AliyaRafei.com
VFX STUDENT / 3D GENERALIST
ABOUT ME
Hi! I am an Animation/VFX Animation BFA Undergrad student (Chapman University ‘25) with a minor in Game Development. I started my VFX journey in college because movies bring incredible amounts of joy to my life and I am eager to eventually take part in the creative process of the studios I admire. I am also the daughter of Bob Rafei [BobRafei.com] so he has filled me with the passion to create great games. I am learning C# and Java with the goal of being a proficient technical artist for a game dev or vfx studio. Please reach out if you have any questions or just want to get to know me! :)
Software Specific Skills:
Proficient: Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, NukeX, Vicon Blade 2.6.1 or Shogun [mocap tracking], Autodesk Maya, Unreal, Adobe Substance Suite,
Disguise [Virtual Production Pipeline]
Beginner: After Effects, Houdini, Blender, ZBrush, Unity, C# [for Unity], Java
EDUCATION
Chapman University, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Aug. 2021 – June 2025
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Degree: Animation & Visual Effects B.F.A. (VFX emphasis)
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Minor: Game Programming
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Dodge College, Disguise Virtual Production Training, Aug. 2023
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Over 14 hours online training on how to use the Disguise Software in different virtual production workflows
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3 days intensive on-site training at Chapman University’s LED Virtual Production Stage.
Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Apr. 2022 – Dec. 2022
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fall 22: Introduction to modeling in Autodesk Maya (final grade: 92)
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spring 22: Introduction to Unreal for Virtual Production (final grade: 100)
RebelWay.net intro Nuke + Houdini courses, 2024 self guided​
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OTHER
PSIA-AASI, Snowboard Instructor E-Learning Courses, Dec. 2021 – Apr. 2022
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Courses: Course for New Instructors , AASI/Burton Riglet PE Course , Delivering the Beginner Experience – Snowboard , Mountain Safety Awareness
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El Segundo High School, Aug. 2016 – June 2020
Full Personal + School Projects List
VFX Supervisor Student Film “All Eyes”, 2021-22 academic year
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VFX supervised on set for the student short film titled “All Eyes
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VFX Director and Editor, 2022-23 academic year **never completed**
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Personal project: shot live action footage then modeled, rigged, and textured an original 3D model of a Robot to comp into the footage.
VFX Artist for Student Film “Rusted Roots”, 2023-24 academic year
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Lead VFX Artist – see page on rusted roots
VFX Supervisor for Student Film “Science”, 2023-24 academic year
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post-production compositing: tracking, roto, green screen keying, other vfx
VFX Supervisor for Student Film “Diversity Hire”, 2024
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added fire and smoke to handheld cigarette scene
LED Wall supervisor for various student films :
→ “Chainsaw Monkey”, production 9/28-10/01/2023
→ “POV”, production 10/27 - 10/28/2023
→ “Crimson Trench”, production 1/03/2024 - 4/21/2024 **never completed**
→ “Drivers Dilema”, production 3/15-3/17/2024
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ensured smooth virtual production workflow with the LED wall on set at Chapman University
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met with faculty post production - set up protocol for sets going forward
technical details of the Wall:
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AOTO Led Wall + RED Komodo / Sony Venice + MoSys Star Tracker
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D3 Disguise + Renderstream + Unreal : for camera tracking VP workflows
LET'S COLLABORATE!
EXCITED TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS AND CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO DISCUSS YOUR VFX NEEDS AND IDEAS.