Our friends at Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH are pleased to announce SPARK FX ’10, a visual FX conference and festival that provides insights to the latest artistic and technological innovations in the field of visual effects.

Conference talks by speakers representing some of the best international and local VFX studios and research facilities will span such topics as concept art, title design, modeling, miniatures, proprietary visual effects tools and physics-based animation.

I found this email from a conversation between Oliver Oike President of the Manitoba Chapter and Mark Busse Past President of the BC Chapter and thought I'd share it with everyone (with their permission, of course). Not only because these guys are very eloquent on their comments but also because I think it speaks to many of us about the meaning of our GDC Membership and how we value our own profession and career development.

This conversation captures many of the reasons why I joined GDC, this helped me a lot when I was Membership Chair not so long ago and now that I read it again it reminds me of why I enjoy being a GDC Member and volunteer and why its so important to me to use my MGDC designation every chance I have.

Hope you enjoy it!

Mark Busse wrote:

You asked on IM: "So what do you say about GDC to skeptics in the industry?" ...

Please join our friends at the TAA for their next event at Robson Square, Arthur Erickson's urban masterpiece in the heart of downtown Vancouver. This public space has been revitalized as the new GE Plaza with the renovated skating rink as its centre piece. Cal Braun of GE and Clive Grout Architect will share with you how the project was realized including a personal tour through the GE Plaza.