Research outputs per year
Research outputs per year
Ms
Harry Potter 1-4, Children of Men, Band of Brothers, Entrapment and Spacejam – these are just some of the films I've worked on as a freelance compositor in the visual effects industry. I have experience compositing greenscreens and bluescreens, miniatures, matte paintings and computer-generated elements. My roles ranged from roto/prep artist to on-set and composite supervisor, helping me to develop a strong eye for detail, composition, lighting and colour.
I'm also a screenwriter and have recently completed a Masters in Creative Writing. I am interested in the way narrative and creative technologies can enhance each other.
Before coming to the University of Portsmouth, I worked for Cinesite, MillFilm, Moving Picture Company (MPC) and Double Negative (DNeg), creating visual effects for high-end motion pictures.
I became a CGI compositor after studying Visual History with Film Theory at university, followed by a graduate job at Cinesite, where I eventually became a supervisor. I was one of very few women on the team, so becoming supervisor was a pivotal moment.
Although I'm most involved with the BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects course, I teach visual effects and compositing to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
What I like most about teaching is when students explain their problems then realise the solution as they describe the issue. Within an industry of ever-evolving technology, there are areas within visual effects where many students discover new aspects they can specialise in, while also becoming resilient and adaptable to change.
I'm developing industry projects, work placements and employment opportunities for Computer Animation and Visual Effect students. My current collaboration is with Portsmouth-based visual effects company Dark Cosmos Creative, and I hope to build more connections with the visual effects industry to provide client briefs for undergraduates so they can gain industry experience, make connections and expand their portfolios and showreels.
VFX and photo-realistic compositing, real-time compositing, virtual production
MA, Creative Writing, University of Surrey
Sept 2016 → Sept 2018
Award Date: 21 Nov 2018
Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Jan 2017 → Sept 2018
Award Date: 15 Nov 2018
External Advisor for programme approval of BA (Hons) Post Production and VFX, University of Salford
28 Nov 2018
Teaching Fellow in Digital Media Arts, University of Surrey
9 Nov 2015 → 21 Apr 2019
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Hull, A., Stevens, B., Wakefield, N. & West, C.
6/10/23 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
1/06/22 → 31/07/22
Project: Innovation
Keeble, T., Garner, T., Stevens, B., Bailey-Ross, C., Howell, P., Pearse, S., Wakefield, N., Teba, T., Hull, A., Bostock, P. & Counsell, A.
3/11/21 → 1/12/22
Project: Innovation
Niki Wakefield (Speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Colin West (Invited speaker), Daniyal Aslam (Invited speaker), Niki Wakefield (Speaker), Adrian Hull (Speaker) & Brett Stevens (Speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Jordan Buckner (Speaker) & Niki Wakefield (Speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Niki Wakefield (Host)
Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting a non-academic visitor
Niki Wakefield (Examiner)
Activity: Examination and External Supervision types › Examination
Wakefield, Niki (Recipient), 15 Feb 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)