Blue Sky/VIFX
Blue Sky/VIFX or Blue Sky|VIFX, as was its proper representation of its denomination, was a visual effects house that was formed in August 1997, when Los Angeles based effects company VIFX/Video Image, the year previously purchased by , acquired New York based animation house Blue Sky. Holding company Fox decided to merge the two companies, though both original components kept their respective bases of operations, with the New York branch, renamed as Blue Sky|VIFX (East). Richard Hollander, one of the original founders of VIFX, took over as President of combination, while Blue Sky's former President, David Boyd Brown, took on the position of CEO. Both companies, one being relatively young (VIFX was founded in 1984, whereas Blue Sky was founded in 1996), produced visual effects using the at the time relatively new technique of computer generated imagery (CGI), though Blue Sky also maintained a physical model shop at its eastern branch.

In 1998, Star Trek producers decided to execute all visual effects for the upcoming feature film, that was to become , in CGI. As hitherto regular effects supplier Industrial Light & Magic was unavailable at the time, their capacity being taken up by a new Star Wars installment, new suppliers had to be found. Due to the workload involved with creating these effects, it was decided to split it up between two effects houses. Santa Barbara Studios, with prior experience in the Star Trek–franchise, was chosen to do the outer space sequences whereas the new company was chosen to do the planet-bound effects, which also included creating the CGI versions of the Federation holoship, the Son'a shuttle, the Ba'ku hummingbird and the Rhyl, as well as the interior shots of the Son'a collector.

In 2001, the Blue Sky half of the company provided services for the first season of 

The new combination did not really pan out well as Digital Artist David Stephens later clarified, "At the time of ST9, 20th Century Fox had acquired both VIFX and Blue Sky. We went under the combined name “Blue Sky | VIFX” for about a year, but the companies were never actually integrated together in any meaningful way. Later, Fox sold off VIFX to Rhythm & Hues while opting (rather wisely) to keep Blue Sky and pursue the feature animation market." 

By 2000, the split-off was accomplished. In its short lifespan the combination has worked on productions like Blade, Armageddon, and The Astronaut's Wife. Prior to the merger VIFX had credits to its name like Predator 2, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Clear and Present Danger as well as the blockbuster Titanic.  Due to its short lifespan at the time Blue Sky had only three credits up till then, among others Alien Resurrection.

Star Trek: Insurrection staff
Note: this list is currently incomplete
Caleb Howard – Sr. Technical Director
Mark Baldo – Animation Supervisor
Jim Breshnahan – Senior Animator
Cheryl Budgett – Composting Supervisor
Dave Chamberlain – Model Maker
Raphael Colón – Digital Compositor
Shaun Cusick – Model Maker
Mykel Denis – Model Maker
Doug Dooley – Digital Modeler
Tom Griep – Model Maker
Laura Grijalva – Model Painter
Richard Hollander – President/Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Max Ivings – Digital Supervisor
Gregory Jein – Model Maker (subcontractor)
Jim Key – Model Maker/Designer (subcontractor)
John Kilkenny – Visual Effects Producer
Mitch Kopelman – Digital Effects Supervisor
Carlyle Livingston – Model Shop Supervisor
Logan Payne – Model Crew Chief
Robert Rioux – Digital Modeler
Edwin Rivera – Compositing Supervisor
Mark Rodahl – Digital Effects Supervisor
Jim Rygiel – Visual Effects Supervisor
Rick Sander – Digital Artist 
Christopher Scollard – Digital Effects Supervisor
David Stephens – Digital Artist
Dave Walvoord – Senior Technical Director
Tamara Waters – Model Maker
Kurt Zendler – Model Painter

Further reading 
"Effecting an Insurrection", Ron Magid, American Cinematographer, January 1999, pp. 40-46.
"Lost in the Briar Patch", Kevin H. Martin, Cinefex, issue 77, pp. 68-95
"Star Trek Insurrection: Visual FX", Larry Nemecek, 
"Star Trek: Insurrection: The "Next Generation" of Miniature Effects, Part One", Jim Key, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models, issue 34, pp. 24-31
"Star Trek: Insurrection: The "Next Generation" of Miniature Effects, Part Two", Jim Key, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models, issue 35, pp. 18-23

External links 
 
 
 
Digital visual effects companies