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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes559Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyTV & Film

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Artwork for CG Garage

Latest Episodes

Steven Spielberg is the most famous filmmaker alive, which is exactly why almost nobody actually understands him. Chris and Daniel use Disclosure Day, Spielberg's new alien chase thriller with Emily Blunt, to argue that the "safe, mainstream" reputat... more

A24 announced a $75 million research partnership with Google DeepMind and framed it as R&D for production tools, not a content deal. Nobody cared about the distinction. Chris, Daniel, and James Blevins spend the first half of this Rough Cut on why th... more

Doug Trumbull spent fifty years trying to convince Hollywood that the way movies are projected is fundamentally broken, and most of the industry never listened. The visual effects supervisor behind 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third... more

Hnedel Maximore did not come up through the traditional VFX pipeline. He started drafting floor plans in Liberia, studied architecture in Michigan, got laid off during the housing crash, and worked his way across industries before landing at Speed Sh... more

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Recent Guests

Douglas Trumbull
Visual effects pioneer and filmmaker
Showscan / Magi / Paramount (historical)
Episode: He Cold-Called Kubrick's Secret Number | Doug Trumbull | Episode 555
Nadel Maximore
VFX supervisor for Spider-Man Noir
Amazon Prime (Spider-Man Noir)
Episode: What If Orson Welles Had a Steadicam? | Hnedel Maximore | Episode 554
Julianna Medina-Politsky
Executive at Station X Ventures, previously Legendary Pictures
Station X Ventures / Legendary Pictures
Episode: Why Hollywood Keeps Getting Its Audience Wrong | Trina Renee & Julianna Politsky | Episode 552
Trina Renee
VFX producer, post-producer at Warner Bros
Warner Bros
Episode: Why Hollywood Keeps Getting Its Audience Wrong | Trina Renee & Julianna Politsky | Episode 552
Sergio Cilli
Writer, director, actor, and comedian
Independent/Comedy work
Episode: Mocking AI With AI: Sergio Cilli on Why the Joke Only Works If You Actually Use It | Episode 551
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

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
#100
Ukraine/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

He Cold-Called Kubrick's Secret Number | Doug Trumbull | Episode 555
Q: What got you into this, and what inspired you early on?
Doug describes growing up in a family connected to film and engineering, early exposure to animation and special film processes, and a determination to pursue a path beyond traditional in-betweener work, which propelled him toward transformative cinematic technologies.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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. fxguide: the vfx show
4. The Business
5. Moonshots with Peter Diamandis

How many episodes of CG Garage are there?

CG Garage launched 12 years ago and published 559 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on CG Garage?

Recent guests on CG Garage include:

1. Douglas Trumbull
2. Nadel Maximore
3. Julianna Medina-Politsky
4. Trina Renee
5. Sergio Cilli
6. Justin Denton
7. Bill Warner
8. Marc Rienzo

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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