A vatar animator Tim Stevenson is the new visual effect supervisor at Montréal’s MELS Studios, effective immediately.

Reporting to Christine Wise, MELS’ head of visual effects, the 25-year VFX and animation industry veteran is tasked to “bring the best solutions to the clients creative needs for their project to be realized on screen.”

Stevenson was previously held the same title at Mr. X, and his credits include work on Jurassic Park II and III, Happy Feet and, most recently, VFX supervision work on Netflix’s Cursed and HBO’s The Nevers.

“MELS Studios have been working hard to take its VFX group to the next level, including significant investments in virtual production,” said Richard Cormier, vice-president, digital creative services at MELS, in a statement.

“The addition of Tim Stevenson is a key step in our vision of delivering the best virtual production and VFX services possible.”

Owned by Quebecor’s TVA Group, MELS Studios and Postproduction employs 450 and provides such services as soundstage, equipment rental, visual effects, sound and picture postproduction, mobile unit rental, theatrical, television, internet and smart device distribution and a virtual production stage.

Earlier this summer, Quebecor announced the construction of an additional $53 million 160,000 sq. ft.-facility, designed to attract the filming of international blockbuster films and series. MELS 4 is expected to be complete by spring 2023.

Some of the major international productions filming with MELS 20 other studios include Midway and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.