Read the story behind the VFX Club by Marcella Brown
Marcella Brown, CEO and Founder of The VFX Club and a Senior Effects TD at ILM, is a Gnomon alumna and VES member with deep expertise in FX animation. She launched The VFX Club as a podcast to connect artists, share industry insights, and foster a more inclusive landscape in storytelling and representation within visual effects.
Click on Marcella to explore her career journey
I launched The VFX Club as a podcast driven by a simple yet powerful question that echoed in my mind when I started my first film job in Montreal: "Where are my people?"
The importance of community is often underestimated, and I felt compelled not only to showcase more Black and Brown artists but also to uplift artists across the board. In those days, industry recognition typically focused on supervisors, leaving so many voices unheard. My vision was to create a platform where everyone’s story was celebrated equally.
The podcast thrived for a couple of years, but the persistent lack of representation among Black and Brown artists made me realize that true change required deeper action. We needed to start at the source—to reach young talent in communities of color that face systemic inequalities and fewer opportunities.
Investing in this long game is essential to me, as addressing these foundational issues is crucial for fostering a more inclusive landscape in storytelling and representation.
The VFX Club Programs
The Vfx Club is located and based here in Los Angeles. But we are also operating in Chicago.
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Youth outreach program
The after school program was officially launched in Chicago, IL back in the Fall term of 2023. We started with 2 classes:
- intro to 3d modeling where the kids learned the foundations of building 3d assets and
- our Look Dev class where the kids learned how to texture 3d models.
We initially had 6 students per term and the program was held on Saturdays. This next term we are opening it up further and holding our classes during the week immediately after school to make it more convenient for the parents and the staff.
We target 7 and 8 graders, at this age they are mature enough and have the interest in learning more complex techniques. The classes are taught within the schools computer lab and it is virtual so we do have them sign into our company zoom for all instruction. Robert Turner or another teacher is always there supervising in person.
Our first year (2023) of instruction was free for the students. We wanted to offer the school/community a free year so we can get to know the students and be able to craft our program around their needs. But this year under the advice from the school we are charging for the program $75 per student which is on par with the other after school activities the school has for the student body. The ages of the students range from 11-13 years of age
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Podcast
The podcast started back in 2019 when i was still living and working in Montreal at ScanlineVFX.
The list of guests per season can be found on the podcast page on the website.
I speak to artists that range from juniors all the way to vfx supes and I always choose my guests personally.
It's all about their stories/journeys i let them speak for themselves. I believe that everyone has a voice that needs to be heard so we do that on the podcast.Im proud to say I've had over 70 guests on the podcast and we are now recording season 9 that will be out soon December 3 of this year.
The VFX Club Team
The VFX Club was founded in 2023 after my return from Montreal, and while the vision was mine, none of this could have been accomplished without my phenomenal team! We may be small, but our passion and dedication make us a formidable force.
Leading the way alongside me is Robert Turner, my indispensable right-hand man and the assistant principal at our inaugural school in Chicago. Now entering its second year, this partnership has exceeded my highest expectations.
Completing our stellar lineup are Santhosh Koneru, our CFO and LookDev instructor; Maxine Schnepf, our General Manager; Dejuan McCoy, who brings life to our modeling classes; and our newest talent, Lamarcus Harvey, teaching ZBrush. I am beyond grateful for this powerhouse team that makes our mission not just possible but exciting every step of the way.
The VFX Club Partners
A huge shout-out goes to our incredible community partners: We Are Little Giants, St. Thomas The Apostle School, Ikweta Arts, Afro Animation, and, of course, Gridmarkets for their unwavering support.
Partnering with forward-thinking organizations and passionate individuals both within and adjacent to our industry is at the heart of our mission to enrich students’ experiences and uplift their communities.
Since launching The VFX Club podcast in 2019, it’s been a journey marked by growth, resilience, and countless late nights. Despite the challenges, each milestone makes it all worthwhile. I’m beyond proud of what we've achieved and can’t wait to see where we’re headed next.
This is just the beginning—*we’re here for the long haul.
How to support and contact us
We are accepting donations and currently seeking sponsors to help with costs for the after school program and the costs associated with things like software licensing, hardware and art supplies. Here the link to the donation page.
The best way to reach The Vfx Club is through email, Instagram and Linkedin