A Discussion with David Ebner, co-founder of Cafe FX
by Wes Beckwith, CGFocus.com

David Ebner is a cofounder of the ComputerCafe Group and leader of CafeFX's creative staff. An extraordinarily talented effects supervisor and artist with broad expertise in all aspects of computer animation and visual effects production, he is credited in over 50 feature films, such as The Aviator, Sin City, Master and Commander, Panic Room, Armageddon, and Flubber.

In 2001, David Ebner co-founded The Syndicate in Santa Monica, which is an award winning commercial and music video coloring and effects facility.

Recently David Ebner has co-founded Sententia Entertainment, a development/ production company. Sententia, in partnership with Roberts David Productions is in post production on a feature film titled Danika, staring Marisa Tomei.

Two years ago when I was working on the Tips and Tricks book (LightWave 3D 8: 1001 Tips and Tricks Wordware Publishing) I looked at a ton of studios to find a hand full of professionals to round out our already brilliant list of authors, 32 total. When I came across the ComputerCafe group I was literally stunned by the visuals I found on their demo reel. It takes a lot to fool me when it comes to visual FX, I have trained my eye from talking to professional artists for 5 years now showing me what’s what, what’s good, and what’s truly amazing. I remember looking at demo reels from studios, gallery work and there is a ton of amazing work out there as you know. But I came across two videos that just blew me away. One was a bee animation and the other a snail, I know, I know these are old, but they truly have held up in my mind and visually, some of the best work I have seen.

You can view these animations here http://www.cafefx.com/cafefx/html/cafefx.html > Gallery > Extras

David Ebner has been doing visual effects longer than most in this industry, he and Jeff Barnes founded ComputerCafe back in 1992 in a 10-by-10 room from a local print ad agency, creating fly logos and spot animations for the local advertising market. Armed with two Amiga computers, a NewTek Video Toaster and a simple editing system, the trio (David Ebner, Jeff Barnes, and Ron Honn their first employee) set out to make their mark in the industry.

"It was groundbreaking stuff," says Effects Producer Eric Rogers.

( Images from HBO’s introduction to feature movies, click for larger image)