Merzin Tavaria

Merzin Tavaria

Merzin Tavaria, Chief Creative Director and Co-founder, Prime Focus
Born Merzin Tavaria
15 December 1973
Alma mater K.C College, Mumbai
Occupation Chief Creative Director and Co-founder, Prime Focus

Merzin Tavaria (born 15 December 1973) is the Chief Creative Director and Co-founder of Prime Focus.[1] He has been associated with the company since its inception and works in collaboration with the UK, US, Canada and India studios of Prime Focus.[2]

Merzin has worked for about two decades in the media and entertainment industry. He is known for his contribution towards the use of color grading and visual effects in India.

He is also a jury member at various film and advertising festivals, and has been a speaker on many industry related events.[3][4]

Early life and education

Merzin grew up in Mumbai and completed his schooling from St. Peter's School, Mumbai in 1991. In 1995, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from K.C. College, Mumbai.

Career

Merzin started his career as teacher at Compufield Computer Institute, where he met Namit Malhotra, Prakash Kurup and Huzefa Lokhandwala.[5] In 1997, they came together and started ‘Prime Focus’ in a small garage in Mumbai.[6]

Under Prime Focus, Merzin has led teams delivering visual effects for Hollywood films such as The Great Gatsby, Total Recall, White House Down, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and Brett Ratner's Hercules.[7] He has also directed the visual effects for Bollywood films like Bang Bang!, Kick, Kai Po Che!, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Dabangg 2, Guzaarish, Housefull 2, Blue, and Ghajini.[8][9][10]

In 2010, when Prime Focus pioneered View-D, their proprietary 2D to stereo 3D conversion process, Merzin set up the View-D team of 2000 professionals in India who currently operate out of Prime Focus' Mumbai, Chandigarh and Goa facilities.[11] This team undertook the 3D conversion of Warner Bros.’ Clash of the Titans – the first full length feature film to be converted from 2D to 3D.[12] Merzin Tavaria was sought for creative leadership in the 3D conversion of films like Gravity, Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers: Age of Extinction, World War Z, Men in Black 3, Star Wars: Episode I, II & III, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Maleficent, Seventh Son, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Ra.One.[13][14][15]

Merzin Tavaria launched Prime Focus World's Animation division in 2012. The division holds 100 employees and has worked on projects such as Legends of Chima. The animation division completed 4 seasons of the show and is now working on new projects.[16]

Awards and accolades

Filmography

International films

Year Film Role
2014 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For [27] Creative Director
2014 Hercules [28] VFX Creative Director
2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [29] S3D Creative Director
2014 The Expendables 3 [30] S3D Creative Director
2014 Maleficent [31] S3D Creative Director
2014 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [32] S3D Creative Director
2013 White House Down [33] VFX Creative Director
2013 Gravity [34] S3D Creative Director
2013 The Great Gatsby [35] S3D and VFX Creative Director
2013 World War Z [36] S3D Creative Director
2012 Frankenweenie [37] S3D Creative Director
2012 Total Recall [38] VFX Creative Director
2012 Storage 24 [39] VFX Creative Director
2012 Men in Black 3 [40] S3D Creative Director
2012 Wrath of the Titans [41] S3D Creative Director
2011 Mirror Mirror [42] VFX Creative Director
2011 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace [43] S3D Creative Director
2011 Immortals [44] S3D Supervisor
2011 Scream 4 [45] VFX Creative Director
2011 Once Upon a Warrior [46] VFX Creative Director
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 [47] S3D Creative Director
2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon [48] S3D Creative Director
2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [49] S3D Creative Director
2010 Robin Hood [50] VFX Creative Director
2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 S3D Creative Director
2010 My Soul to Take [51] S3D Creative Director
2010 Clash of the Titans [52] S3D Creative Director
2008 The Sick House [53] VFX Supervisor
2007 28 Weeks Later [54] Head of Visual Effects
2005 Red Mercury [55] VFX Supervisor

Bollywood

Year Film Role
2014 Bang Bang! [56] VFX Creative Director
2014 Kick [57] VFX Creative Director
2013 Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani [58] VFX Creative Director
2012 English Vinglish [59] VFX Creative Director
2012 OMG - Oh My God! [60] VFX Creative Director
2012 Ek Tha Tiger [61] VFX Creative Director
2012 Cocktail [62] VFX Creative Director
2012 Housefull 2 [63] VFX Creative Director
2012 Ekk Deewana Tha [64] Visual Effects Creative Director
2012 Jannat 2 [65] Visual Effects Creative Director
2012 Paan Singh Tomar [66] VFX Creative Director
2012 Agent Vinod [67] VFX Creative Director
2012 Players [68] VFX Creative Director
2011 Rockstar [69] VFX Creative Director
2011 Ra.One [70] VFX Creative Director
2011 Shaitan [71] VFX Creative Director
2011 Murder 2 [72] VFX Creative Director
2011 No One Killed Jessica [73] VFX Creative Director
2011 Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told (documentary) VFX Creative Director
2010 Guzaarish [74] VFX Creative Director
2010 Housefull [75] VFX Creative Director
2010 Wanted VFX Creative Director
2010 Prince [76] VFX Creative Director
2010 Raavan [77] VFX Creative Director
2010 Bumm Bumm Bole [78] VFX Creative Director
2009 Blue [79] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Do Knot Disturb Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Wake Up Sid [80] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Love Aaj Kal [81] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani [82] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Luck Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Tum Mile [83] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 8 x 10 Tasveer [84] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Raaz: The Mystery Continues [85] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Paa [86] Visual Effects Supervisor
2009 Chandni Chowk to China [87] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Ghajini [88] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Bachna Ae Haseeno [89] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Love Story 2050 [90] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Kambakkht Ishq [91] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Tashan [92] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Bhoothnath [93] Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 Saawariya [94] Visual Effects Supervisor
2007 Partner [95] Visual Effects Supervisor
2007 Ta Ra Rum Pum [96] Visual Effects Supervisor
2007 Heyy Babyy [97] Head of Visual Effects
2007 Salaam-E-Ishq [98] Visual Effects Supervisor
2007 Guru [99] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Bhagam Bhag [100] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Omkara [101] VFX Supervisor
2006 Jaan-E-Mann [102] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Naksha [103] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Pyare Mohan [104] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Golmaal: Fun Unlimited [105] Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 Zinda [106] Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! [107] Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 Bluffmaster! [108] Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 No Entry Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey [109] Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 Dus [110] Visual Effects Supervisor
2005 Main Aisa Hi Hoon Editor
2005 Karam Visual Effects Supervisor
2004 Musafir [111] Visual Effects Supervisor
2004 Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... [112] Visual Effects Supervisor
2004 Mujhse Shaadi Karogi [113] Visual Effects Supervisor
2004 Khakee [114] Editor
2004 Run Visual Effects Supervisor
2003 Kuch Naa Kaho [115] Visual Effects Supervisor
2003 Qayamat: City Under Threat [116] Visual Effects Supervisor / Editor / Promo Packaging
2003 Khushi Editor
2002 Kaante [117] Visual Effects Supervisor
2002 Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera [118] Editor

Commercials

Indian

Year Brand Role
2011 Google Chrome 3D [119] S3D Creative Director
2010 IndiGo Airlines 'On Time' [120][121] VFX Creative Director
2010 Commonwealth Games 2010 Opening Ceremony VFX Creative Director
2009 Reliance Mobile 'Simply' VFX Supervisor
2009 Central Bank of India VFX Supervisor
2009 Maxo VFX Supervisor
2009 Whirlpool 'Water You Can Trust' [122] VFX and Animation Supervisor
2009 Lotte 'Coffy Bite' [123] VFX Supervisor
2009 Honda CBZ Extreme VFX Supervisor

International

Year Brand Role
2011 Relentless Virtues VFX Creative Director
2010 Dubai Shopping Festival VFX Creative Director
2009 Rhydian’s new album 'O Fortuna' VFX Creative Director
2009 Popstar to Opera Star VFX Creative Director
2009 The National Lottery Bingo Scratch cards VFX Creative Director

Personal life

Merzin lives in Mumbai with his spouse of 15 years Vinita Tavaria, daughter Natasha Tavaria and son Malcolm Tavaria.

Other interests

Merzin is a gaming enthusiast and is passionate about cars and bikes. He is also fond of 80’s Hindi music.

References

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