With an extensive 19-year background at Industrial Light & Magic, Michael Koperwas is currently focusing on the future of storytelling as a Mixed Reality Supervisor for ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s immersive entertainment studio. As a creative and technical lead for numerous internal projects, Michael led the initial prototyping group when ILMxLAB was first formed in June 2015, working on concepts for World of WarCraft’s Skies over Azeroth and Jakku Spy for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He most recently served as Visual Director on Avengers: Damage Control, ILMxLAB’s location-based virtual reality experience made in collaboration with Marvel Studios.

Michael led the team for ILMxLAB's initial mixed reality tests, such as the immersive Holocinema installation that debuted at Sundance in 2016. He was also the Associate VFX Supervisor on CARNE y ARENA, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning VR installation created by ILMxLAB and Legendary Entertainment. Michael currently drives the company’s ongoing strategic collaboration with Magic Leap in his role as Mixed Reality Supervisor.

During his many years at Industrial Light & Magic, Michael was involved in many aspects of visual effects, but focused his efforts towards producing more engaging performances from digital characters. With a passion for anatomical sculpture and an appreciation for the subtleties of acting, he supervised the creation of digital characters on such notable movies as TMNT, The Avengers, Rango, War of the Worlds, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He has also written and directed a short film entitled Alone.