OUR MAGICIANS
Leveraging our long-standing partnerships, synergistic collaborations, and comprehensive XR know-how, the Magic Matter team are pioneering a unique creative storytelling medium not found in today's industry.
CORE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
We are are an innovative group of imaginative visionaries, fueled by passion, relentles s curiosity and a shared mission bridge humanity together using XR and Web3 technology.
BEN KILGORE
DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
• 19 years TD and CG Supervisor experience
• Ziva Dynamics — Pre-seed Angel Investor, 9 figure exit acquisition by Unity Software Inc.
• Wētā Digital Lead Creature Technical Director
• Blue Sky Studios Sr. Character TD
• Meshcapade Creative Director
MICHAEL MCDONALD
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
- • 15 years of experience at Wētā Workshop/Magic Leap, Wētā FX, EA Firemonkeys, realworld one, HOLOGATE, Walker Labs, and Massive Entertainment (Ubisoft).
- • In a task-force team of 8 to create a demo for Magic Leap's Series D round, resulting in a $1.3bn raise.
• Sole creator of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash sword NFT alongside Wētā Workshop's physical counterpart. Sold through Sotheby's for over $400,000.
• Lead Environment Artist for the world's first mobile Vulkan API demo at the 2016 Google I/O Keynote.
DENISE WESTON
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL STRATEGY
- • 40 years LBE dev experience.
- • Playologist.
• Adjunct professor in invention. Over 160 patents.
• Venture and partnership with PlayPower to reinvent play by bringing the metaverse into physical spaces.
• Epic MegaGrant Recipient.
DAN TONKIN
ART DIRECTOR
- • 25 years of experience.
• Co-Founder of EA Firemonkeys, before Electronic Arts acquired the studio.
STEPHANIE ENGELBRECHT
SPATIAL AUDIO DESIGNER
• 10 years of experience.
• Wētā Workshop/Magic Leap.
• realworld one.
• NZXR (now Niantic, Inc.)
• Specialist in immersive real time audio.
SYROS POURLATIFI
LEAD VFX ARTIST
• 20 years of experience.
• Wētā Workshop/Magic Leap.
• BRON Studios.
• Gameloft.
ADVISORS
Magic Matter is proud and humbled to have an experienced team of advisors at our fingertips to help guide our mission to success.
MARCO FANARI
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH MANAGER
- • Award-winning international in film, post production, extended virtual reality, smart technologies, business development and marketing.
- • International clients: Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers U.S.Corp, Walt Disney, Marvel and Universal Studios.
- • Executive Producer and Head of Production experience at HOLOGATE.
MARWAN W. JAMAL
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR
- • 15 years of experience, entrepreneurial and startup growth expertise in global regions.
- • Expert in ecosystem growth and development.
- • Business development, including finance, acceleration/incubation, venture capital, investor relations, and overall business growth strategies.
- • MBA and BBA focusing on Accounting, Finance, and Entrepreneurship.
BLOOD, SWEAT AND YEARS
Our team members have previously worked together on many award-winning and groundbreaking experiences
VR TRAINING SIMULATIONS
Magic Matter's team members have previously worked together on VR training sims — which contributed towards saving millions of peoples lives globally:
realworld-one/Lonza
- • Michael McDonald – Lead Environment Artist
• Stephanie Engelbrecht – Audio Designer
MIXED REAILITY EXPERIENCES
Magic Matter's team members have previously worked together on award-winning mixed reality experiences, including:
DR. GRORDBORT’S INVADERS
Wētā Workshop/Magic Leap
• Michael McDonald – Senior Artist
• Stephanie Engelbrecht – Audio Designer
• Syros Pourlatifi – VFX Artist
• 2019 Immersive Reality Technical Achievement Nominee , D.I.C.E
Wētā Workshop/Magic Leap
• Michael McDonald – Senior Artist
- • Stephanie Engelbrecht – Audio Designer
• Syros Pourlatifi – VFX Artist
#1 TOP DOWNLOADED MOBILE GAMES
Magic Matter's team members have previously worked together on award-winning and #1 top downloaded mobile games, including:
- Electronic Arts
- • Dan Tonkin – Art Director
- • Michael McDonald – 3D Artist
• 100,000,000+ downloads
Electronic Arts
• Dan Tonkin – Art Director
• Michael McDonald – 3D Artist
- • 2011 iPad Game Of The Year – Apple
• Mobile & Handheld – Nominee, BAFTA
GET YOUR COOL STUFF INTO THE METAVERSE
MAKE CONTACT
If you are interested in our services, investment opportunities, or partnerships, contact our Creative Director, Michael McDonald.
