In the early 1990s, a seemingly ordinary dinner at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’s legendary creative hub, sets the stage for a tale of rebellion and innovation in the world of visual effects. Scott Ross, a prominent figure in the VFX industry, hosts the dinner for a select group of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) employees, celebrating their groundbreaking work on Terminator 2.
Among the invitees are two VFX mavericks, Steve “Spaz” Williams and Mark Dippe, whose contributions to the industry are as pivotal as they are unconventional.
As the evening unfolds, Spaz and Dippe mysteriously vanish, only to be found lounging in George Lucas’s private office, sipping Rolling Rocks and accidentally setting off the infrared alarm.
The audacity of their escapade earns them a swift reprimand: no raises, a lifetime ban from Star Wars projects, and a permanent exclusion from Skywalker Ranch.
This act of defiance sparks an idea in Casey Cannon, an animator at ILM. Inspired by their rebellious spirit, she founds a VFX company aptly named Banned from the Ranch Entertainment, a haven for creative rule-breakers.
With Casey as CEO and Van Ling, a veteran of James Cameron’s visual effects epics like The Abyss and Terminator 2, as president, the company quickly rises as a powerhouse in Hollywood’s VFX scene.
Their resume reads like a blockbuster hit list: Congo (1995), Twister (1996), Dante’s Peak (1997), Men in Black (1997), Starship Troopers (1997), Spawn (1997), Titanic (1997), Deep Rising (1998), and Dr. Dolittle (1998). From creating jaw-dropping visual effects to designing intricate computer screen graphics, like the data imagery in Dante’s Peak, Banned from the Ranch carves its name into cinematic history.
The company even leaves its signature on Titanic, delivering fifty stunning visual effects shots. Van Ling, ever the multitasker, not only serves as the Visual Effects Supervisor but also secures an acting credit on the film.
Banned from the Ranch Entertainment isn’t just a VFX studio; it’s a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and a bit of rule-breaking to reshape the industry.
