In the realm of 3D and Visual Effects, CMIVFX once stood tall as an online haven for High Definition Video Training.Founded in 2003 by Christopher Scott Maynard from Trenton,CMIVFX earned acclaim for its top-notch 3D and VFX tutorials and Their captivating Intro.
Chris, a visionary in Application User Interfaces, was also the first to test MAYA as a beta tester for SGI. Back in those early days, training for VFX software was scarce, with Lightwave and Maya reigning supreme.The acronym CMIVFX underwent a transformation, originally “Creative Minds Imaging,”evolving to “Chris Maynard Imaging” and finally settling as “Creative Minds Image.”
In a bold marketing move, it was pronounced “SEE MY VFX.”
Each video production cost a substantial amount, with Chris personally overseeing production and editing.CMIVFX allowed third-party vendors to share their videos on the platform, expanding the range of offerings beyond the CMIVFX store.With a Large amount of learning materials for 3D and VFX software.
CMIVFX continued to be a premier online training platform Featuring courses like the Nuke Color Masterclass Parts 01 and 02 by Victor Perez.Chris managed a team of up to 150 mentors, a significant increase from the 1 mentor in 2003.
The unexpected passing of Chris Maynard on May 27, 2016, at the age of 41, marked a turning point for CMIVFX. The site, maintained by longtime developer Allen Mackley, later went offline without notice.
It was revealed that Chris’s son, Arthur, filed a lawsuit against Mackley alleging misappropriation of intellectual property and unlawful access to computer data.According to the lawssuit Mackley had tentative agreement to buy CMI to gain access to CMI’s PayPal payment accounts, intellectual property, and website
Before Arthur and Mackley had negotiated the sale of CMI to Mackley beginning in June 2016 Mackley would hold a 50% interest in CMIVFX, Arthur would hold a 25% interest, and 25% would be held as treasury stock
However, disputes arose between Mackley and Arthur regarding ownership and profit sharing, tarnishing the brand and goodwill built by Chris.In 2017, the court denied Arthur’s lawsuit.Currently, the CMIVFX.com website redirects to an unrelated gaming site, with the owner remaining unknown
Its a shame that High quality CMIvfx tutorials went down like this Hopefully, someone will restore these tutorials to the website, preserving Chris’s legacy.
The animation and VFX world will forever miss the revolutionary brand that genuinely cared for artists. Rest in peace, Chris Maynard.”
