot "World of Trouble" as a Co-Visual Effects Supervisor.>>IMDB details

Tim Donahue

Matte Painting Supervisor

Presently working on three features for Stargate Digital, plus a long list of this seasons top fall television series and features, the Stargate Digital Mattepainting Department keeps growing. The team is incredibly busy creating all kinds of images from ancient Rome and Troy to futuristic Washington DC and more. Their work encompasses all the artistry's imagination, technical wizardry, and state-of-the-art digital mattepainting.

Tim's love for the industry began when he was nearly 5 years old in 1952 while watching the second release of KING KONG on the big screen in Omaha. He's been "hooked" ever since on creating the "Great Illusion". Finally coming to Hollywood in 1978 after teaching and degrees in Art and Photography, he began his career working under two of the top wizards of the industry, Linwood Dunn, and Wally Gentleman at the old Film Effects of Hollywood. Two years later he was offered the job as Art Director for Introvision and many years later he branched out doing freelance Art Direction, Visual Effects Supervision, and mattepainting at various establishments throughout the industry. Late in 1998 he joined with Stargate to form a new Matte painting Department and the results are witnessed daily on television screens across the world. >>IMDB details

Mark Spatny

Supervising Producer

VFX Supervisor/Producer

Getting his start by designing PC games for industry leaders such as Disney Interactive, Marks’ recent work for Stargate includes supervising the effects for the pilots The Book of Daniel and Amy Coyne, and producing for the FOX feature Idiocracy. Mark is also working closely with Indian director Anubhav Sinha on visual effects for the eagerly anticipated Bollywood film Dus.

Prior to working at Stargate, Mark worked as a producer and digital effects supervisor on high-profile feature films such as I, Robot, The Last Samurai, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, as well as episodic series for the WB network including Everwood, Gilmore Girls, Birds of Prey, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. At POP Film, Mark was the Production Manager for their Oscar-winning work on What Dreams May Come, in addition to Armageddon, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Dr. Dolittle. Mark is well respected in the industry for helping create and manage the Visual Effects Society Awards. >>IMDB details