Aditya Chauhan -2018

What education did you have before you took the Visual Effects for Film and Television course?

Before joining the Visual Effects for Film and Television course at Seneca, I completed my Bachelors of Fine Arts which was 4 years long and specialized in painting. I also did a short course on 3D animation.

Tell us a bit about your experience at the college.

The experience of studying at Seneca far exceeded my expectations. I had no prior knowledge of visual effects and this program was the first time I used many of the software which are used in this industry. The program is well structured to give a thorough understanding of all aspects of visual effects and at the same time is very intensive and challenging with lots to learn in a short time. The teachers are working professionals with industry experience who not only impart their knowledge about the various subjects but also share valuable tips they have gained over the years by working on different projects. Supported with good infrastructure, a friendly environment and access to industry standard equipment, I was able to push the boundaries of my work and learn many new skills.

How do you use the education you got at Seneca in your job today?

The Seneca VFT program equipped me with all the correct tools and knowledge to navigate the world of VFX as a 3D artist. I was able to secure a position of a 3D Environment Artist and Generalist after completing my program. The education I got at Seneca not only taught me software like Nuke, Houdini, Maya, Mari etc. which I use on a daily basis, but most importantly it taught me the correct fundamentals of visual effects. To illustrate this with an example, my employer asked me to use a new software that neither me nor anyone else in the studio had used before, yet I was successfully able to produce the required result thanks to the sound foundational knowledge I gained at Seneca.

What advice would you give potential students who are thinking of taking the course?

This program is geared towards training artists who have knowledge of various software, rather than producing students who are mere software operators. The program achieves that by being intensive since there is a lot to cover in just 8 months. Potential students should come in to the program with the correct mindset of wanting to learn and putting in the time and effort. Be like a sponge ready to soak up all that you can, there is a lot to learn at this program. The teachers are friendly and approachable and always willing to help so ask them anything and everything. Push the boundaries of your work and challenge yourself and you shall have an amazing experience at Seneca and a fantastic future in VFX

(Written in 2019)