[By KAREN IDELSON, Variety]

During the past few years, stereographer Corey Turner has worked with A-list helmers Michael Bay and Tim Burton. But he started his film career at JC Penney in Plano, Texas.

It was at the retail giant that Turner, who never went to college and is self-taught as a visual effects artist and stereoscopic 3D advisor and supervisor, won an intern position that grew into a job as lead animator and technical advisor for the Penney’s corporate graphics team.

Turner was working in performance capture when he was asked to join the team ramping up for “Alice in Wonderland 3D.” He made it known he wanted to work as a stereographer on the project.

“In the beginning, I would show Tim Burton what I’d done, and I think I won his trust after he looked at (the work) a few times,” says Turner, who has also worked on “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” and has “Arthur Christmas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” on his 2011 docket.

“The thing about this is to give yourself enough time to do things over, get things the way they need to look, because it’s really all a process of perfecting your craft,” Turner says.

Turner was Bay’s stereographer and 3D supervisor on “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” He designed the production workflow for all stereoscopic 3D shots and conversion shots. In addition, he oversaw all stereoscopic shot production for all vfx and conversion vendors.

“I pick things up quickly and I push myself, which is a good trait to have if you’re working with Michael Bay,” laughs Turner. “No one will make you go further, but the results are incredible in the end.”

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