Image credit: From left to right: Nick Jushchyshyn, Craig Slagel, and Michael Collins
In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Education Chair Nick Jushchyshyn sits down with Craig Slagel and Michael Collins from the ACM SIGGRAPH Early Career Development Committee to explore the world of early career demo reels. They discuss the key elements that make a reel stand out, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for telling a unique creative story. Listeners will gain practical advice on structuring their reels, showcasing their skills, and capturing the attention of studios, recruiters, and educators — all essential for launching a successful career in visual arts and computer graphics. Tune in for expert insights and tips to make your demo reel unforgettable.
Ready to get involved? Learn more about the SIGGRAPH Online Resume and Reel Review Program and important deadlines by checking out the link in our show notes.
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About Our Guests
Nick Jushchyshyn teaches virtual production and performance capture at Drexel University, with a focus on the interface between real and virtual worlds. His work leverages virtual production, VR/AR, motion capture, and other immersive media solutions for applications in education, cultural heritage, medicine, and narrative experiences. He also shares some of his insights and learnings openly on YouTube.
His feature film visual effects experience spans matchmoving (using tools such as Syntheyes, PFTrack, MatchMover Pro), compositing (Nuke, After Effects, Shake), pipeline technical directing/programming and scripting (C, C++, Python), 3D (Maya, Cinema 4D), photogrammetry, and motion capture (Vicon, Optitrak, MotionBuilder). Currently, much of his work centers on the Unreal Engine ecosystem, reflecting his deep engagement with real-time graphics and immersive technology.
Craig Slagel is the founder of RunGo, a platform that delivers digital maps and navigation for running and walking routes, along with interactive tourism maps. With more than 25 years of experience in the computer graphics industry, Craig has worked across game development, visual effects, and education, bringing a deep technical and creative perspective to location-based digital experiences.
Michael Collins is an Assistant Professor at the School of Visual Arts in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University, where he received his M.F.A. in New Media Art. He has been teaching 3D animation and design since 2011 and has been innovating online learning technology for almost a decade. His work spans a variety of disciplines including digital fabrication, 3D animation, and open-source software design. Michael first attended SIGGRAPH in 2006 as a Student Volunteer and has since served on a variety of conference sub-committees.
