Visual Effects Artist

John-Michael “J” Bills

BA, University of Kansas, Film Studies. J Bills is a New York City based visual effects artist and designer, originally from Kansas City. Bills began his career in the late-1990s, doing stints upon graduation at the ABC and CBS affiliates in Kansas City as a Graphic Designer, producing on-air graphics for news and promotion related programming.

Upon moving to New York for a fresh start in the year 2000, Bills made the rounds as a freelance visual effects artist and designer, working on projects for HBO, MTV, Sci-Fi Channel, Nickelodeon, and Razorfish, to name a few. Although, if there is ever a “typical” time for Bills, he generally is based with NYC animation house Psyop and teaches visual effects at the School of Visual Arts.

2003 marked a stellar year for Bills, kicking off the year by doing compositing and design for the Super Bowl Halftime show, followed by working as a lead artist on a large crew responsible for bringing Frank Sinatra “back to life” for Radio City Music Hall’s groundbreaking Broadway-style multimedia show. Finally, 2003 also marks Bills’ first feature film work, as he was contracted as a Digital Artist on the third film in the Lord of the Rings series, Return of the King.

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