– Warren Pratt has been named president of Toronto-based Alias|Wavefront, replacing the departing Penny Wilson. Pratt had been with Silicon Graphics for over seven years, recently as senior VP of SGI’s Silicon Interactive division.

– Bill McCleod, former president of Westside Productions and Wren/McCleod Films, has joined Toronto design, animation and effects shop Beevision as director of marketing.

Paul Hart, who has a 25-year background in post and live television, has also joined the shop as Jaleo/visual effects editor.

Beevision recently added a Jaleo editing system to its facility, in addition to running Houdini, Alias|Wavefront Maya, Lightwave and its Puppetworks motion-capture system.

– Steve Bentley, former head of Darklight Digital FX and C-Scape Studios, has joined Toronto’s Xtreme as visual effects supervisor. Bentley brings to his new post a wealth of hands-on experience in special F/X compositing, broadcast design, computer animation and on-set consultation services for both feature film and television projects. Bentley received a ’97 Gemini nomination for best special effects for MOW ‘The Two Headed Man.’

– Art director Jennifer Chang recently signed up with Toronto’s Dan Krech Productions to work out of DKP’s Santa Monica, CA, and Toronto offices. Chang previously worked with big graphic design gun Kyle Cooper and has title design credits for features like ‘Spawn,’ ‘G.I. Jane’ and ‘Metro.’ Chang is currently working on a DKP spot for Honda out of Ambrose Carr Linton Carroll.

– New on the scene at Northwest Imaging and Effects in Vancouver are Vic Harnett, who joins the company as Flame artist; 3D artists Jeff Martens and Jordon Benwick; Carol Mann, chef; and Neala Gillingham, receptionist.

– C.O.R.E Digital Effects has bolstered its human resources in a number of areas.

In the 3D animation department new hires include Mike Alkan, Paul Anderson, Frank Faita, Nordin Rahhali, Ken Ouellette, Ji Sung and Mike Wile.

New faces in the 2D paint department are Nick Hsieh and software developers Berj Bannayan and Mark Visser.

Traver Lalonde has joined the production management team while Shane Kinnear is now the executive producer feature film, joining Kirsten Marshall, who heads up the television division.

David Willows has been promoted to technical director and Colin Cunningham moves up to animation director, joining Kyle Menzies on ‘Brats of the Dark Nebula.’ Lisa Wyse has been promoted from production assistant to production coordinator on ‘Brats’.

– The Toronto Section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has elected a new board for 1999, with Fred Benedikt of the CBC taking on the duties of the Toronto Section chair.

New board members include Randy Conrod of Leitch Technologies, Bruce Cowan of Citytv, Mike Demming of Sony of Canada, David Hunter of Baton/CTV, Roger Keay of Rogers Communications, Tony Meerakker of Magnetic North and David Plant of Silicon Graphics. Carolyn Kinzie will join the board as SMPTE student chapter advisor.

Continuing with the board will be Tom Allwood of deluxe toronto, who will assume the position of secretary/treasurer, Paul Thomas of DOME Audio Video Effects, Reid Robertson of Panasonic Broadcast, Harvey Rogers of Alliance Broadcasting, Bruce Wiseman of Imagineering, Brad Fortner of Ryerson Polytechnic University and Loreto Leombruni of Kodak Canada.

Rejoining the board are Mark Ritchie of Heritage Resources Associates in a special advisor role and Walter Zessner as membership chair.