Instructors
Sam Viator
Game Art and Animation Instructor
Sam Viator has been a 3D artist since 2015, with a specialty of hard surface modeling.
Sam is a graduate of the class of 2015 from AIE and has been working in Industry since 2015 at Digital Twin Studios, focusing on Virtual Reality training environments. Some of his clients he has worked with include Virgin Hotels, Carnival Cruise Lines, Shell, the Louisiana Department of Health, and several others. He also worked directly with Unity for a time.
When he isn't working, he enjoys watching sci-fi movies, rollerblading, listening to music, and playing his favorite games.
Court Smith
Game Design and Production instructor
Court Smith is an award-winning Game Designer and Producer with nearly a decade of experience in the industry. He has worked on multiple high-profile projects, including games for major brands such as Paramount Pictures, MTV, Hot Wheels, Roblox, Meta and Epic Games, with titles amassing over millions of players.
Court specializes in Game Design, Programming, Level Design, Economy Design, and Live Operations. Throughout his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams, developed engaging player experiences, and mentored aspiring designers.
Seth Pontiff
Game Programming Instructor
Seth Pontiff is a Software Developer who has been working professionally since 2015.
Seth is a graduate of the class 2015 from AIE and began his career at Digital Twin Studios, working on virtual trainings for the oilfield and maritime fields. He's worked across the industry, creating multiple virtual trainings for safety and training use, added full multiplayer to existing applications, worked on a character editor and character manipulation tool at Tafi that was used by VRChat, and managed databases and full-stack development for a local fulfillment company.
When he isn't working, he's creating software to make his own life easier and playing games with his kids.
Rachel G. Whittle
Filmmaking Instructor
Rachel G. Whittle is a Louisiana-based filmmaker, producer, and actress with a passion for character-driven storytelling. Working both behind and in front of the camera, she brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to the filmmaking process—from developing a story and assembling a production to shaping the world audiences ultimately see on screen.
As a producer, Rachel has been involved in projects from their earliest creative stages through production, post-production, and distribution, with experience spanning independent feature films, documentaries, and commercial work. Her background also includes directing, production management, production design, and the many practical problem-solving roles that come with independent filmmaking.
Rachel is also a professional actress, an experience that deeply informs the way she approaches story, character, and collaboration with performers. With over 75 IMDb credits, her understanding of both sides of the camera has become an important part of her work as a filmmaker.