As a visual artist, Director & VJ, Stokes has designed live shows and directed music videos for artists including Janelle Monaé, Nine Inch Nails, M.I.A., De La Soul, Public Enemy, and DJ Shadow. Stokes has also designed large scale multi media projections for SF City Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Century Plaza Hotel & the Antartica Dome at Coachella.
Recent Projects as Director/Designer:
2022 - Art director. Minds Over Matter Design. Act Now interactive VR Dome show Dubai
2022 - Animator. Minds Over Matter Design. COP26 conference, Armadillo Bldg. projection, Glasgow, Scotland
2022 - Director, Animator. Gift of Gab. Music Video “Slaughter”
2021 - Animator. Minds Over Matter Design. “The Dissident” Building projection
2020 - Show design, visuals, production and concept. DJ Shadow 2020 tour EU.
2019 - Art Director. Holofonic L.L.C. / Minds Over Matter You Tube, Vid Con awards show.
2018 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. MSG Science Fair, Radio City Music Hall.
2017 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, Radio City Music Hall
2017 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. Century Plaza Hotel Building projection.
2016 - Designer, director. DJ Shadow. "The Mountain Will Fall" tour.
2015 - Director, Animator Sound Design. Obscura Digital. SF City Hall 100 Years.
2014 - Director. Obscura Digital. Dallas Cowboys Stadium Media.
2014 - Animator. Obscura Digital. Kuwait Tower LED spherical projection.
2014 - Director, Designer Animator. DJ Shadow. Rengades of Rhythm tour.
2013 - VJ, Designer, Animator. Dorian Orange. Motorola Cube,
2013 - Director, Animator. Obscura Digital. SF Ballet Nut Cracker Promo Westfield Mall:
2012 - Art Director. Obscura Digital, Westfield Mall "Corazone".
2012 - Animator. DJ Kascade Freaks of Nature Tour, Mark Mguire.
2012 - DJ Shadow, "Shadowsphere" tour, Mission ControlDesigner, director and everything to do with visuals.
2012 - Animator. Autofuss. SAP
2011 - Art Director. Teak Digital. Big City Mountaineers.
2011 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. Princess of Abu Dhabi Wedding.
2011 - Art Director, Animator. Teak Digital - Nest Thermostat,
2011 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. LG Building projection LA.
2010 - Lead animator. Mekanism. Charles Schwaab.
2009 - Art Director. Obscura Digital. NASA PSA "Holograph" Featuring Mos Def & Astronaut Leland Melvin.
2009 - Art Director, Cinematographer. Obscura Digital. Heineken Distributers Convention spot.
2009 - Art Director, Cinematographer. Obscura Digital. CO2 Cube projection Coppenhagen,
2008 - Director, animator. Latin Revenge (music Video) Azeem 2009,
2007 - Director & animator. Gun Fight (Music Video) The Mighty Underdogs. 2008,
Recent Tours:
DJ Shadow EU 2020
Meat Beat Manifesto. 2016
DJ Shadow "The Mountain Will Fall" tour 2016
"Renegades of Rhythm" tour 2014
DJ Shadow DJ Set 2013 2014
Shadowsphere 2010-2012
Meat Beat Manifesto Tour 2010-2011
The Hard Sell Tour - 2008-2009
Hard Sell show at the Hollywood Bowl. July 2008
Meat Beat Manifesto 2005 -2006
Music videos as Director (partial list)
MC Azeem - "Latin Revenge"
Public Enemy - "Night Train"
De La Soul - "Saturdays"
DJ Shadow - "Walkie Talkie"
The Orb - "DJ Asylum"(BDA Gold Winner), "Toxygenes"
Meat Beat Manifesto - "Helter Skelter", "Asbestos Lead Asbestos" "Edge of No Control" "Fromage"
Josh Wink - "Are U There?"
Nine Inch Nails - "Head Like a Hole"(editor), "Down in It"(Director)
Ministry - "Flashback, Stigmata,
Commercials & Broadcast Design (as Director):
Tech TV - Two spots
MTV - Music video awards packaging '06
M2 - Promo IDs "Drag", "Drop" (BDA Gold Winner)
Howard Stern - E Entertainment show open & packaging
Levis - "Butterman"
Employment:
Obscura Digital (Freelance director) 2009-2015
Ntropic 2013 Safeway Fundraiser Event
Dorian Orange - 2013 2014 Motorola Cube
Mekanism - June 2008, 2009 Carles Schwab.
The Orphanage Jan - April '07 Compositor - Pirates of the Carribean 3. July-Nov. '06 Compositor - Mimzy
Linc. Design June '06 Motion Graphics - Mervyns
Radium Sept '05 Motion Graphics - Oracle
Tino Corp. Records 99-present Owner, Artist & Founder.
H-Gun Labs 89 -01 Owner, Director & Founder.
Awards:
BDA Gold for "DJ Asylum", BDA Gold for "Drag", BDA Silver for "Helter Skelter",
Monitor Award for "DJ Asylum" & Audience Choice Award at Res Fest for "Walkie Talkie"
Guest at Licoln Center for the Arts, for "the Work of Ben Stokes retrospective" Hosted by Armond White
Other:
Authored a Chapter for the After Effects Magic book series; "Virtual Sets" New Riders Publishing
Teacher at Film Arts Foundation on After Effects
Skill Set: After Effects, Premier, Touch Designer, C4D, Pro Tools, Abelton Live, & good old fashioned production: cinematographer, producer, animation director.