Diana Marie Wells
California | DianaMarieWells@yahoo.com | www.DianaMarieWells.com
Academy Award-winning Visual Effects Artist and AI Training Engineer with over two decades of experience delivering industry-leading digital solutions for high-profile feature films, television, and advanced technical applications. Recognized for an elite artistic eye and technical workflow expertise across top-tier global VFX studios, including Weta Digital, Digital Domain, and Rhythm & Hues. Expert in compositing, procedural visual effects synthesis, workflow automation, and bridging traditional cinematic production pipelines with next-generation artificial intelligence technologies.
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Software & Ecosystems: The Foundry’s Nuke (Expert), Adobe After Effects, Silhouette, Python, Linux
• AI & Model Optimization: Ground-Truth Dataset Creation, Prompt Engineering, Procedural Text-to-Video Alignment
• VFX Specializations: Compositing, Complex Keying, Tracking, Advanced Digital Paint & Rotoscope
• Technical Artistry: Multi-Layered Plate Integration, Element Relighting, Set Extensions & Matte Painting
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Insight Global | Atlanta, GA AI Training Specialist & Visual FX Engineer (Contract)
• Served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to train and optimize advanced generative artificial intelligence models in cinematic visual effects synthesis and look development.
• Generated high-fidelity reference shots and procedural visual effects variations using Adobe After Effects to establish ground-truth training datasets for machine learning models. • Authored comprehensive technical documentation breaking down complex visual production workflows, asset layering, and effects execution methodologies.
• Engineered and evaluated diverse natural language prompt matrices, aligning user intent inputs with deterministic visual outputs to optimize the AI's contextual rendering accuracy.
FREELANCE VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST | International / Project-Based (2000 – Present)
Deliver high-end compositing, digital painting, rotoscoping, and stereoscopic imagery for major Hollywood studios, television networks, and international commercial clients.
Selected Feature Film & Television Highlights:
• Weta Digital: Compositing, digital painting, and rotoscoping for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, and Superman: Man of Steel.
• Digital Domain: Compositing lead artist for Fast & Furious 7.
• Atomic Fiction: Compositing and digital painting for Game of Thrones (Season 5).
• MPC: Compositing and digital painting for X-Men: Days of Future Past.
• Rhythm & Hues Studios: Compositing, painting, and rotoscoping for The Golden Compass, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hulk, and Night at the Museum.
• Sony Pictures Imageworks: Digital compositing for Green Lantern. • Deluxe FX & Illuminate Hollywood: Stereoscopic painter for legendary remastering tracks including Titanic and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
• CoSA VFX: Digital painting and compositing for hit broadcast series Gotham, Person of Interest, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Sway Studios: Matte painter and compositor for high-profile commercial projects, including a national Toyota commercial campaign. • Additional Credit History Includes: Framestore (Chicago), Pixel Playground, New Breed, DreamWorks, EFX, The Asylum, Synthespians Studios, RhinoFX, Gradient FX, CIS, Prime Focus, and Intelligent Creatures.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
• Academy Award (Oscar) - Best Visual Effects Contribution: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Spider-Man 2, The Golden Compass, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Titanic
• BAFTA Award - Best Special Visual Effects Contribution: X-Men: Days of Future Past
• Saturn Award - Best Special Effects: Superman: Man of Steel • Gold Derby Award - Visual Effects: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
• Gold Derby Award, VFX Sky Captain and the Word of Tomorrow
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Multimedia | Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, IL | Honors: Dean’s List for Academic Excellence Fine Arts Foundation Course | Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PIPELINE WORK
Training the Next Generation of Visual Synthesis Frameworks
In the evolving digital landscape, advanced neural networks require elite, production-grade visual data to learn how to render cinematic imagery accurately. As a Subject Matter Expert (SME), I utilize my 20+ years of compositing literacy to act as a core trainer for generative video networks.
Core Technical Workflows
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Ground-Truth Dataset Generation
Utilizing Adobe After Effects and Nuke to architect highly controlled, procedural visual effects shots (e.g., fluid dynamics, atmospheric simulations, lighting transitions) to establish baseline training data for machine learning models. -
Natural Language Prompt Engineering
Developing and evaluating complex natural language prompt matrices, systematically mapping descriptive user inputs to predictable, deterministic pixel generation. -
VFX Workflow Documentation
Authoring multi-layered technical summaries breaking down lighting mechanics, edge matting, optical lens distortion models, and element layering for machine learning engineering teams. -
Model Quality & Artifact Auditing
Leveraging a rigorous compositing eye to identify, isolate, and mitigate machine learning synthesis bottlenecks, including temporal flickering, edge chattering, and color space inconsistencies.