Mike Portoghese

VFX Artist

/ Director

/ musician

VISUAL EFFECTS

REEL

Compositing Reel 2024

I’m a VFX artist in Toronto, with over 20 years of experience in both film production and post-production, live music and audio engineering.

I began my career directing music videos in 2001, collaborating with Grammy and Juno winners (Beenie Man, Sam Roberts, Rick Ross, Belly, Snow, Delerium, etc) and having multiple top-10 videos on Much Music and MTV including several MMVA nominations and a win in 2011 for best post-production. I also provided VFX and edited dozens of other music videos (Snoop Dog, RZA, Our Lady Peace, Kardinal Official, Justin Nozuka, etc).

In 2012 I joined Mr. X VFX as a Digital Compositor where for 10 years I worked on dozens of feature films and TV series (Vikings, Shape of Water, Zoolander 2, American Gods). In 2018 I became a Compositing Supervisor and lead some projects (The Highwaymen, The Old Guard and the Adam Project, etc.)

I also started a band in 2010 called the Dying Arts. What began with the intent to play songs I had written live, lead to signing a record deal with Culvert Records (Hot Hot Heat, Saukrates, The Junction), multiple songs charting on Canadian Radio (Active Rock/College charts), Records in HMV/Sunrise nationwide, representation by United Talent Agency, Nominated for SIRIUS/XM’s ‘Best Emerging Artist’ award, touring coast to coast and sharing the stage with bands like Weezer, Wu-Tang, Anti-Flag, Alexisonfire, Good Riddance, Protest the Hero, etc. As well as playing festivals like Riot Fest, NXNE, CMW, M for Montreal, etc.

DIRECTOR //

Music Videos

AUTOMATIC (2010)
*Much Music Video Award winner

GET OVER (2011)
Vimeo Staff Pick
DON’T BLEED ME (2011)
Vimeo Staff Pick
AUTHENTIC (2012)
FINAL ARRANGEMENT (2007)
TAKE ME AWAY (2011)
#1 Video on Much Music
IM THE ONE (2011)
DUST IN GRAVITY (2009)

MUSIC //

THE DYING ARTS

SNAKE IN THE GRASS
BED SPINS
GHOST
SCRATCH (Live)
ALICE PRACTICE (LIVE)
LIAR

ALBUM

STREAMS