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Every month, in no particular order, this page will highlight one of the many artists who has contributed to the production and success of House of Chai productions. I’d love to include a page of links to all of the artists I admire, or even to just the ones I know and respect. But if I did, it would require a webpage that would scroll as much as the Torah!


 

House of Chai - Featured artist of the month
February 2008 - David Yee

 


Anne and Colin Fix's Wedding 2004 - Half of Jason Courtney far screen left, Dave Yee in foreground, Danny Lee middle, and Ruben Perez far right.


I first met David Yee when I came back to study animation at SJSU and I’m damn glad that I did. At the time, he rolled with a group of students that we affectionately referred to as the Wrecking Crew. It consisted of Dave Yee, Danny Lee, Nick Torres, and T.J. Phan. If one were to compare the Wrecking Crew to the Regulators in Young Guns, Dave would be Emilio Estevez. However, if you compared our group to Beverly Hills 90210, Dave would be Brandon Walsh.

This is because Dave embodies attributes of the both of the two characters. On the one hand, he can be tough and crazy; riding motorcycles, playing poker, ice hockey… a general ruffian. Yet on the other hand, Dave is a responsible leader and teacher with a super attitude, sense of humor, and obligation to do the right thing. This is why Dave is such a great person to have on your team. He’s fun loving and easy going, but hard working, tough, and critical at the same time.

I worked with Dave on a number of projects during school, and I don’t think I could have graduated if he hadn’t helped with so much. Hahahaha… on the night I was supposed to present my Graduate Program projects, Dave and Nick Torres were editing the last of one of my films as I was delivering the opening presentation. They ran in with the tape, just before it needed to be screened! And although he’s been busy working since he graduated, he’s assisted with story on Fumi and Cole Needs Women, and he’s always there to help whenever any of us ask.

Since graduating, Dave’s had a versatile career, with jobs that include VFX concept art, storyboarding for games and feature length films, and production art for VFX. Plus, we were able to get him to come back to teach at SJSU for a couple semesters. Currently he’s working back at Industrial Light and Magic as a concept artist. And although he’s continually busy, he still somehow manages to find time to sketch, draw, and paint in his free time.

It’s for these reasons The House of Chai holds it’s Little Lucca’s sandwich high in honor of Dave Yee for the month of February. Please check out more of Dave’s work on his main website and on his art blog.

Thanks Dave!