My 2002 Summer Blockbusters

This is the first time I ever got to really play with any kind of digital VFX or CGI, and I gotta tell ya… it was a ton of fun. I remember seeing this cool camera with a new type of software being advertised at Toys ‘R’ Us on a little monitor, showing all of the things it could do. Compared to today, the software capability and resolution of the camera was minuscule, but back then it was so advanced, especially for a product like this. I remember being so pumped to get this thing and see what I could do with it.

Throughout the 90s, all I had was a camcorder, so I was limited by only what I could practically do within each shot. Looking back, it makes me very thankful that I was able to experience a time without any of the widely available software we use today. It gave me the chance to broaden my creativity by innovating ways to make a shot work right in front of the camera. No matter how young you are today, I think the best way to introduce yourself into filmmaking is to start old school– no fancy software or camera. This forces you to be creative and innovative by using as many practical effects as you can, and not always relying on CGI as your default. Once you build that foundation, you’ll find that CGI will serve your movies a lot better.