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Mark Benard - Producer/VFX Producer
Upon launching his first company in 1996, Benard worked as a visual effects artist on MGM’s feature Warriors of Virtue and TV Series The Outer Limits. His creative abilities attracted Branson’s Virgin Digital Studios group, and Lost Boys Studios Inc., a world-renowned visual effects and animation studio, was formed as a 50/50 venture between Benard and Virgin. In the summer of 2000 Benard purchased Virgin’s shares in the company.
While helming Lost Boys, Benard worked as a Visual Effects Supervisor, Producer and Artist on hundreds of productions, receiving Emmy and Gemini nominations for work on the TV Series Stargate SG-1, Mobius and Monitor awards for commercial campaigns for Bacardi and GNP Insurance, as well as many other international TV, commercial and game cinematic awards. Benard’s feature film credits as Visual Effects Producer or Supervisor include the Oscar-nominated Finding Neverland, The Snow Walker, and What the Bleep Do We Know. In 2004 Benard won the Leo Award for Best Visual Effects, Feature Length Drama for The Snow Walker.
Business recognition includes Business in Vancouver’s Top 10 Growth Companies in 2002, Top 40 Under 40 in 2004, and Finalist in the BC Export Awards for Media and Entertainment in 2002.
In addition to Lost Boys Studios, Benard has launched Lost Boys Entertainment Inc., a development and production company. Benard executive produced the award-winning 3D animated short film "Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted To Dance", with co-Executive Producer John Williams of Vanguard Animation("Seven Years in Tibet,","Shrek," and "Valiant"). In 2005 Bénard Co-Directed/Co-Produced the Houston Worldfest Award-winning animated BRAVO Fact short The Orchid and the Rose with Dennis Tal, Diffusion Film Corp.
Benard was Visual Effects Supervisor/Mentor at the Vancouver Film School. during their 2004-2005 year and has now relocated to the Comox Valley and opened Lost Boys Learning, his own training division, to teach world-class visual effects to local and international students.
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