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New York

By October 3, 2020 December 30th, 2020 No Comments

Team Cheesecake

Sarah McCulley

Senior VFX Producer

Growing up outside of Boston, Sarah's interest in film was sparked directing elaborate horror films in her basement with a cast of her friends and neighbors. Realizing all this fun could actually become a career, she attended Emerson College to cultivate her interest in film. After finding her feet as a PA, Sarah entered the world of VFX just as the NYC industry took off. Sarah's VFX producing credits include True Detective, Manhunt: Unabomber, Wu-Tang: An American Saga and Ray Donovan. Sarah is excited to be a part of the Crafty Apes team and continue their incredible work in film and television. In her precious spare time, you can find Sarah trying out new recipes, headed to the movies with friends, or running as far as she can.

Mary Ida Bonadio

Agent / Sales Rep

Mary Ida Bonadio has been in the Commercial Ad business since graduation from “The School of The Art Institute of Chicago with a MFA, and Moore College of Art with a BFA.” What Art School has taught her is to be an independent thinker. The ability to communicate and understand conceptual ideas.”

  • She has raced formula one cars, flown small planes, shoots sporting clays and loves deep sea diving.
  • Is a gourmet cook
  • Is currently dabbling in watercolors
  • Went to the scratch academy
  • Just recent bough a puppy, who controls her every move

Leslie Chung

VFX SupervisorProducer

Leslie’s dreams of being an artist began when she was three years old, drawing on the walls and furniture of her childhood home in New York City. In time, her artistic pursuits led her to the School of Visual Arts, where she majored in computer art before landing in the world of VFX. Now a 12 year veteran of the industry, Leslie has worked on films and TV shows as a compositor, producer, and supervisor, with credits including VFX designer for The Knick and senior compositor for Black Swan. Leslie has spent the last six years helping to grow the VFX community in New York, and is currently the chair of the VES NY board, but she still makes time for her artistic passions, including illustration, painting, and photography, along with taking care of her three adorable pet rats.

Blake Goedde

VFX Supervisor

Blake grew up wanting to work in the film industry, but it seemed too lofty a goal for someone in Southern Indiana. After spending a year in business school and finding it dissatisfying, however, he moved to Florida to study computer animation. Shortly after graduating, Blake met his future wife Brooke, moved to Atlanta, and began working with Crafty Apes as a junior compositor. When the company expanded, Blake and his wife moved to NYC where he is now a VFX supervisor. As a hobbyist, he enjoys playing guitar and programming. As a sinner saved by grace, he and his wife pursue knowing and worshiping Christ and gathering with their local church in Manhattan throughout the week.

Erin Hewitt

VFX Producer

A Connecticut native, Erin earned her degree in New Media Production before moving to NYC to pursue a career in post production. After spending a couple of years as a PA, she landed a position as a VFX Coordinator and soon struck out on her own as a freelancer. As VFX Coordinator, Erin worked on titles such as Gemini Man and The Plot Against America. Erin is excited to join the Crafty Apes team as VFX Producer. In her free time, Erin enjoys playing softball and spending time with her nieces.

Charles Self

VFX Producer

Although a transplanted New Yorker, Charles’ creative roots can be traced back to his native Texas where his love of cinema and music thrived in Austin’s creative community while studying Radio-TV-Film at the University of Texas. His career path has included working in Mexico City, New York, Berlin and Los Angeles. He has produced VFX for a wide-range of projects, including features, episodics and commercials. When not at work, he spends his time enjoying New York’s endless cultural offerings with his wife Amanda -- and traveling every chance he gets.

1 Second Everyday

1 Second Everyday

By Blake Goedde, VFX Supervisor

New York Style Vanilla Cheesecake

This classic New York-style cheesecake is rich and dense. Follow the cooling directions to prevent the top from cracking.

Ingredients

1 and 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 and 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (or to 325°F if using a dark nonstick springform pan). Mix crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter in small bowl. Press evenly into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Beat cream cheese, remaining 1 cup sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Gently stir in sour cream. Pour into crust.

Bake 1 hour or until center is almost set. Turn off oven. Leave cheesecake in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Run small knife around sides of pan to loosen crust; remove sides of pan. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.