Check out “District 9” Director Neil Bloomkamp‘s 1998 VFS student reel. It has a big time Michael Bay, a’la “Armageddon” vibe to it. But you can really see this Director’s love and, more importantly, understanding of a strong visual language and cinematography.

I really can’t help but wonder what student reels from my graduating class at SCAD will be dusted off in 10 years.

My favorite thing about this reel though has to be the “special thanks” to the now defunct Silicon Graphics Computer Systems. SGI will always hold a special place in not only my heart, but also every VFX artist past and present.

I vividly remember watching a special behind the scenes video tour of the server room at ILM during “Jurassic Park”. And that room was just packed to the gills with those beasts. And it wasn’t just at ILM! Any self respecting VFX studio back then had at least one system from SGI. Those machines were Cadillacs to visual effects artists back then, and I really miss that.

“Oh memories…out the corner of my mindddddd…such precious memories……of the way…we werrrreeeee…”