In this episode of the CG Pro podcast, host Edward Dawson-Taylor interviews Ryan Reeb, a visual effects artist and head of AI and VFX. They discuss Ryan's journey from his early inspirations in digital art to his current work in AI and VFX. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship, the evolving landscape of the VFX industry, and the integration of AI into creative processes. Ryan shares insights on navigating change, embracing new technologies, and the skills needed for future VFX artists. In this conversation, Edward Dawson-Taylor discusses the intersection of art and technology, emphasizing the importance of foundational skills for aspiring artists in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. He explores how traditional roles in the creative industry are changing due to advancements in AI and technology, and the necessity for artists to adapt and embrace these changes. The conversation highlights the significance of artistic integrity, communication, and collaboration in the creative process, as well as the potential for AI to enhance rather than replace human creativity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ryan Reeb and His Journey
05:24 Early Inspirations and Career Beginnings
10:41 The Evolution of Visual Effects and AI
20:32 The Fun of New Tools and Technologies
26:45 Navigating Change in the VFX Industry
33:09 Embracing AI in Visual Effects Workflows
36:02 Navigating the Future of Art and Technology
39:30 The Importance of Foundational Skills
41:34 The Role of Traditional Art in a Digital Age
44:26 Evolving Roles in the Creative Industry
48:11 Emerging Tools and Technologies for Creatives
52:32 Global Shifts in Production and Collaboration
58:35 Embracing AI in Creative Processes

Jennifer McKnew is a versatile 2D / 3D generalist with a career spanning decades in feature film
and television. Throughout her career, she has taken on various roles, earning over 40 official
screen credits for her contributions. Leveraging decades of visual effects and animation
experience, she has also worked in the tech sector (autonomous vehicles). Aside from bringing
pixels to life in tech using cinematic magic across product, design, brand, marketing, and
engineering teams, she is also a named inventor on several granted US Patents and pending
Patent applications. Most recently, Jennifer has immersed herself in the world of storytelling
and filmmaking, winning several international film festival awards for her short film “Sydney and
Socket.”

Gorka started his journey in game development at the age of 8, learning to code and exploring various game engines! Now, he's a top Indie-Game Developer with a successful Unreal Engine 5 Tutorials channel on YouTube (98K+ subs) and a popular UE5 Patreon page!

Roberto Carlos Meré, professionally known as Chuck Meré, is a renowned as a filmmaker, actor, and popular YouTuber, Chuck is best recognized for his hosting role in the widely acclaimed YouTube series Zombie Go Boom. With nearly 2 million subscribers and over 300 million views, the series has earned him YouTube silver and gold play buttons. Beyond his YouTube success, Chuck has received two Mid-America Regional Emmy Awards and numerous Regional Emmy nominations for his commercial and promotional work.