There’s always something to learn when we pause to reflect on the path we've taken. Along the way, we make choices that shape not only our careers but the creative possibilities that follow.
One of the most defining decisions in my professional journey came in 1998—at a time when the CG/VFX industry in Singapore was dominated by traditional, linear workflows. Proceduralism was barely on the radar, let alone practiced in studios. But when the chance came to choose the future direction of our pipeline, I placed my bet on a little-known software at the time: SideFX Houdini 2.5.
Back then, this wasn’t a popular choice. There were only a handful of users in Singapore, and learning resources were scarce—no video tutorials, no online communities, just a ringbound tutorial and user guide shipped with the software. Despite limited computing power (I ran Houdini on a dual Intel Pentium II 400 MHz workstation), the sheer flexibility and potential of procedural workflows lit a spark in me. I was convinced: this was the future.
Today, that original Houdini 2.5 manual is more than 25 years old—and still one of my most treasured keepsakes.
Years later, in 2014, I had the honor of meeting Kim Davidson, CEO of SideFX. I brought along that same Houdini 2.5 manual I started with, and captured a photograph with Kim— an incredibly meaningful moment that symbolized two decades of commitment to a vision few saw coming.
Today, Houdini and proceduralism are at the heart of groundbreaking work across film, games, motion graphics, virtual reality, and synthetic data. And SideFX continues to empower creators around the world through innovation and education.
Photo with Kim Davidson, CEO of SideFX and Sean Lewkiw Senior CG Supervisor of Cinesite
Looking back more than 25 years later, I’m grateful I took that leap. To my fellow Houdini veterans—keep pushing the boundaries and lighting the path for others. And to the next generation of artists—invest in what you believe in, trust your instincts, and build the future you imagine.