Rephonic
Artwork for CG Garage
Visual Effects
Virtual Production
VFX
Hollywood
CGI
AI In Visual Effects
Chaos Group
AI In Filmmaking
Digital Domain
Ray Tracing
AI Tools
AI In Film
Sinners
Animation
Filmmaking
Artificial Intelligence
Houdini
Film Production
VFX Industry
Computer Graphics

Since 2014, CG Garage has brought lively, informal conversations with Oscar-winning legends, visionary artists, and the innovators driving the industry's biggest technological leaps. From in-depth interviews to spirited roundtable discussions, hosts Chris Nichols and Daniel Thron explore the art, craft, and future of filmmaking. With Hollywood in the middle of a major revolution, we talk to the fi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes554Founded12 years ago
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TechnologyTV & Film

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Artwork for CG Garage

Latest Episodes

Hollywood is having a Marie Antoinette moment. The people running studios and making AI announcements have no idea how their decisions are landing with the audience that actually buys tickets, and the backlash to Jorge R. Gutierrez announcing Punky D... more

Sergio Cilli is going to get hate from both sides. The pro-AI crowd thinks he's mocking their tools. The anti-AI crowd thinks he's a hypocrite for using them. He's fine with that. Cilli is a director and writer who came up through sketch comedy and t... more

Gothic horror is having a moment, and Justin Denton got there before the wave. His feature The Curse of the Sin Eater is now streaming on Prime, built for under a million dollars with 19 shooting days, a single private benefactor, Chicago theater act... more

The man who invented nonlinear editing is not done disrupting filmmaking. Bill Warner, founder of Avid Technology and the engineer behind the tool that unlocked the indie film revolution of the 1990s, has spent the last several years pushing a new id... more

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Recent Guests

Justin Denton
Filmmaker and director of The Curse of the Sin Eater
Independent/The Curse of the Sin Eater
Episode: How to Make and Distribute a Gothic Horror Film on a Shoestring | Justin Denton | Ep. 550
Bill Warner
Founder of Avid Technology; investor at Lightcraft
Avid Technology; Lightcraft Technology
Episode: Filmmaking Needs a New Revolution. Bill Warner, Founder of Avid, Is Building It | Ep. 549
Marc Rienzo
Visual effects artist and compositor
Independent/VFX industry
Episode: Your VFX Skills Are Your AI Advantage | Marc Rienzo | Episode 547
Victor Varnado
Producer, actor, stand‑up comedian, tech entrepreneur
Episode: Episode 545 - Victor Varnado: Why Every Creator Needs to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Jay Worth
VFX supervisor extraordinaire
Various (Fallout, Fringe, Westworld, JJ Abrams productions)
Episode: Episode 544 - Jay Worth: Fallout Season 2, 500 Episodes of Hard Lessons, and when to say no
Stan Szymanski
Recruiter and industry veteran with deep involvement in VFX staffing and education
Industry (VFX recruitment)
Episode: Episode 543 - Stan Szymanski and Susan O'Neal: What VFX Talent Actually Needs to Look Like Now
Susan Thurman O'Neal
Recruiter and educator focused on VFX talent and career development
Independent recruiter/educator
Episode: Episode 543 - Stan Szymanski and Susan O'Neal: What VFX Talent Actually Needs to Look Like Now
Alex Theisen
Refuge VFX co-founder
Refuge VFX
Episode: Episode 542 - Refuge VFX: How a Portland Boutique Landed Fallout, Shogun, and One Piece
Fred Ruff
Refuge VFX co-founder
Refuge VFX
Episode: Episode 542 - Refuge VFX: How a Portland Boutique Landed Fallout, Shogun, and One Piece

Hosts

Chris Nichols
Host of CG Garage; CG Garage network participant; longtime interviewer known for accessible, technically-grounded discussions.
Daniel Thron
Co-host of CG Garage; facilitator of conversations with guests and hosts; producer role across episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 133 ratings
  • VFX generalists and specialists

    I love this podcast and all of your guests. Being a former VFX artist myself, maybe you could reach out to some others like Kevin Kutcher, Chris Zapara, Kevin VanHook and Mark Kochinski. Look them up they are incredible artists that I think would add to your wonderful show. Again thank you for keeping this show so informative and fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tony92376
    United Statesa year ago
  • One of the best

    Wonderful! Really appreciate this podcast. Thank you for bringing it! And a great honor to prof. Krivanek. What a loss for the rendering world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bing-grapgics
    United States5 years ago
  • Great content

    Love the show!

    Just wish the host would let the guests finish their sentences instead of interrupting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmeammel
    Australia6 years ago
  • 10/10

    Love it! Googled best VFX podcasts and came across this one, not disappointed 🤲🏾 keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    huoilyas
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • 5 out of 5 rating

    Thank you Chris for the authenticity, consistency and enthusiasm with which you create the podcast. The CG garage shows talk from the Chaos Group artist network during a weekly podcast with some of the biggest namens in the graphics industry. I have a portrait drawing service and I am developing in eco build design, and V-Ray renders the most enjoyable result. 5 out of 5 rating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Today 2D
    Netherlands6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners wish for smoother interview pacing and fewer interruptions during guest responses.
Listeners praise the breadth and depth of guests across CG, VFX, and tech, praising practical insights and enjoyed discussions.
Fans thank the host for authenticity and energy, noting valuable industry takeaways and candid conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#57
Ukraine/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Make and Distribute a Gothic Horror Film on a Shoestring | Justin Denton | Ep. 550
Q: How did you approach funding for the film given its Gothic premise and budget constraints?
We secured a single benefactor who believed in the script, which allowed a lean development process and quick approvals, avoiding the multilayered studio roadblocks; this structure kept the project nimble and aligned with the director's vision.
Episode 545 - Victor Varnado: Why Every Creator Needs to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Q: What do you think are the skill sets necessary for creators to thrive in this new era?
Learn to run a business and leverage global audiences; build newsletters and create value propositions around your art to monetize directly with a loyal community.
Episode 545 - Victor Varnado: Why Every Creator Needs to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Q: So how do you fight the copyright issue with writing and AI writing tools?
Copyright can still apply when you do the heavy lifting and final polishing; using AI for drafts is permissible, and you can copyright the resulting work if you contribute original material and structure to the final piece.
Episode 541 - Ashay Javadekar: The Clapperboard Is 100 Years Old and Nobody Fixed It
Q: Explain why the clapperboard exists and give a brief history of the slate.
The slate began as a tool to connect the shot's image and the written script, providing a reference point between text and media, and it originally offered a simple way to sync audio and video using a clap as a timing cue. Over time, as more metadata was needed and multiple devices came into play, the slate evolved into a broader metadata hub to maintain the integrity of the creative information throughout production.
Episode 531 - Deconstructing Juliano: Michael Moshe Dahan's Yes, Repeat, No
Q: How are films like this going to get seen?
Michael shared that while making his film, they connected with audiences at festivals, but distribution remains a challenge, particularly for independent films with complex themes.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About CG Garage

What is CG Garage about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, informal show centered on visual effects, filmmaking technology, and the evolving landscape of modern cinema. Discussions span VFX pipelines, AI's impact on jobs and storytelling, independent studios, cloud infrastructure, and new tools like VidViz and automated slates. Guests are industry veterans and rising technologists who share hard-won lessons from big productions to boutique shops, with practical takeaways for creators navigating a shifting media economy. The format blends technical depth with candid career stories, making it especially valuable for listeners involved in VFX, animation, previsualization, and production who want actionable insights and a sense of the industry's direction.

Noteworthy is the emphasis on indep... more

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Which podcasts are similar to CG Garage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with CG Garage:

1. fxguide: fxpodcast
2. befores & afters
3. The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
4. Team Deakins
5. CG Pro Podcast

How many episodes of CG Garage are there?

CG Garage launched 12 years ago and published 554 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact CG Garage?

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What guests have appeared on CG Garage?

Recent guests on CG Garage include:

1. Justin Denton
2. Bill Warner
3. Marc Rienzo
4. Victor Varnado
5. Jay Worth
6. Stan Szymanski
7. Susan Thurman O'Neal
8. Alex Theisen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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