About

David Torno is a self-taught visual effects professional with a passion for the technical and educational side of VFX. Since beginning his career in 2000, he has worked on films, commercials, music videos, and large scale multimedia projects. In 2008 he started sharing his wealth of knowledge with other creatives through video tutorials, project templates, and utility scripts. While most known for serving as the Technical Director at Ghost Town Media for 8 years, David has focused mostly on 3D volumetric and particle animation in recent years. Through the consolidation of his life's work under the Fendra Fx name, David continues to create helpful tools, and informative training videos for the creative community.
Work History
  • Houdini Private Tutoring [tutoring]
    misc
    Tutored various individuals on Houdini VEX, vfx techniques, and workflows. Each session was tailered to the individuals requests and questions.
  • Velocity Forces 2: Advanced [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught more advanced techniques building upon my first Velocity Forces class. Topics included Houdini standard volumes, OpenVDB volumes, SDF (Sign Distance Field), blending multiple fields, vorticles, wake turbulence forces, volume optical flow fields, VDB Potential Flow, VEX coding, reducing the volume caching overhead, matrices, quaternions, cross products, and vector math. VIEW NOW
  • FFX Geometry Explainer [houdini hda]
    Fendra Fx
    An interactive educational Houdini HDA tool to learn Geomemetry Components and Attribute Classes. Learn about Vertex, Point, Primitive, Detail, Edge, Half-Edge, and NormalsVIEW NOW
  • FFX Collection [houdini hda]
    Fendra Fx
    Houdini HDA of 50+ scene builds and techniques for the intermediate users of Houdini. A tool for those looking for quick setups, wanting to get more familiar with VEX use cases, and wanting to get started in Karma and Material X. Builds include FLIP, RBD, Vellum, POP, Pyro Solver, SOPs, LOPs, TOPs, Karma, and Material X.VIEW NOW
  • Houdini Private Tutoring [tutoring]
    misc
    Tutored various individuals on Houdini VEX, vfx techniques, and workflows. Each session was tailered to the individuals requests and questions.
  • Houdini Private Tutoring [tutoring]
    misc
    Tutored various individuals on Houdini VEX, vfx techniques, and workflows. Each session was tailered to the individuals requests and questions.
  • Loops [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught live class on programatic loops like For, For-Each, While, and Do-While. This class showcases SOPs, VOPs, COPs, LOPs, and VEX loops and all the many ways a loop can be implemented into your daily builds. VIEW NOW
  • Attributes [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught live class on Houdini Attributes. I focus on building your core Houdini knowledge, demystifying Attributes, discussing how to create them, and most importantly explaining how they are integrated into Houdini. Class topics include basic Geometry components, clarification of the terminology, different creation & management methods, as well as exploration of differences between VEX, HScript, and Python. VIEW NOW
  • Liquid SOPs [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Teach live class on creating liquid FX without using simulation solvers. I show how to use procedural animation, VOPs, and VEX to accomplish liquid looks.VIEW NOW
  • Noise [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught Noise concepts, VOP options, VEX options, hidden VEX options, Python shelf tools, PDG automation, PDG preview exports, and auto generation of variants.VIEW NOW
  • Surface Advection [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught geometry prep and masking, volumetric velocity generation, volumetric particle advection, vector orientation, attribute blending & extraction, and Redshift proxy rendering.VIEW NOW
  • Velocity Forces [live class]
    Houdini.School
    Taught fundamentals of velocity & forces, how to build custom velocity fields, context examples involving key fx areas (RBD, particles, and volumes), as well as common fx motions (avoidance, suction, along paths, twisting, and falloffs).VIEW NOW
  • -NDA- [logo re-branding]
    Buddha Jones
    Houdini based volumetrics & particle fx devlopement. Procedural emission maps, and project templating.
  • Daydream LA [building video projection]
    Karina White
    Houdini consultant on animating a bird flocking system.
  • Mastering TurbulenceFD: Volume 1 [training series]
    Fendra Fx
    Learn volumetric concepts, terminology, and step-by-step how to create fire, and smoke.[6 chapters/5+ hours]VIEW NOW
  • MTGA ML [commercial]
    Buddha Jones
    Responsible for Houdini smoke, pyro, particles, and project FX template building.
  • FFX Align To Curve [houdini hda]
    Fendra Fx
    Houdini HDA tool for aligning geometry along a curve with lots of features.VIEW NOW
  • Big Dinosaur Ep3 [animated web series]
    Little Mountain Animation
    Houdini RBD destruction
  • Okuda 1800 [commercial]
    BEMO
    3D camera tracking, AE project comp template
  • Backyard Bible Camp [web series]
    As Simple As Possible Audio/Visual LLC
    Countdown timer animation
  • DreamCorp S3 Ep 7 & 8 [tv series]
    Bemo
    3D camera/object tracking, After Effects templating for monitor comps
  • Jellyfish Video Wall Animation [video wall RnD]
    Deadpan Creative Inc
    RnD for the following: C4D to Houdini alembic pipeline, Houdini VEX based alembic animation offsets of instances, Houdini based seemless alembic animation cycling with translation offset.
  • DreamCorp S3 Ep 3 & 4 [tv series]
    Bemo
    3D camera/object tracking, Houdini grain & spring FX, X-Particle fluid FX, Redshift3D rendering
  • John Deere - [promo]
    Run, Kick, Shout!
    3D camera and object tracking
  • DreamCorp S3 Ep 1 [tv series]
    Bemo
    X-Particles rain, 3D camera tracking
  • Stadia [animated logo]
    Brand New School
    Houdini VEX geometry rig, particles, and smoke. Cinema4D project wranglingVIEW NOW
  • Mayans: S2 [commercial]
    Bemo
    3D camera and object tracking
  • Tenet [movie teaser]
    Buddha Jones
    Houdini based destruction debris, particles, and smoke elements.
  • SAFE - Red Light [music video]
    Bemo
    3D camera and object trackingVIEW NOW
  • SunMaid [commercial]
    Run, Kick, Shout!
    3D camera and object trackingVIEW NOW
  • -NDA- [logo re-branding]
    Buddha Jones
    X-Particles cloth simulation RnD
  • HBO: Beyond the Static [commercial]
    Buddha Jones
    Developed and built XP animated element passes for comp, 3D camera tracking, camera projection, X-Particles, Cinema4D, SynthEyes, TurbulenceFDVIEW NOW
  • Aquaman [web adverts toolkit]
    Buddha Jones
    X-Particles water
  • The Bobby Brown Story': BET [miniseries]
    CMDR
    3D/2D tracking, compositing, keying, expression rigs, made comp templates, crowd replication, glass bullet hits, painting CG prop, medical tubing CG prop, cleanup, After Effects, Houdini, Cinema4D, X-Particles, TurbulenceFD, Redshift3DVIEW NOW
  • Marlon: S2 [tv series]
    Ring of Fire
    2D tracking, Compositing, expressioned controls, keying, roto
  • Lyrica: Fire Station [commercial]
    Ring of Fire
    3D tracking, stabilization, Compositing, cleanup, rotoVIEW NOW
  • Archangel: Hellfire [commercial]
    Buddha Jones
    TurbulenceFD based smoke, fire, cloudscapes, X-Particle energy beamVIEW NOW
  • Legion S2 [tv series]
    Zoic
    3D tracking
  • World of Dance: Superbowl [commercial]
    Ring of Fire
    3D tracking, stabilization, Compositing, Keyframe & Expression based Animation, keying, rotoVIEW NOW
  • Insydium X-Particles Challenge 2017 [contest]
    Fendra Fx
    X-Particles based water, crystals, stalagmite & stalactite geo, bursts / Houdini RBD sim / Cinema4D Redshift3D rendering, procedural shader building / Syntheyes camera, and object 3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • DC / ATT [logo]
    Buddha Jones
    TurbulenceFD & X-Particles based environment & object smoke, fire, particle bursts, and embers
  • Mercury Insurance - Automat [commercial]
    Ring of Fire
    3D tracking, stabilizationVIEW NOW
  • Jump Scare Man [short film]
    Ring of Fire
    2D tracking, compositing, cleanup
  • Bel Canto [feature film]
    Ring of Fire
    2D tracking, compositing
  • Scandal Final Season: Free [promo]
    Ring of Fire
    3D/2D tracking, stabilization, compositing
  • Mozart in the Jungle: S4 E5 [amazon series]
    Ring of Fire
    3D/2D tracking, compositing
  • DCEU Animated Logo 20K [comic-con 2017 Hall H promo]
    Buddha Jones
    TurbulenceFD & X-Particles based environment smoke, energy, nebula, and character effects.
  • Microsoft Xbox Design Lab [promo]
    Buddha Jones
    X-Particles based fluid effectsVIEW NOW
  • DCEU Animated Logo 4K [logo]
    Buddha Jones
    TurbulenceFD based environment smoke, energy, nebula, and character effectsVIEW NOW
  • John Deere - Mini Machines [conexpo 2017 promo]
    Run, Kick, Shout
    3D object and camera tracking
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Crickets Tale [S12E01] [tv series]
    Ring of Fire
    Minor removal/cleanup
  • Dr. Ken - Halloween Special [S2E05] [tv series]
    Ring of Fire
    Particular particles, 2D tracking, Compositing, Keyframe & Expression based Animation, Roto
  • El Dorado - My Van [commercial]
    Run, Kick, Shout
    3D object and camera tracking
  • The Voice "Arrival" [tv promo]
    Ring of Fire
    3D/2D tracking, Compositing, Keyframe & Expression based Animation, RotoVIEW NOW
  • Real Husbands of Hollywood: Season 5 "Awards" [tv series]
    Dennis Shin
    2D tracking, C4D camera layouts, After Effects composite template
  • Real Husbands of Hollywood: Season 5 "Spouse Smarts" [tv series]
    Dennis Shin
    2D tracking, After Effects composite template
  • Mercury Insurance - Red Guy Vs Blue Guy [commercial]
    Ring of Fire
    2D/3D tracking, Compositing, Roto, Particular ParticlesVIEW NOW
  • Miss Earth aka:Miss 2059 EP2,8 [short series]
    Ring of Fire
    Animation, Particular Particles, compositing, roto, 3D/2D trackingVIEW NOW
  • White Horse [short series]
    Brandon Parvini
    3D Camera and object tracking
  • Ford Fusion - Driver's Assist [web advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Client provided AE project cleanup, Animation adjustments, composite
  • Ford Mustang - EcoBoost [web advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Client provided AE project cleanup, Animation adjustments
  • Adventures of Old Man [short]
    Dennis Shin
    After Effects template compositeVIEW NOW
  • Zoe Ever After [tv series]
    Dennis Shin
    Rig removal, Composite
  • Prius [web advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Batch process footage with fx treatment preset for client preview. Animated biometric UI.
  • 13 hours [promo]
    Ghost Town Media
    Batch process footage with color treatment preset
  • MochaBlend [cinema4 plugin]
    Good Spirit Graphics
    Beta tested plugin that converts Mocha splines into extruded C4D objects. It also converts 2D planar track data into 3D C4D camera solves.VIEW NOW
  • Free Function Friday [video tutorial series]
    Fendra Fx
    Teaching and explaining ExtendScript custom functions [30 episodes]VIEW NOW
  • Mask Adjuster [After Effects Script]
    Fendra Fx
    Developed and released a script that globally adjusts the position of layer masks.VIEW NOW
  • Ford GT [web advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Animation
  • Ford Focus [web advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Animation, Particles
  • Toyota Tacoma [Web Advert]
    Ghost Town Media
    Particles, smoke/dust simulation
  • MFS - Active Power [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Visual Effects Onset Supervisor, 2D/3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Sonos [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Visual Effects Onset Supervisor, 2D tracking, Keying, Roto
  • Real Husbands of Hollywood: Season 4 [tv series]
    Dennis Shin
    2D/3D tracking, roto, cleanupVIEW NOW
  • Human full body 3D scanning [photogrammetry]
    Fendra Fx
    Experimentation with high resolution DSLR based photogrammetry process and post pipeline for capturing human subjects digitallyVIEW NOW
  • Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign: Shell Shocked [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Keying, Processing, Region versioning templatesVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park: Until It's Gone [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, Animation, CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Crystal [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing
  • Incarnate [feature film]
    Ghost Town Media
    Fire and Smoke Sim, 2D/3D tracking, Compositing, Animation, Keying, CDL AE Script Automation, VFX Templates, Post TDVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park: A Light That Never Comes [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D Camera Animation, Particle Animation, CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Haunted House 2 [feature film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D Smoke simulationVIEW NOW
  • The Lazarus Effect [feature film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, 3D Smoke Sim, AE Expression, Shot TemplatesVIEW NOW
  • Muse [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Python controller for 3D multi-line generations
  • That Power [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D and 2D tracking, Particle generation, CompositingVIEW NOW
  • WhiteHorse [short film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D animation, 2D tracking, Compositing
  • After Effects ExtendScript Training [video tutorial series]
    Fendra Fx
    Teaching and explaining the ExtendScript language for After Effects [19 episodes/over 14 hours]VIEW NOW
  • Conan O'Brien Show [tv series]
    Steve Robinson
    Consulted Edit and VFX team on 3D motion tracking
  • Mall [feature film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, 3D Fire Sim, CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Unilever Clear - Roots [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Master Project Templates and organization for delivery, Compositing, 2D stabilizing
  • Unilever Clear - Enough [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Master Project Templates and organization for delivery, Compositing, 2D stabilizingVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park: Honda Civic Tour [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park: Burn It Down [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, 3D Fire Simulation[filler elements]VIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park: In My Remains [concert graphics]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D Particle Sim, 3D animationVIEW NOW
  • It's Not You, It's Me [short film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D Fire simVIEW NOW
  • Expression Shorts [After Effects tutorial series]
    Fendra Fx
    Teaching and explaining After Effects Expressions (15 episodes)VIEW NOW
  • Absolut - Greyhound [music video/short film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Cold & Ugly [short film]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Skylar Grey - Invisible [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Onset VFX asistant supervision, 3D tracking, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Unilever: Clear - "Fast & Furious" [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Project templating, languange conversions, developed script for remote automationVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park - Burning in the Skies [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Keying, 2D tracking, on-screen talentVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park - Irridescent [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D/3D tracking, animation, fractal element creation, environment builds, rotoVIEW NOW
  • Basic - Teaching [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, compsositing, element animation
  • Basic - Fellowship [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    Onset VFX Supervisor, 3D tracking, compsositing, element animation
  • Linkin Park - Waiting For The End [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Onset assistant VFX Supervisor, 3D tracking, particles, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park - The Catalyst [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing, water sim, animationVIEW NOW
  • Linkin Park - Thousand Suns 2010 Concert Tour
    Ghost Town Media
    Animation, Particles, templated work previewer
  • Linkin Park - New Divide [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Particles, 2d animation, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Basic - Holy Spirit [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D tracking, compositing, animation
  • Basic - Follow Jesus [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D tracking, compositing, animation
  • Basic - Earth and Life [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D tracking
  • Juanes - Yerbatero [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D tracking, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Bridget Mendler - How to Believe [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Particle animationVIEW NOW
  • ZipFizz - Josie Bissett [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing
  • Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Bob - Airplanes [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    AnimationVIEW NOW
  • Jonas LA S2 [opening title]
    Ghost Town Media
    Onset VFX Supervisor, 3D/2D tracking, keying, compositing, animationVIEW NOW
  • Disco Biscuits - Widgets [music video]
    Noah Rappaport
    Prepped and implemented C4D HDRI Lighting, compositing, 3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Disco Biscuits - On Time [music video]
    Noah Rappaport
    Prepped and implemented C4D HDRI Lighting, compositing, 3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Snoop Dogg - Malice In Wonderland Ch. 1 & 2 [music video/short film]
    Ghost Town Media
    Keying, compositing, animationwatch chapter 1watch chapter 2
  • Stand Up To Cancer [series]
    Ghost Town Media
    Designed After Effects templates, scripting automation
  • BlackBerry - I Love What I Do [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Particle animation, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Being Erica [promotional piece]

    3D tracking
  • Warp 20 [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing, cleanup
  • The Void [short film]
    Noah Rappaport
    3D tracking
  • Mary J. Blidge - The One [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Animation, compositingVIEW NOW
  • Rhapsody - Jay-Z [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, compositing, cleanupVIEW NOW
  • Daniel Merriweather - Impossible [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D tracking, keying, compositing
  • Asher Roth - Be Myself [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Alex Kogen - In My Head [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing, Keying, animation, expression rigging
  • Motorola Aura - Beckham [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Fandango - Hot Man [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • The Fray - Never Say Never [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Flo Rida - Right Round [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D/2D trackingVIEW NOW
  • Disney XD [tv series]
    Plastic Cow
    Developed project templates, automated template through expressions, developed script for controling build
  • Sonny with a Chance [opening title]
    Plastic Cow
    Compositing, animation, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Pistol Youth - In My Eyes [music video]
    More Media
    On set VFX Supervisor, 2D tracking, compositing, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Camp Rock - What's What Edition [special edition feature film]
    Plastic Cow
    Developed project templates, automated template through expressions, developed script for controling build
  • Vision Of Blindness [documentary]
    David Gelb
    Logo removal
  • Angela Simmons - Pastry Kicks [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D motion tracking, CleanupVIEW NOW
  • Sony - Reader Digital Book [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D motion tracking
  • Honda - Element [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    AnimationVIEW NOW
  • Kanye West - Champion [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D motion trackingVIEW NOW
  • Big Boi - Something's Gotta Give [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing, animationVIEW NOW
  • Alkaline Trio - Help Me [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    CompositingVIEW NOW
  • Bloc Party - Mercury [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, electrical fxVIEW NOW
  • Watson Twins - How Am I To Be [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D motion tracking, 2D planar tracking, compositing, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Angela Simmons - Center of Attention [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    Particle animation, cleanupVIEW NOW
  • Laura Bryna - Life Is Good [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D motion trackingVIEW NOW
  • MGMT - Electric Feel [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    3D motion trackingVIEW NOW
  • Flight of the Conchords - Ladies of the World [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, compositing, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Lyric's Born - I Like It, I Love It [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2D tracking, compositing, keyingVIEW NOW
  • Sharam - The one [music video]
    Ghost Town Media
    2.5 builds of hotel rooms, keying, compositing, roto, animationVIEW NOW
  • The Other Side [short film]
    Artemis Entertainment LLC
    Director, editor, all VFX
  • RayBan-Tongue Tricks [commercial]
    Ghost Town Media
    Compositing, 2D tracking
  • The Lazarus Project [feature film]
    Visual Stimulus
    2D tracking, composite, screen animations, roto
  • Startgate Studios [vfx studio]
    Startgate Studios
    Consulted VFX Supervisor on Syntheyes 3D motion tracking
  • Carmen Electra: Aerobic Striptease - In The Bedroom [special interest dvd]
    DNA Studio
    Rotoscoping, 3D tracking, composite
  • On The Doll [short film]
    Doom Inc.
    2D tracking, roto, compositing
  • Danni's Tales [children's special]
    Snowlion Entertainment
    Editor, keying, compositing
  • Hallettsville [feature film]
    Breathrough Pictures
    Compositing
  • Breakthrough Pictures [logo]
    Breakthrough Pictures
    Design, animation
  • Real Social Dynamics-Transformations [dvd series]
    Nick Kho
    DVD menu design, animation
  • G.I.Jesus [feature film]
    Cineville
    Compositing
  • Pledge This! [feature film]
    TriCoast Studios
    Compositing
  • Light Years Away [feature film]
    Astrolite Entertainment
    Compositing
  • Justice Angel [promotional]
    Artemis Entertainment LLC
    Design, 3D tracking, compositing
  • 10 Minute TV [bumper]
    TriCoast Studios
    Animation
  • Asylum [bumper]
    TriCoast Studios
    Animation
  • Night Skies [bumper]
    TriCoast Studios
    Animation
  • Premonition [bumper]
    TriCoast Studios
    Animation
  • Cult [bumper]
    TriCoast Studios
    Animation
  • The Indie Pendant [feature film]
    Vision Dynamics Entertainment
    Cinematographer, compositing
  • Straw - Fourty Eight [music video]
    AOI Records
    Cinematographer
  • Dwelling [short film]
    True Caliber
    Compositing
  • Jungle Dave [trailer]
    Vision Dynamics Entertainment
    Actor, compositing
  • The S.I.N. [feature film]
    Vision Dynamics Entertainment
    Cinematographer, compositing