Derek Spears

Derek Spears currently serves as a VFX Supervisor at Scanline VFX.

His career has straddled both Art and Technology. He began working for Silicon Graphics where he helped develop the Cineon Digital Compositing System, which received an AMPAS Technical Achievement Award. From there, Derek moved to Cinesite where he helped found its 3D Computer Graphics department. He has worked on Feature Films, Commercials and Television at VIFX, Digital Domain, Pixomondo and Rhythm & Hues.

Derek Spears currently serves as a VFX Supervisor at Scanline VFX.

His career has straddled both Art and Technology. He began working for Silicon Graphics where he helped develop the Cineon Digital Compositing System, which received an AMPAS Technical Achievement Award. From there, Derek moved to Cinesite where he helped found its 3D Computer Graphics department. He has worked on Feature Films, Commercials and Television at VIFX, Digital Domain, Pixomondo and Rhythm & Hues.

His work at Digital Domain won a Silver Clio for the spot Virtual Andre. While at Rhythm & Hues as a Visual Effects Supervisor, he won a VES award for the Feature Film The Sum of All Fears and a Bake-Off appearance for the third film in the Mummy franchise.

Derek has been involved in the resurgent era of Television, working on Visual Effects for such shows as The Walking Dead, Black Sails, The Orville, and Watchmen. He has won three Emmys and a VES award for Game of Thrones.

Derek is a member of both the Television and Motion Picture Academies and has served on the Special Visual Effects Peer Group Executive Committee. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and is an Instrument-rated pilot.

updated 6.9.21

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Awards & Nominations

3 Nominations | 3 Emmys
Outstanding Special Visual Effects - 2018
  • Winner
  • Derek Spears, Lead CG Supervisor
  • Game Of Thrones
  • "Beyond The Wall"
  • HBO
  • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; 360 Television/Startling Television
Outstanding Special Visual Effects - 2016
  • Winner
  • Derek Spears, Lead CG Supervisor
  • Game Of Thrones
  • "Battle Of The Bastards"
  • HBO
  • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360/Startling Television
Outstanding Special Visual Effects - 2015
  • Winner
  • Derek Spears, Lead CG Supervisor
  • Game Of Thrones
  • "The Dance Of Dragons"
  • HBO
  • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360 and Startling Television

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Isabelle Spears, Derek Spears, Tia Carrere, and Paul Debevec at the 76th Emmy Awards Governors Gala
Derek Spears, Kim Estes, and Vito Trotta
Television Academy Governors with Academy Chair and CEO
2021 Producers and Writers Nominee Celebration
2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception
2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception
Joe Bauer, Stuart Brisdon, Steve Kullback, Derek Spears, Matthew Rouleau, Adam Chazen, Jabbar Raisani and James Kinnings backstage at the 2015 Creative Arts Emmys.
Fill 1
Fill 1
Isabelle Spears, Derek Spears, Tia Carrere, and Paul Debevec at the 76th Emmy Awards Governors Gala
Camera

Isabelle Spears, Scanline VFX supervisor Derek Spears, Tia Carrere and 2022 Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Paul Debevec at the 76th Emmy Awards Governors Gala

Invision/AP
Derek Spears, Kim Estes, and Vito Trotta
Camera

Derek Spears, Kim Estes and Vito Trotta

Mark Von Holden/Invision
Television Academy Governors with Academy Chair and CEO
Camera

Television Academy Science & Technology governor Wendy Aylsworth, Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma, Science & Technology governor Barry Zegel, Special Visual Effects governor Derek Spears and Special Visual Effects governor Eddie Bonin

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP
2021 Producers and Writers Nominee Celebration
Camera

Television Academy governor Derek Spears, Television Academy Foundation executive director Jodi Delaney, and Television Academy second vice chair Tim Gibbons at the 2021 Producers and Writers Nominee Celebration

Invision/AP
2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception
Camera

Michelle Pak and Derek Spears at the 2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception at the Television Academy on Monday, August 27, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception
Camera

Tim Jacobsen, Derek Spears, and Terron Pratt at the 2018 Special Visual Effects Nominee Reception at the Television Academy on Monday, August 27, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Joe Bauer, Stuart Brisdon, Steve Kullback, Derek Spears, Matthew Rouleau, Adam Chazen, Jabbar Raisani and James Kinnings backstage at the 2015 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Joe Bauer, Stuart Brisdon, Steve Kullback, Derek Spears, Matthew Rouleau, Adam Chazen, Jabbar Raisani and James Kinnings backstage at the 2015 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
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