Alessandro Ongaro
Alias:
Alex Ongaro
Birthplace:
Lugano, Switzerland
Alessandro Ongaro (also credited as Alex Ongaro) was born in Lugano, Switzerland, and holds dual Italian and Swiss citizenship. While studying design at the School of Design in Milan, Italy, Alessandro first began using computers to create photo-realistic 3D renderings for the architecture industry. In 1998, after graduating from the School of Design in Milan and moving back to Switzerland, he was at the forefront of a new wave of professionals to begin applying computer skills to post-production for TV, opening sequences, and video clips. In the year 2000, he conceptualised and created the opening titles of the 2000 Locarno International Film Festival. In the year 2000, Alessandro decided to begin his work in the feature film industry, moving back to Milan, where he was recruited by Digitalia Graphics, a pioneering company in the Italian visual effects market. While at Digitalia, Alessandro worked on numerous successful features, such as Brucio Nel Vento by Silvio Soldini, Vajont by Renzo Martinelli, Io Non Ho Paura by Gabriele Salvatores, and The Italian Job for Paramount Pictures. After a five-year collaboration with Digitalia Graphics, Hollywood beckoned for Alessandro when, in April 2004, he was offered a position by ESC Entertainment (The Matrix Trilogy) and relocated to northern California to work on Paramount's Keanu Reeves-starred Constantine. Soon after finishing work on Constantine, Alessandro was recruited by DreamWorks Animation, where he's worked on such films as Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Shrek: Forever After, Turbo, and Kung Fu Panda 3. Alessandro has been published internationally, is often an invited speaker at international conferences in his field, and was part of a worldwide travelling exhibition with H.R. Giger (Alien's original designer), entitled Swiss Design in Hollywood. As of 2015, Alessandro Ongaro is working at DNEG, and most recently he's been serving as VFX Supervisor on the forthcoming Julius Onah's directed film Captain America: Brave New World.