How to Become a Visual Effects Artist

As the tastes that govern the entertainment industry changes, so do the growing needs for a talent pool to meet the demands of an audience that wants more bang for their buck, specifically in the area of large scale visual effects driven movies. In today’s market, visual effects have become more the norm than the exception in satisfying the appetite of today’s thrill seeking audiences. So, how do you become a visual effects artist?

Instructions

1. Study the visual Arts. All artists need training and even in the digital world they use many of the same terms such as light, shadow, volume, depth, weight and balance and can apply them in a craftsman like manner. Many VFX artists understand the basics of photography as well as the ability to tell a story visually

2. Get your education. In any craft, education is essential and in the VFX field, going to school will give you not only the necessary tools to become competent in your field, but also provide you with a reel of work to shop around once you graduate. There you will learn storyboarding, visual development, imaging and retouching, CGI, rotoscoping, compositing, wire removal, match-moving, scripting, lighting, rigging, rendering and many other necessary skills to become a VFX artist.

3. Intern at a VFX studio. While in school, an excellent way to gain entrée into the professional world is to intern at a VFX house. The chances are, as with many internships, they are unpaid opportunities to learn from the professionals while you gain skills in the academic arena. Fortunately there is a desire to nurture young talent at the cost of free labor and earned school credits so contact your student services counselor to get placed in one of these programs.

4. Network. In any field you want to become acquainted with those who aspire to do the same thing as yourself, so surround yourself with like minded people. Also, there is the VES or Visual Effects Society, (see Resources). On the site you will find membership information, events and a job board or potential employment opportunities.

Clusters College For Media & Design is offering various programs in visual effects, film compositing, Certification in Nuke and Lot more. Visit www.clusters.in or call 97470 10001 and discover more career options.

Courtesy : ehow.com

Building a Boardwalk Empire

Here's an interview at fxguide with Brainstorm Digital visual effects producer Richard Friedlander about his studio’s work for HBO seriesBoardwalk Empire. This week Richard received, along with Robert Stromberg, Dave Taritero and Paul Graff, a VES Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program for the show.

Super VFX for the Super Bowl – Part 1

In part one of its Super Bowl XLV commercials coverage, fxguide looks at Method Studios’ ‘Carma’ spot for Bridgestone Tires and The Mill’s Cars.com ‘Reviews Are In’ ad. And check out episode #101 of fxguidetv for in-depth interviews on Animal Logic’s ‘One Epic Ride’ spot.

Glassworks goes big for MINI

‘MINI vs Monster’, a stereoscopic spot directed by Robert Jitzmark, features digital crowds and other VFX by Glassworks. Lead 2D and 3D artists Morton Vinther and Markus Lauterbach from the studio’s Amsterdam office break down the work for an fxinsider interview at fxguide. Included is a making of VFX clip.

Stargate crashes The Event

In the second episode of NBC series The Event, a plane once headed to kill the President mysteriously emerges from a wormhole and spectacularly crash-lands in the desert, care of visual effects from Stargate Studios. Lead compositor Diego Galtieri takes fxguide through the plane sequence.

ShapeShifting with Charlex

A dark car speeding through the night bursts suddenly into a thousand pieces, forming brilliant metallic creatures on the surface of an alien planet. Such is the action in ShapeShifter, a short film entirely conceived and created by New York studio Charlex. Here's my articleat fxguide about how the film, directed by Charlex founder Alex Weil and narrated by Gabriel Byrne, came to be.

Building a Boardwalk Empire

Here's an interview at fxguide with Brainstorm Digital visual effects producer Richard Friedlander about his studio’s work for HBO seriesBoardwalk Empire. This week Richard received, along with Robert Stromberg, Dave Taritero and Paul Graff, a VES Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program for the show.