Sam Winkler

Narrative Director of Borderlands 4

“Matt Ward is a writer's dream director. I've been writing video game cutscene scripts for over a decade, five years of which I had the pleasure of handing those scripts over to one of the most capable and informed filmmakers in the industry. He breathes cinematic life into black-on-white text and starts every new piece with artistic intent at the forefront. Working with Matt is a master class not just in pipelines, process, and technology, but in rallying every member of a team behind a vision. I became a better writer and collaborator for having spent time working with Matt on Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and Borderlands 4. Any team, seasoned or brand new, would be lucky to have him aboard.”

 

Shane MacPherson

Motion Capture Manager

“If I had to describe Matt Ward, it would be as a man who eats, sleeps and breathes filmmaking. I had the honor of working with him throughout the production of Borderlands 4. When he first stepped onto the Mocap Stage, I knew he was the best choice to build and manage the great Cinematic Team here at Gearbox. Matt brings a filmmaker's eye to games, along with the ability to work within the scope that the production demands. He has the ability to command the room and knows exactly how to break down what he is looking to capture so everyone can understand. Matt always made the Mocap Team feel like they were a pivotal part of the process. The Cinematic and Mocap Teams have grown closer because of Matt and will continue that bond for years to come. If you are looking for a positive, hardworking filmmaker with a wealth of knowledge, you couldn't find a better person than Matt Ward. I hope we get to work together again in the future!”

 

Daniel Kruse

Art Director | CG Supervisor | Visual Storyteller | Former Blizzard, ILM, Disney, Imageworks

“At times the strongest professional relationships grow into genuine friendships, and that's exactly what happened after working with Matt on Borderlands 4. His team at Gearbox partnered with my team at Rouge Studios, and even though we were an external team, Matt made a genuine effort to ensure we felt like an extension of his own. That level of inclusion and respect set the tone for the entire partnership. One thing I appreciated most about Matt is how prepared he is. Every meeting had a clear purpose, and he came equipped with references, detailed paint-overs, and clear creative direction. He would often create paint-overs live during reviews, making complex creative discussions easy to understand and ensuring everyone walked away aligned to the vision. Despite the challenges that inevitably come with game development, Matt's professionalism, approachable personality, and sense of humor kept meetings productive, collaborative, and genuinely enjoyable. What really stands out about Matt is he genuinely cares about people. Inside and out of the office he creates an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued. He takes the time to know people as individuals, and he's deeply invested in helping them grow professionally. Matt is thoughtful, collaborative, and someone you can trust completely. He communicates with clarity and consistently brings out the best in the people around him. I would welcome the opportunity to work with Matt again without hesitation.”

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Leo Ochoa

Senior Producer at CD PROJEKT RED | Cyberpunk 2077

“Working alongside Matthew for five years at Gearbox was a defining moment in my cinematic production career. Matthew and I were entrusted with building more than a cinematics team. We were asked to help shape a world-class production unit capable of delivering visual storytelling assets (feature film pre-visualization and shot production, dev video diaries and team video broadcasting, cinematic cut scenes, marketing trailers, and more) in any format across the studio using a newly established universal pipeline. Matthew has a deep passion for the craft and an even deeper respect for the creative process behind it. His commitment to quality encourages everyone around him to think bigger. More importantly, he invests in the people around him who are willing to dig in, helping them sharpen their skills, broaden their perspective, embrace the fundamentals and nurture their growth as creative professionals. What I value most is the creative partnership we built together. Our Director/Producer bond was rooted in honesty, trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to creating meaningful story content without fear. Over the years, we built a team, refined our process, and delivered on all sorts of visual storytelling assets together. By the time we reached Borderlands 4, it wasn't just another asset. It was proof that the foundation we had built could scale and deliver on the ambitious goals we set out to accomplish when we began.”

 

Jim Botko

President, Thermal Entertainment

“We love working with Matt. He's a true collaborator and partner… terrific at communicating his team's creative goals and keeping our projects on track. His deep knowledge of cinema, filmmaking, and all things production (especially his perspective as a DP) are immensely useful in helping us create amazing cinematic and trailers for Destiny. He also likes Scotch, which is important while working with our team at Axis Animation, a Glasgow-based CG house. :) I highly recommend Matt if you need to create impactful, story-based content.”

 

Debbie Ross

Co-Founder/Producer at Hydra Studios

“I've had the pleasure of working with Matt for over 3 years on cinematic content for Destiny. His clarity of vision and knowledge of cinematography give every project a strong anchor and meaningful creative direction. Of course, he's also a great collaborator who really makes you feel part of his team, but the additional thing you get with Matt is a fun experience. It's always a blast working with him!”

 

Zsófia Várady-Páll

Game Cinematics Producer at DIGIC - Women in Games Ambassador

“Participating in the creation of Destiny 2 cinematics was my first project at DIGIC Pictures, and I couldn't have asked for a better contact at Bungie than Matt. During our almost 2 years of working together, he has always proven to be a reliable, fast-thinking, generous and skilled professional with a great sense of humor. I hope that we will have the chance to work together again in the future!”

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Unjoo Byars

COO, PRODUCER at Aquamen Entertainment

“I had the great pleasure of working with Matt while I was at Prologue on the Bungie Destiny VFX sequences. Not only is Matt super talented and knowledgeable in film, he is also one of the coolest and kindest clients I have ever worked with. His first-rate and collaborative directing style allows vendors like us to give our best work and more while having a great time working with him and his team. I cannot speak highly enough of Matt. His passion, enthusiasm and sense of humor are contagious and anyone who gets to work with him will learn a lot in the process.”

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Rav Grewal

Previs/Layout Supervisor at Mikros Animation

“Anyone lucky enough to work with Matt Ward will remember the experience. Not only does he have a deep understanding of cinematography and film making but he's an amazing collaborator, very passionate, detail oriented and dedicated to the highest quality. To top it all off, he's a fun guy to work with. I look forward to working with Matt again in the future.”

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Anthony Shafer

VFX Tech Artist, NFT Builder, AI Enthusiast and Engineer

“The working with Matt was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We worked closely to build out three studios for IMD/Disney that was largely driven by Matt's vision and dedication to the highest quality of execution. Matt's experience in client management ensured that the buildout was well planned and smooth. I was astounded by the level of detail Matt held himself to, and I appreciated him holding me accountable to his standards. I hope that someday we can work together again.”

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Paula (Pauline) Requa

Senior Creative Manager | Technical Lead | Workflow Expert | Experienced Trainer and Instructor

“Matt Ward is one of the most memorable people I've ever worked with. Aside from the many things he did to bring the team together (including awesome team photos/portraits) his dedication to perfection is incredible. He pushed other people to do their best work and he modeled that spirit by always bringing his best. Matt worked tirelessly to make a little movie undeservedly beautiful, and it was a great privilege to have worked with him.”

 

Ricardo Rodrigues

Senior Digital Artist and TD at Mainframe Studios

“Matt's keen eye for detail combined with his extensive skills and experience in cinematography greatly helped to raise the bar of quality on Escape From Planet Earth. His production techniques in Pre-Visualization alone truly revolutionized how an entire studio operates! So many individuals benefitted from the knowledge that Matt freely passed on. I personally learned so much working with him and will certainly be able to apply the information to make my work more effective. I have no doubt that all those who have a chance to work with Matt will feel the same way. He is an absolutely valuable asset to film production who can get the job done with flying colors and inspire those around him.”

 

Joe Takai

VFX Supervisor, Partner at McKinsey & Company, Board Member, CEO Counselor, Technology Strategist

“Matt is an enthusiastic and energetic creative who is never afraid to provide input and suggestions in the creative process. He always brings a fresh perspective and a plan for execution to each new challenge he's provided. He was an extremely valuable contributor to production on The Matrix with exceptional talent in pre-visualization and a good eye for all the elements of composition, timing and storytelling. Matt is a pleasure to work with and brings a great deal of enthusiasm to every team he works with.”

 

Ryan Chan

Emmy Award-Winning Film and TV Editor

“Matthew is a truly gifted filmmaker that I am proud to have been able to work with. From writing and producing to directing and visual effects work and everything in between, Matthew can do it all and excels in every aspect. The excitement he has for and the creativity he puts into any project he works on is infectious. Based on the projects that we've collaborated on, I'm looking forward to many more years of creating motion pictures together.”

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Ryan Heuett

Layout Lead at Pixar Animation Studios

“Matthew and I have had the pleasure of working on a couple of projects now, and I find his dedication and work ethic always refreshing. Matthew is a very talented artist who is always prepared for the day's task and will always put his foot forward to make sure the work gets done… and gets done right.”

 

John Jack

Retired - Former VP, Production - Epic Games

“I worked with Matt at ESC during Catwoman. He was responsible for layout, previs and shot design on some of the largest sequences in the film. He can easily handle both the artistic and technical sides of shot design, and is a talented artist who can deliver under pressure. Matt would be a great addition to any team or facility!”

 

Justin Mettam

Layout / Previs Artist at NETFLIX Vancouver

“Matt is a talented previz artist he has a strong eye for composition coupled with a good story telling sensibility. He has a great work ethic and is fun to work with.”

 

Steve Kirchner

Camera & Layout Artist at Industrial Light & Magic

“I have greatly enjoyed working with Matt both in animation and live action. He's got an amazing depth of knowledge in production. He's focused, driven, and professional with a knack for fostering a collaborative environment.”

 

Andy Novak

Freelance Post Producer

“Beyond conducting his crew like a maestro, Matt really knows how to get every dollar onto the screen. His unparalleled preparation allows him to be incredibly flexible and inventive on set. Can't wait to work with him again.”

 

Louis Katz

Art Director | Art Department Animator

“Matthew Ward is a movie machine. His passion for film making stems beyond the task at hand. I look forward to the possibility of working with him again.”

 

Doug Epps

Senior Computer Graphics Technologist

“Matt has a passionate view of his work and is tireless in his desire to do excellent work. He is detail-oriented and clear in his communication.”

 

Angela Lucero

Produce, Key support of Financial Controls and Procedures

“Matthew Ward is a uniquely wonderful director/producer. I had the great pleasure of working with Matthew on set with StudioWard Productions and at the studio ImageMovers Digital. Matthew knows more about the details of film making than the average professional. Plus he's tons of fun. His humor and friendliness makes the pressures of work less stressful and more fun. Matthew has an attention to detail like no other. He's encouraging, positive, timely and very focused. He's a great director in that he knows how to communicate well with talent and crew. He's an amazing producer in that he knows all aspects of production and has a good perspective on the value of work. I highly recommend Matthew for the direction and/or production of your project. I've worked on over 60 projects, and I know what good is. Matthew Ward is good.”

 

Diane Catorc

Celebrity/All media Makeup & Hair Artist

“I'm a hair and makeup artist who has worked with Matthew on a few music videos and awards shows. In addition to being one of the most gifted directors I've ever seen (or one of the most gifted visual artists, for that matter), Matthew exudes a professionalism and kindness rarely found in this industry. He's calm in the face of pressure and unexpected setbacks and always encouraging to his crew, which brings out the best in each of us. His impeccable work speaks for itself. I would work with/for Matthew again in a heartbeat.”

 

Shakira Holmes

Experienced Freelance Wardrobe Stylist

“Working with Matthew was a creative person's dream. He hired me as a wardrobe stylist for a music video he was shooting. Initial conversations were comfortable and friendly. He gave me complete creative control over the outfits I was choosing for the talent. He made me feel like we were a team and my input was valid. We were working on a very small budget and Matthew didn't allow that to stop him from having a big production. He was flexible with my crazy schedule and super fun on set. I can't wait to work with him again!”

 

Damon Wolfe

Writer and Animator

“Matt has integrity, vision and drive. I enjoyed every minute working with Matt, and I look forward to working with him again. Matt is not for the weak of heart. Matt makes his ideas known clearly and he wants to know yours. Creative endeavors that want a culture of efficient, constant improvement while still delivering the goods need Matt Ward.”

 

Steve Fait

Media Professional

“Matthew has a passion for his craft. His commitment to the success of a project results in his putting in the extra effort and hours in order to not only meet expectations but exceed them. He's professional and personable. Production can always count on it getting done right with Matthew at the helm.”

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Renee Stockwell

Executive Producer in Marketing, Games and Film | BA in Journalism/Mass Communication

“Matt is a super hero. There's no doubt when he's not slaving away leading our layout team to tremendous victory, he MUST be out jumping from rooftop to rooftop saving babies from burning fires and pulling kittens from treetops. Bottom line… Matt rocks.”

 

Janelle Schneider

SR MGR Digital Materials Design, Footwear / Creative Explorer / Strategic Dreamer

“Matthew is a natural storyteller, has an exceptional eye, and it definitely shows in all his work. He is a talented artist, is knowledgeable, easy to work with, and as a lead really knows how to bring out the best in others. I would highly recommend him for any position, and am stoked to have worked with him at several studios.”

 

John-Paul Beeghly

MarTech Product Leader @ Sonos | Building the data + messaging engines behind DTC growth

“Matt has to be one of the brightest and most energetic guys I know. He creates a positive and collaborative atmosphere and inspires all those around him to achieve their best. Thanks Matt for one of my best working experience in memory!”

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April Warren

Themed Entertainment Leader, Virtual Production Expert, and Innovator

“Matt is great to work with and a lot of fun to be around. He makes work a pleasant place to go to every day.”