Jordan Reece Halsey

I am a Los Angeles based video artist. I have a deep interest in technology, form, simulation, patterns, and image. I have been luck to have designed and created works for Madonna, Michael Jackson, Walt Disney, and many others. I have always strived to be at the forefront of emerging technologies and an early advocate of projection-mapping and virtual reality. I was involved in the seminal Amon Tobin “Isam 2.0” Tour, a groundbreaking example of the merger of art and technology.  Recently I have been concentrating on the world of Virtual and Augmented Reality. I am deeply interested in real-time development, multi-camera filmmaking, generative design, interactive installation, and how artificial intelligence can alter an affect our work. I was the first person to use Lytro’s light-field camera in full production that included the integration of CGI and Light-field. As a technical Director I have worked on research and development with Google, Qualcomm, Intel and others on the merger of technology, installation and art. I am fascinated with building pipelines with Houdini and Touchdesigner. I am currently an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts where I teach generative animation and projection mapping.

My Background

After leaving art school, and before I attended architecture school I had a series of jobs, most notably working at Maxfield on Melrose. Retail was not a great option and a friend presented me with the opportunity at working at the Zero One Gallery on Melrose Avenue. Zero One’s owner John Pochna ran a loose ship and I did my best to keep it straight. This was a time when we showed Raymond Pettibone, Robert Williams, Anthony Ausgang, Chaz Bojorquez and many other now notable artists from the Los Angeles arts community. I worked in the art world until deciding to back to school for architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. I remain friends with many of the people that I met during these years and have more of my history and involvement in the art world here:

Some Notable Jobs

While the main focus of my world has been very rooted in architectural development, both real and virtual, I have had a variety of projects across a variety of fields. Below are what I consider milestones in my life.

JNCO Jeans | Designer | 1995-1996

After working in film as a Set Designer and Art Director I started working at JNCO Jeans in 1995. Hired as a Graphic Designer, mostly just because I knew Photoshop and Illustrator, I quickly transitioned into starting their first P.O.P program. I first designed their trade show booth, and that led to designing and building their first and only store on Melrose and Martel. I used FormZ, an early C.A.D. 3D modeler, and a raytracer to design and create 3d renders for approval. The plans were then drafted in Adobe Illustrator 3.0. I oversaw the entire permitting and construction process. At the time, it was quite an overwhelming experience. I had had previous construction oversight experience but had never pulled a permit through the Department of Building and Safety.
JNCO Store design by Jordan Halsey
Jnco Jeans - Trade Show Booth Design

Tribe Design | Designer | 1997-2001

Portfolio Page

I met Bruce Rodgers, Production Designer and owner of Tribe Design through a mutual friend Frank Lentz. Frank had just started working for Digital Entertainment Network as Creative Director and knew my architectural and 3d modeling and rendering skills. Bruce was an upcoming Production Designer, having worked with Frank at Channel One. The first job I did for Bruce was the main interview set for Digital Entertainment Network, but through 2001, I worked on many notable jobs for Tribe Design, including Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Microsoft, Hanson, Brittany Spears, and many others.
jordan-halsey-tribe-design-ricky-martin-800px-01
Convention Booth Design For Motorola

Michael Jackson | The Dome Show | This Is It | Tour and Movie Graphics

Hired by Robb Wagner at Stimulated, Inc through and introduction of my friend Bob Kopp who had been working for Robb for awhile. This was one of those once in a lifetime job that is too hard to encapsulate in a short paragraph. I have more details on the project page.
Michael Jackson in front of graphics by Jordan Halsey