Conference The State of VFX Then & Now
ON SITE ROOM H brought to you by HOUDINI Wednesday, May 05, 21:45

A Tribute to Cinefex

For more than 40 years CINEFEX Magazine has covered the ever changing world of visual effects.

And while the final issue has just been published, FMX has decided to celebrate this staple of the VFX industry with an in-depth interview with CINEFEX editor in chief Jody Duncan and publisher Gregg Shay, conducted by VFX Supervisor and President of Uncharted Territory, Volker Engel.

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Jody Duncan

Jody Duncan, Editor in Chief, Cinefex

Jody Duncan worked for Cinefex from its founding in 1980. At the urging of founding publisher Don Shay, Jody moved from clerical and circulation duties to writing articles for the magazine in 1985. Her first full-length article, covering “Cocoon,” appeared in the magazine’s 24th issue. She soon rose to head writer, and in 1992 was named Cinefex editor-in-chief. In the course of her 41 years with the magazine, Jody wrote more than 200 in-depth articles covering the visual effects in blockbuster films. She is also the author of a dozen books on the making of films including “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Jurassic Park,” “Avatar,” and Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. Jody is also an accomplished playwright, having earned a prestigious national playwriting award from the Kennedy Center for her play, “A Warring Absence.”

Gregg Shay

Gregg Shay, Publisher, Cinefex

Gregg Shay grew up watching his father, Don, lay out issues of Cinefex on the kitchen table. Gregg’s insistence, as a young teenager, on seeing “Terminator” — a low-budget offering from a young, unknown director, which was not at all on Don’s radar — led Don to scrap the intended editorial content for Issue 21, and replace it with a big story on the surprise blockbuster. Thus began Cinefex's long, fruitful association with James Cameron. In 2001, Gregg launched a website design company, Site Foresight. In 2012, he began working for Cinefex, creating the magazine’s website and overseeing the launch of the digital iPad version of the publication. Gregg became Cinefex’s publisher in 2014, as Don moved into a much deserved retirement. He served as the magazine’s publisher until its closure in early 2021.