
SIGGRAPH Spotlight
SIGGRAPH Spotlight is a podcast that explores cutting-edge projects and topics in computer graphics and interactive techniques, one episode at a time. Episodes are hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH leaders and feature experts spanning everything from animation and visual effects to engineering and virtual reality.
This show was founded as an extension of ACM SIGGRAPH's annual conference.
Latest episodes

Oct 30, 2021 • 55min
49 – Sergio Pablos on Building an Animation Studio
ABOUT THE EPISODE
SIGGRAPH 2021 Special Projects Chair and VFX/Animation Journalist Ian Failes (befores & afters) chats with Sergio Pablos (founder, The SPA Studios) in this re-airing of the 2021 Featured Speaker session “How to Build an Animation Studio.”
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://thespastudios.com/en/ | https://youtu.be/2XZbYNCjmqo | https://beforesandafters.com/2019/11/14/heres-what-made-the-2d-animation-in-klaus-look-3d/
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Websites*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/
https://s2022.siggraph.org/

Sep 17, 2021 • 36min
48 – Seeing the Circus in Real Time
ABOUT THE EPISODE
In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Real-Time Live! Chair Christopher Evans (technical animation director, Epic Games) connects with 2021 Audience Choice award winners Athomas Goldberg (executive director, Shocap Entertainment, Ltd.) and Samuel Tétreault (co-founder and artistic director, Les 7 Doigts / The 7 Fingers). The group discuss the technical challenges that went into the Real-Time Live!-winning performance of “Project LiViCi: Real-time Immersive Circus Performance”.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/program/real-time-live/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisevans3d/ | https://www.shocap.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/athomasgoldberg/ | https://7fingers.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/samuel_7doigts/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-tetreault-586b8035/ | https://youtu.be/5VK_gGQC6KU?t=250 |
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Sep 10, 2021 • 58min
47 – Inclusion in the Workplace and in the World
ABOUT THE EPISODE
In this episode, SIGGRAPH 2022 Conference Chair Munkhtsetseg Nandigjav leads a discussion with four impressive individuals who are each inspiring inclusion efforts both in our industry and in our world: Nora Dommer from Scanline VFX, Morenike Dosu from DreamWorks Animation, Magdiela Duhamel from Nickelodeon, and Theodore Kim from Yale University. Each of today’s guests contributed to the SIGGRAPH 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit. Tune in as they share highlights from their sessions as well as spotlight what our industry — and SIGGRAPH Spotlight listeners — can be doing to be more inclusive.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-rahel-dommer-75973b28/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/morenikedosu/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdiela/; https://twitter.com/elladuhamel; https://www.instagram.com/magdiela_duhamel | https://twitter.com/_TheodoreKim; https://cpsc.yale.edu/people/theodore-kim; http://www.tkim.graphics/ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROuE8xYLpX8
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Websites*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/
https://s2022.siggraph.org/

Jul 23, 2021 • 43min
46 – ‘Star Wars’ in VR
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Thanks for joining us for another SIGGRAPH Spotlight! In this episode, SIGGRAPH 2022 Immersive Pavilion Chair Derek Ham (department head and associate professor of art + design, NC State University) sits down with two SIGGRAPH 2021 contributors from ILMxLAB, lead UI artist Mary Huang and interactive audio supervisor Kevin Bolen. Through the lens of “Vader Immortal” and “Tales From the Galaxy’s Edge,” Huang and Bolen discuss the audio and design process for expanding the “Star Wars” universe into VR, and they share some of their favorite scenes in these interactive experiences. Plus, they even hint at what’s next for “Star Wars” in VR.
This episode is brought to you by SIGGRAPH 2021 conference partner, AWS.
http://pages.awscloud.com/siggraph2021
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/ | https://s2021.siggraph.org/program/immersive-pavilion/ | https://www.ilmxlab.com/vader-immortal-a-star-wars-vr-series/ | https://www.ilmxlab.com/sw-tales/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbolen/ | https://twitter.com/rhyme_andreason | https://www.instagram.com/rhymeandreason/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhuang1/ | https://mary-huang.com/
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Jul 9, 2021 • 41min
45 – Animating With Purpose
ABOUT THE EPISODE
For the latest SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater Director Mark Elendt (mathematician, SideFX) is joined by Taz Tron Delix (director, “Stormzy – Superheroes”), Kayu Leung (director, “Louis’ Shoes”), and Simone Giampaolo (director, “Only a Child”) for a discussion about their 2021 Electronic Theater projects. The group also tackles the reasons why animation is such a great medium to tell impactful stories with big messages.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/program/electronic-theater/ | https://compulsory.film/director/taz-tron-delix | https://www.amka.ch/film/only-a-child/ | https://www.ecole-mopa.fr/en/home/ | https://www.netflix.com/title/81349306
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Jun 4, 2021 • 21min
44 – A Conversation With Alvy Ray Smith
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Thanks for joining us for another SIGGRAPH Spotlight! In this episode, SIGGRAPH 2021 Retrospective Chair Andres Burbano (associate professor, Universidad de los Andes) sits down with computer graphics industry icon Alvy Ray Smith. Here, Alvy discusses his rich history with computer graphics and takes a deep dive into the three parts of his upcoming book, “A Biography of the Pixel.” Finally, Andres and Alvy share hints about the Retrospective program at SIGGRAPH 2021.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
http://alvyray.com/ | https://s2021.siggraph.org/ | https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/biography-pixel
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Apr 30, 2021 • 38min
43 – Mastering Game Design
ABOUT THE EPISODE
In an all-new episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Games Focus Area Chair Carlos Gonzalez-Ochoa (rendering programmer, Epic Games) is joined by Tanya X. Short (captain and designer, Kitfox Games) and Rodney Reece (principal level designer, Respawn Entertainment) to talk about “the door problem” and other game design dilemmas faced during a game’s production cycle.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/program/games/ | https://www.theverge.com/22328169/game-development-doors-design-difficult | https://www.respawn.com/ | https://www.kitfoxgames.com/en | https://twitter.com/rodneyreece7 | https://twitter.com/tanyaxshort
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Mar 26, 2021 • 25min
42 – The Intersection of AI, VR, and Technology
ABOUT THE EPISODE
In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Special Projects Chair Ian Failes (editor, "befores & afters") hosts a discussion on the intersection of AI, VR, and technology. Guest Arthur Miller (researcher and author), discusses how the mind shapes experiences and interactions, creativity challenges that stem from AI, VR, and technology, and AI's role in collaboration between humans and technologies to augment creativity.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://www.arthurimiller.com/ | https://beforesandafters.com/
*Social Media*
blog.siggraph.org/ | www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | twitter.com/siggraph | www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
s2021.siggraph.org

Feb 12, 2021 • 38min
41 – Art in the Age of TikTok
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Time to talk art in the age of TikTok! In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Art Gallery Chair Angus Forbes (associate professor, Department of Computational Media, UC Santa Cruz) connects with creators who use data and new realities in their art, and who use social media both in their art and in sharing their art. Guests Sophia Brueckner (assistant professor, University of Michigan Stamp School of Art and Design), Hashmukh Kerai (motion designer and 3D illustrator), Şölen Kıratlı (artist, architect, researcher, lecturer), and Hannah Wolfe (assistant professor of computer science, Colby College) discuss past SIGGRAPH Art Gallery selections, how to build a brand via Instagram and other networks, and how they envision the evolution of the creation and distribution of art over the next decade.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://www.sophiabrueckner.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/hashmukh/ | https://www.hashmukh.com/ | http://www.solenk.net/ | http://hannahewolfe.com/ | http://www.cacophonic.net/
*Social Media*
http://blog.siggraph.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | https://twitter.com/siggraph | https://www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | https://www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/

Jan 8, 2021 • 44min
40 – Virtual Production
In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2021 Production Sessions Chair John Kalaigian (senior technical director, Blue Sky Studios) is joined by Erik Winquist (visual effects supervisor, Weta Digital) and Paul Franklin (creative director, DNEG) to discuss the hot topic of virtual production, what it entails, how it has worked in the past, how the COVID-19 pandemic spurred new opportunities, and what trends experts can expect for pre- and post-production virtual work in the future.
Large-scale, in-person movie making is not going away completely but virtual production throughout the pandemic and beyond has the potential to open up new opportunities for filmmakers and visual effects teams.
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MUSIC
Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos.
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LINKS
*Episode*
https://s2021.siggraph.org/program/production-sessions/ | https://s2021.siggraph.org/programs-events/ | https://www.wetafx.co.nz/ | https://www.dneg.com/shows/ | https://www.dneg.com/virtual-production/ |http://blueskystudios.com/
*Social Media*
blog.siggraph.org | www.facebook.com/SIGGRAPHConferences | www.twitter.com/siggraph | www.youtube.com/user/ACMSIGGRAPH | www.instagram.com/acmsiggraph | www.linkedin.com/company/acm-siggraph/
*Conference Website*
https://s2021.siggraph.org
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