Merzin Tavaria (born 15 December 1973) is the Chief Creative Director and co-founder, Prime Focus. He has been associated with the company since its inception and works in collaboration with the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and India studios of Prime Focus.

Tavaria has worked for about two decades in the media and entertainment industry and is respected 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.

Early life and education Tavaria 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

Tavaria started his career as teacher at Compufield Computer Institute, where he met Namit Malhotra, Prakash Kurup and Huzefa Lokhandwala. In 1997, they came together and started 'Prime Focus' in a small garage in Mumbai.

Under Prime Focus, Tavaria 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. Tavaria 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.

In 2010, when Prime Focus created View-D, their proprietary 2D to stereoscopic 3D conversion process, Tavaria set up the View-D team of 2000 professionals in India who currently operate out of Prime Focus' Mumbai, Chandigarh and Goa facilities. 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. 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.

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.

Awards and accolades

Apollo Award 2014 for Best VFX in International Feature Film category for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. 24 FPS Award 2014 for Best VFX in International Feature Film category for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. 24 FPS Award 2013 for Best VFX in International Feature Film category for White House Down. Gold Award, Filmcraft (Special Effects), Goafest 2011 for IndiGo's 'On Time' commercial. CGTantra Community Awards 2011 for Best VFX in Commercial for Zen Estilo advertisement. Apsara Awards 2011 for Best Visual Effects for Guzaarish. EME Awards 2011 for Best Film Content Guzaarish. EME Awards 2011 for the Best TV Content for IniGo's 'On-Time' advert. Award of Excellence at ASIFA IAD 2010 for Raavan. Apsara Awards 2010 for 'Best Visual Effects' for Blue. IIFA Award 2009 for 'Best Visual Effects' for Ghajini. Filmfare Award 2009 for 'Best VFX in a Motion Picture' for Love Story 2050. FICCI BAF Jury Award for 'Best VFX Shot of the Year' for Love Story 2050. 24fps Award 2008 for 'Outstanding Contribution to Visual Effects' for Love Story 2050. FICCI BAF Award 2008 for 'Best VFX in a Commercial' for Honda CBZ "Hero".

Filmography

International films Year Film Role 2014 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Creative Director Hercules VFX Creative Director Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles S3D Creative Director The Expendables 3 S3D Creative Director Maleficent S3D Creative Director The Amazing Spider-Man 2 S3D Creative Director 2013 White House Down VFX Creative Director Gravity S3D Creative Director The Great Gatsby S3D and VFX Creative Director World War Z S3D Creative Director 2012 Frankenweenie S3D Creative Director Total Recall VFX Creative Director Storage 24 VFX Creative Director Men in Black 3 S3D Creative Director Wrath of the Titans S3D Creative Director 2011 Mirror Mirror VFX Creative Director Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace S3D Creative Director Immortals S3D Supervisor Scream 4 VFX Creative Director Once Upon a Warrior VFX Creative Director Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 S3D Creative Director Transformers: Dark of the Moon S3D Creative Director 2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader S3D Creative Director Robin Hood VFX Creative Director Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 S3D Creative Director My Soul to Take S3D Creative Director Clash of the Titans S3D Creative Director 2008 The Sick House VFX Supervisor 2007 28 Weeks Later Head of Visual Effects 2005 Red Mercury VFX Supervisor

Hindi films

Year Film Role 2014 Bang Bang! VFX Creative Director Kick VFX Creative Director 2013 Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani VFX Creative Director 2012 English Vinglish VFX Creative Director OMG - Oh My God! VFX Creative Director Ek Tha Tiger VFX Creative Director Cocktail VFX Creative Director Housefull 2 VFX Creative Director Ekk Deewana Tha Visual Effects Creative Director Jannat 2 Visual Effects Creative Director Paan Singh Tomar VFX Creative Director Agent Vinod VFX Creative Director Players VFX Creative Director 2011 Rockstar VFX Creative Director Ra.One VFX Creative Director Shaitan VFX Creative Director Murder 2 VFX Creative Director No One Killed Jessica VFX Creative Director Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told VFX Creative Director 2010 Guzaarish VFX Creative Director Housefull VFX Creative Director Prince VFX Creative Director Raavan VFX Creative Director Bumm Bumm Bole VFX Creative Director 2009 Wanted VFX Creative Director Blue Visual Effects Supervisor Do Knot Disturb Visual Effects Supervisor Wake Up Sid Visual Effects Supervisor Love Aaj Kal Visual Effects Supervisor Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Visual Effects Supervisor Luck Visual Effects Supervisor Tum Mile Visual Effects Supervisor 8 x 10 Tasveer Visual Effects Supervisor Raaz: The Mystery Continues Visual Effects Supervisor Paa Visual Effects Supervisor Chandni Chowk to China Visual Effects Supervisor 2008 Ghajini Visual Effects Supervisor Bachna Ae Haseeno Visual Effects Supervisor Love Story 2050 Visual Effects Supervisor Kambakkht Ishq Visual Effects Supervisor Tashan Visual Effects Supervisor Bhoothnath Visual Effects Supervisor Saawariya Visual Effects Supervisor 2007 Partner Visual Effects Supervisor Ta Ra Rum Pum Visual Effects Supervisor Heyy Babyy Head of Visual Effects Salaam-E-Ishq Visual Effects Supervisor Guru Visual Effects Supervisor 2006 Bhagam Bhag Visual Effects Supervisor Omkara VFX Supervisor Jaan-E-Mann Visual Effects Supervisor Naksha Visual Effects Supervisor Pyare Mohan Visual Effects Supervisor Golmaal: Fun Unlimited Visual Effects Supervisor Zinda Visual Effects Supervisor 2005 Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! Visual Effects Supervisor Bluffmaster! Visual Effects Supervisor No Entry Visual Effects Supervisor The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey Visual Effects Supervisor Dus Visual Effects Supervisor Main Aisa Hi Hoon Editor Karam Visual Effects Supervisor 2004 Musafir Visual Effects Supervisor Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... Visual Effects Supervisor Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Visual Effects Supervisor Khakee Editor Run Visual Effects Supervisor 2003 Kuch Naa Kaho Visual Effects Supervisor Qayamat: City Under Threat Visual Effects Supervisor / Editor / Promo Packaging Khushi Editor 2002 Kaante Visual Effects Supervisor Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera Editor

Commercials

Indian

Year Brand Role 2011 Google Chrome 3D S3D Creative Director 2010 IndiGo's 'On Time' 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' VFX and Animation Supervisor 2009 Lotte 'Coffy Bite' 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

References