Chaos Group’s Labs director Chris Nichols is one of our greatest assets. He’s done just about everything CG related, and he knows just about everyone in the industry.
In this interview with CG Society, Chris talks about his background in mathematics, his experience in architecture for companies such as Gensler, and his subsequent jump into VFX for movies such as I, Robot, Tron: Legacy and Real Steel.
It also introduces Chris’ multifaceted role at Chaos Group, as CG Garage podcast host, Digital Human League and Digital Film League member, and technical font of knowledge.
Read interview in CG Society >
'%3e %3cpath id='path4163_1_' class='st2' fill='%231A1F71' d='M-258.6-402.3l-4.8,22.5h-5.8l4.8-22.5H-258.6z M-234.1-387.9l3.1-8.4l1.7,8.4H-234.1z M-227.6-379.9h5.3l-4.6-22.5h-5c-1.2,0-2.1,0.7-2.4,1.7l-8.7,20.9h6.2l1.2-3.4h7.5C-228.5-383.3-227.6-379.9-227.6-379.9z M-242.9-387.3c0-6-8.2-6.3-8.2-8.9c0-0.9,0.9-1.7,2.4-1.9c0.9-0.2,3.1-0.2,5.7,1l1-4.8c-1.4-0.5-3.3-1-5.5-1 c-5.8,0-9.8,3.1-9.8,7.4c0,3.3,2.9,5,5.1,6.2c2.2,1,3.1,1.9,3.1,2.7c0,1.5-1.9,2.2-3.4,2.2c-2.9,0-4.6-0.9-6-1.4l-1,5 c1.4,0.7,3.9,1.2,6.5,1.2C-247-379.5-242.9-382.6-242.9-387.3 M-267-402.3l-9.4,22.5h-6.2l-4.6-18c-0.3-1-0.5-1.5-1.4-2.1 c-1.4-0.7-3.8-1.5-5.7-1.9l0.2-0.7h9.9c1.2,0,2.4,0.9,2.7,2.2l2.4,13l6-15.3h6V-402.3z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st3%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_);fill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st4%7bfilter:url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_);%7d .st5%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_);fill:%23006FCF;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_60_'%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_58_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' points='0,0 0,60 60,60 60,32.7 60,0 '/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_61_' transform='translate(0 16.675)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6' id='bluebox-55x54-b_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_39_' class='st1' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-a_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='0,1.9 0,26.5 60,26.5 60,1.9 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_89_' class='st3' fill='%23FFFFFF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_)' d='M52.6,12.4h4.5V1.9h-4.8v1.7l-1.1-1.7h-4.2v2.1l-0.9-2.1h-6.9c-0.3,0-0.7,0-1,0.1 c-0.3,0-0.5,0.1-0.8,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.1-0.6,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.2-0.6,0.3V2.4V1.9H13.6L13,3.8l-0.6-1.8H7.1v2.1L6.2,1.9H1.9 L0,6.4v5.1v0.9h3l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h23.4v-1.5l1.2,1.5h6.5v-0.3v-0.4c0.2,0.1,0.3,0.2,0.5,0.3c0.2,0.1,0.4,0.2,0.5,0.2 c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.2c0.4,0.1,0.7,0.1,1.1,0.1H43l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h6.5v-1.6L52.6,12.4z M60,25.9V16h-0.5H22.8l-0.9,1.3 L20.9,16H10.2v10.5h10.7l0.9-1.4l1,1.4h6.7v-2.3h-0.1c0.8,0,1.6-0.1,2.3-0.4v2.7h4.7V25l1.2,1.5h20.2c0.6,0,1.1-0.1,1.6-0.3 C59.5,26.1,59.8,26,60,25.9z'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_74_' transform='translate(10.3 14.223)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1' id='bluebox-55x54-d_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_20_' class='st4' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_)'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-c_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='49.7,10.6 49.7,3.5 1.5,3.5 1.5,10.6 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_77_' class='st5' fill='%23006FCF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_)' d='M47.3,9.2h-3.6v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7H49l0.6-1.4H46c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 C47.7,7.8,48,8,48,8.4C48,8.9,47.7,9.2,47.3,9.2z M40.6,9.2H37v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7h3.1l0.6-1.4h-3.6c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 c0.4,0,0.7,0.3,0.7,0.7C41.3,8.9,41,9.2,40.6,9.2z M36,4.9V3.5h-5.7v7.1H36V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H32V4.9H36z M26.5,5 c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5H26.5z M24.5,8h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L27.2,8c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2 c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8z M20.2,5.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5h2C19.9,5,20.2,5.4,20.2,5.9z M15.5,3.5v7.1h1.7 V8.2h2.1c1.5,0,2.5-1,2.5-2.4c0-1.4-0.9-2.4-2.4-2.4H15.5z M13.1,10.6h2.1L12.3,7l2.8-3.5h-2.1l-1.7,2.2L9.6,3.5H7.5L10.3,7 l-2.8,3.5h2.1l1.7-2.3L13.1,10.6z M7.2,4.9V3.5H1.5v7.1h5.7V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H3.2V4.9H7.2z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_62_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' d='M50.3,6.5l0-0.6l0.4,0.6l2.7,4.2h2V3.6h-1.7v4.1l0,0.5l-0.3-0.5l-2.6-4.1h-2.1v7.1h1.7V6.5z M43.5,6.3L44,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6h-2.3L43.5,6.3z M46.3,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H43l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L46.3,10.7z M38.9,10.7 L38.9,10.7l0.8-1.5h-0.5c-1.2,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-2V7.1c0-1.1,0.6-2,1.8-2H41V3.6h-2c-2.2,0-3.4,1.5-3.4,3.5v0.1 C35.7,9.3,36.9,10.7,38.9,10.7z M32.9,10.7h1.7V7.6v-4h-1.7v3.9V10.7z M29.3,5.1c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9s-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5.1 H29.3z M27.3,8.2h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L30,8.1c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8.2z M24.4,5.1V3.6h-5.7 v7.1h5.7V9.3h-4V7.9h3.9V6.4h-3.9V5.1H24.4z M10.3,5.9l0-1.9l2,6.7h1.5l2-6.7l0,1.9v4.8h1.6V3.6h-3l-1.3,5l-1.4-5h-3v7.1h1.6V5.9z M3.6,6.3L4.1,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6H3L3.6,6.3z M6.4,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H3l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L6.4,10.7z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_2_);%7d .st3%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_3_);%7d .st4%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_4_);%7d .st5%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_5_);%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg%3e %3cpath class='st0' d='M77.9,47.9c0,6.7-5.4,12.1-12.1,12.1H0V12.1C0,5.4,5.4,0,12.1,0h65.8V47.9z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_1_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-360.2888' y1='252.2589' x2='-359.4065' y2='252.2589' gradientTransform='matrix(24.2543 0 0 -15.022 8790.7773 3822.7673)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st1' d='M56.5,35.6h5c0.1,0,0.5,0,0.6,0c1-0.2,1.8-1,1.8-2.2c0-1.1-0.8-2-1.8-2.2c-0.1,0-0.4,0-0.6,0h-5V35.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_2_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-366.4783' y1='259.7305' x2='-366.174' y2='259.7305' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.7188 25800.6914 44370.9141)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M60.9,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v9h12.2c0.3,0,0.6,0,0.9,0c2.8,0.1,4.8,1.6,4.8,4c0,2-1.4,3.6-4,4v0.1 c2.8,0.2,5,1.8,5,4.2c0,2.6-2.4,4.3-5.5,4.3H52.2V56h12.7c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H60.9L60.9,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-359.3954' y1='250.3555' x2='-358.4323' y2='250.3555' gradientTransform='matrix(22.22 0 0 -13.7702 8038.0117 3473.8174)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st3' d='M63.2,26.4c0-1.1-0.8-1.9-1.8-2c-0.1,0-0.3,0-0.5,0h-4.5v4.2H61c0.1,0,0.4,0,0.5,0 C62.4,28.3,63.2,27.5,63.2,26.4L63.2,26.4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-364.9196' y1='259.7295' x2='-364.6103' y2='259.7295' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.5623 25643.2734 44330.0742)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%231F286F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.4751' style='stop-color:%23004E94'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8261' style='stop-color:%230066B1'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23006FBC'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st4' d='M13,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v21.4c2.4,1.2,5,2,7.5,2c3,0,4.6-1.8,4.6-4.3V21.7h7.4v10c0,3.9-2.4,7.1-10.7,7.1 c-5,0-8.9-1.1-8.9-1.1V56H17c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H13L13,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_5_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-365.7028' y1='259.7315' x2='-365.4024' y2='259.7315' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.8753 25722.1387 44411.7539)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%236C2C2F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.1735' style='stop-color:%23882730'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5731' style='stop-color:%23BE1833'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8585' style='stop-color:%23DC0436'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23E60039'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st5' d='M37,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7V24c2.2-1.9,6-3,12.1-2.8c3.3,0.1,6.8,1,6.8,1V26c-1.8-0.9-3.9-1.7-6.6-1.9 c-4.7-0.3-7.5,2-7.5,6c0,4,2.8,6.3,7.5,6c2.7-0.2,4.8-1,6.6-1.9v3.7c0,0-3.5,0.9-6.8,1c-6.1,0.3-10-0.9-12.1-2.8v20H41 c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H37L37,4z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st4%7bopacity:0.65;fill:url(%23XMLID_4_);enable-background:new ;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_432_'%3e %3c/g%3e %3cg%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_428_' class='st0' points='0.3,0.4 93.4,0.4 93.4,59.7 0.3,59.7 '/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_427_' class='st1' d='M93.1,33.3c0,0-25.4,17.9-72,26h72V33.3z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_2_' class='st2' d='M93.4,0H0v60h93.8V0L93.4,0L93.4,0z M93.1,0.7c0,0.7,0,58,0,58.6c-0.7,0-91.8,0-92.4,0 c0-0.7,0-58,0-58.6C1.4,0.7,92.4,0.7,93.1,0.7z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M8.2,18.4H4.3v13.6h3.9c2,0,3.5-0.5,4.8-1.6c1.6-1.3,2.5-3.2,2.5-5.2C15.5,21.2,12.5,18.4,8.2,18.4z M11.3,28.6c-0.8,0.7-1.9,1.1-3.6,1.1H7v-9h0.7c1.7,0,2.7,0.3,3.6,1.1c0.9,0.8,1.5,2.1,1.5,3.4C12.8,26.5,12.2,27.8,11.3,28.6z'/%3e %3crect id='XMLID_422_' x='16.7' y='18.4' class='st2' width='2.6' height='13.6'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_421_' class='st2' d='M25.8,23.6c-1.6-0.6-2-1-2-1.7c0-0.9,0.8-1.5,2-1.5c0.8,0,1.5,0.3,2.1,1.1l1.4-1.8 c-1.1-1-2.5-1.5-4-1.5c-2.4,0-4.2,1.7-4.2,3.9c0,1.9,0.9,2.8,3.3,3.7c1,0.4,1.6,0.6,1.8,0.8c0.5,0.3,0.8,0.8,0.8,1.4 c0,1.1-0.9,1.9-2,1.9c-1.3,0-2.3-0.6-2.9-1.8l-1.7,1.7c1.2,1.8,2.7,2.6,4.7,2.6c2.7,0,4.7-1.8,4.7-4.5 C29.7,25.7,28.8,24.7,25.8,23.6z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_420_' class='st2' d='M30.6,25.2c0,4,3.1,7.1,7.2,7.1c1.1,0,2.1-0.2,3.3-0.8v-3.1c-1.1,1.1-2,1.5-3.2,1.5 c-2.7,0-4.6-1.9-4.6-4.7c0-2.6,1.9-4.7,4.4-4.7c1.3,0,2.2,0.4,3.3,1.5v-3.1c-1.2-0.6-2.1-0.8-3.3-0.8 C33.8,18.1,30.6,21.2,30.6,25.2z'/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_419_' class='st2' points='62,27.5 58.4,18.4 55.5,18.4 61.3,32.3 62.7,32.3 68.6,18.4 65.7,18.4 '/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_418_' class='st2' points='69.8,31.9 77.3,31.9 77.3,29.6 72.4,29.6 72.4,26 77.1,26 77.1,23.7 72.4,23.7 72.4,20.7 77.3,20.7 77.3,18.4 69.8,18.4 '/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M87.8,22.4c0-2.5-1.8-4-4.8-4H79V32h2.6v-5.5H82l3.7,5.5h3.3l-4.3-5.7C86.7,25.8,87.8,24.5,87.8,22.4z M82.4,24.6h-0.8v-4.1h0.8c1.7,0,2.5,0.7,2.5,2C85,23.9,84.1,24.6,82.4,24.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.8364' y1='-8.0135' x2='47.8375' y2='-15.8403' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F89F20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2502' style='stop-color:%23F79A20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5331' style='stop-color:%23F68D20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.6196' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7232' style='stop-color:%23F48120'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23F37521'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_415_' class='st3' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.0472' y1='-8.1188' x2='44.7411' y2='-22.3989' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.3587' style='stop-color:%23E16F27'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.703' style='stop-color:%23D4602C'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.9816' style='stop-color:%23D05B2E'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_414_' class='st4' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_436_'%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89.4,18.9c0-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.4h-0.4v1.2h0.3v-0.5l0.3,0.5h0.3l-0.4-0.5C89.3,19.2,89.4,19.1,89.4,18.9z M89,19.1L89,19.1l0-0.3h0c0.1,0,0.2,0,0.2,0.1C89.2,19,89.1,19.1,89,19.1z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89,18.1c-0.6,0-1,0.5-1,1s0.5,1,1,1c0.6,0,1-0.5,1-1S89.6,18.1,89,18.1z M89,20c-0.4,0-0.8-0.4-0.8-0.9 c0-0.5,0.4-0.9,0.8-0.9c0.4,0,0.8,0.4,0.8,0.9C89.9,19.6,89.5,20,89,20z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
