Hi, I’m Jason Howden—a writer, director and visual effects supervisor based in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the past two decades I’ve steered both creative storytelling and VFX pipelines on features, TV and stand-alone shorts, working with studios worldwide to shape immersive worlds from script to final composite. I’ve collaborated with Weta Digital, Framestore, and other top VFX houses on projects like Deathgasm, Mortal Kombat 2, Shang-Chi and the Galaxy holiday special, among many others. My approach blends hands-on direction with practical effects and digital craft. I’m passionate about building cinematic experiences that serve the story, mentoring teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen, and delivering visually ambitious work while keeping character and narrative at the heart of every project.

Jason Lei Howden

Hi, I’m Jason Howden—a writer, director and visual effects supervisor based in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the past two decades I’ve steered both creative storytelling and VFX pipelines on features, TV and stand-alone shorts, working with studios worldwide to shape immersive worlds from script to final composite. I’ve collaborated with Weta Digital, Framestore, and other top VFX houses on projects like Deathgasm, Mortal Kombat 2, Shang-Chi and the Galaxy holiday special, among many others. My approach blends hands-on direction with practical effects and digital craft. I’m passionate about building cinematic experiences that serve the story, mentoring teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen, and delivering visually ambitious work while keeping character and narrative at the heart of every project.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Jason Howden—a writer, director and visual effects supervisor based in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the past two decades I’ve steered both creative storytelling and VFX pipelines on features, TV and stand-alone shorts, working with studios worldwide to shape immersive worlds from script to final composite. I’ve collaborated with Weta Digital, Framestore, and other top VFX houses on projects like Deathgasm, Mortal Kombat 2, Shang-Chi and the Galaxy holiday special, among many others.

My approach blends hands-on direction with practical effects and digital craft. I’m passionate about building cinematic experiences that serve the story, mentoring teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen, and delivering visually ambitious work while keeping character and narrative at the heart of every project.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Writer / Director at Metalheads Ltd
January 1, 2025 - Present
Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon – Writer/Director; VFX Supervisor and Senior Compositor involvement on the project.
Senior Compositor at Slate VFX
January 1, 2025 - Present
The Bluff – Senior Compositor on the project.
Senior Compositor at Framestore
January 1, 2024 - Present
Mortal Kombat 2 – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2023 - Present
Ted (TV series) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2023 - Present
Borderlands (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2022 - Present
65 (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2021 - Present
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2021 - Present
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor at Method Studios, Melbourne
January 1, 2021 - Present
Elvis (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Compositor at Method Studios, Melbourne
January 1, 2021 - Present
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2021 - Present
Three Thousand Years of Longing (feature) – Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2021 - Present
Spiderhead (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Compositor at Park Road Post VFX, Wellington
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Beatles: Get Back (TV series, 3 episodes) – Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
Shadow in the Cloud (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Remastered – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Remastered – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Remastered – Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2020 - Present
Night Raiders (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2017 - Present
The Changeover (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor
January 1, 2017 - Present
Legion (TV series) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor at Weta Digital, Wellington
January 1, 2017 - Present
Pork Pie (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Paint Artist at Weta Digital, Wellington
January 1, 2017 - Present
War for the Planet of the Apes (feature) – Senior Paint Artist.
Compositor
January 1, 2016 - Present
Berlin Syndrome (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor at Iloura, Melbourne
January 1, 2015 - Present
Gods of Egypt (feature) – Compositor.
VFX Supervisor / Writer at Retinae Productions, Wellington
January 1, 2015 - Present
Deathgasm (feature) – VFX Supervisor; Writer/Director on related project material.
Writer / Director at Retinae Productions, Wellington
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Light Harvester (short) – Writer/Director; VFX Supervisor/Artist.
Senior Paint Artist at Iloura, Melbourne
January 1, 2014 - Present
The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies (feature) – Senior Paint Artist.
Senior Compositor at Iloura, Melbourne
January 1, 2013 - Present
Wolverine (feature) – Senior Compositor.
Senior Compositor at Retinae Productions, Wellington
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Great Gatsby (feature) – Senior Compositor; Writer/Director on related short material.
VFX Supervisor / Compositor at The Light Harvester, Weta Digital, Wellington
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Light Harvester (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor.
Senior Paint Artist at The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (feature) –
January 1, 2013 - Present
Senior Paint Artist at Weta Digital
January 1, 2012 - Present
Man of Steel (feature) – Senior Paint Artist.
Senior Paint Artist at Weta Digital
January 1, 2012 - Present
Avengers (feature) – Senior Paint Artist.
Paint Artist at Park Road Post VFX, Wellington
January 1, 2012 - Present
Prometheus (feature) – Paint Artist.
Compositor
January 1, 2012 - Present
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2012 - Present
Romeo and Juliet (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor at Iloura, Melbourne
January 1, 2011 - Present
Cirque du Soleil (feature) – Cirque du Soleil (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor
January 1, 2011 - Present
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (feature) – Compositor.
Compositor at Sauce Post, Wellington
January 1, 2010 - Present
Predicament (short) – Compositor.
Compositor at Retinae Productions, Wellington
January 1, 2010 - Present
The Wot-Wots (TV series) – Compositor.
VFX Supervisor / Artist at Retinae Productions, Wellington
January 1, 2008 - Present
Veil (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor.
VFX Supervisor / Compositor at The Retinae / Various
January 1, 2005 - Present
Automaton (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor.
VFX Supervisor / Compositor at Parabiosis (short)
January 1, 2003 - Present
Parabiosis (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor.
Writer/Director at Metalheads Ltd
January 1, 2025 - Present
Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon (feature) – Writer/Director; Deathgasm 2 project development and related directing responsibilities.
Senior Compositor at Slate VFX
January 1, 2024 - Present
The Bluff (TV/feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Framestore
January 1, 2023 - Present
Ted (TV series) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Framestore
January 1, 2023 - Present
Borderlands (feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2021 - Present
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2021 - Present
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Method Studios
January 1, 2021 - Present
Elvis (feature) – Senior Compositor
Compositor at Method Studios
January 1, 2021 - Present
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (feature) – Composer
Compositor at Method Studios
January 1, 2021 - Present
Three Thousand Years of Longing (feature) – Composer
Senior Compositor at Method Studios
January 1, 2021 - Present
Spiderhead (feature) – Senior Compositor
Compositor at Park Road Post VFX
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (feature) – Compositor
Compositor at Park Road Post VFX
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Beatles: Get Back (TV series, 3 episodes) – Compositor
Senior Paint Artist
January 1, 2020 - Present
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Remastered – Compositor
Senior Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2017 - Present
The Changeover (feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2017 - Present
Pork Pie (feature) – Senior Compositor
Senior Paint Artist at Iloura
January 1, 2017 - Present
War for the Planet of the Apes (feature) – Senior Paint Artist
Compositor at Retinae Productions
January 1, 2015 - Present
Gods of Egypt (feature) – Compositor
VFX Supervisor / Senior Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2015 - Present
Deathgasm (feature) – VFX Supervisor / Senior Compositor
Senior Paint Artist at Iloura
January 1, 2014 - Present
The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies (feature) – Senior Paint Artist
Senior Compositor at Iloura
January 1, 2013 - Present
Wolverine (feature) – Senior Compositor
Writer / Director at Retinae Productions
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Great Gatsby (feature) – Writer / Director
VFX Supervisor / Compositor at Weta Digital
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Light Harvester (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor
Senior Paint Artist at Iloura
January 1, 2013 - Present
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (feature) – Senior Paint Artist
Paint Artist at Park Road Post VFX
January 1, 2012 - Present
Prometheus (feature) – Paint Artist
Compositor at Iloura
January 1, 2012 - Present
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (feature) – Compositor
Cirque du Soleil (feature) – Compositor at Iloura
January 1, 2011 - Present
Cirque du Soleil (feature) – Compositor
Compositor at Sauce Post
January 1, 2010 - Present
Predicament (short) – Compositor
Writer / VFX Supervisor at Retinae Productions
January 1, 2009 - Present
The Wot-Wots (TV series) – Writer (2 eps) / VFX Supervisor
Writer / Director at Retinae Productions
January 1, 2008 - Present
Veil (short) – Writer / Director
VFX Supervisor / Compositor
January 1, 2005 - Present
Automaton (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor
VFX Supervisor / Compositor
January 1, 2003 - Present
Parabiosis (short) – VFX Supervisor / Compositor
Writer/Director at Metalheads Ltd.
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Writer/Director for Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon; led screenplay development and directorial planning, collaborating with VFX teams to integrate practical and digital effects with the story.
VFX Supervisor / Senior Compositor at Slate VFX
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
VFX supervision and senior compositing for Deathgasm 2; oversaw shot pipelines and integration of effects into the narrative.

Education

Introduction to Film and Television Production at The New Zealand Film School, Wellington, New Zealand
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
Certificate in Television Production at Avalon Studios, The Avalon Film and Television School, Wellington, New Zealand
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production at Nelson Polytechnic, Nelson, New Zealand
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999
Introduction to Film and Television Production at The New Zealand Film School, Wellington
January 1, 2005 - February 10, 2026
Certificate in Television Production at Avalon Studios
January 1, 2003 - February 10, 2026
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production at Nelson Polytechnic
January 1, 1999 - February 10, 2026
Introduction to Film and Television Production at The New Zealand Film School, Wellington, New Zealand
January 1, 2005 - April 18, 2026
Certificate in Television Production at Avalon Film and Television School, Wellington, New Zealand
January 1, 2003 - April 18, 2026
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production at Nelson Polytechnic, Nelson, New Zealand
January 1, 1999 - April 18, 2026

Qualifications

Introduction to Film and Television Production
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
Certificate in Television Production
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999
Introduction to Film and Television Production
January 1, 2005 - February 10, 2026
Certificate in Television Production
January 1, 2003 - February 10, 2026
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production
January 1, 1999 - February 10, 2026
Introduction to Film and Television Production
January 1, 2005 - April 18, 2026
Certificate in Television Production
January 1, 2003 - April 18, 2026
NZQA Certificate of Television and Video Production
January 1, 1999 - April 18, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Gaming