Dylan Druktenis

VFT Program-2020

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

I studied cinema at DePaul University and worked as a motion graphics designer prior to enrolling in the VFT program at Seneca. I also attended various evening courses at Gnomon in Hollywood while I was working, but decided I needed to take some time off to fully commit to learning visual effects. This is when I discovered Seneca and started my VFX journey.

Tell us a bit about your experience at the college.

I had a fantastic experience at Seneca. The instructors are very knowledgeable about the latest trends, technology, and techniques. The feedback I got on my shots was thorough and really helped push me to produce the best work I could. I also received invaluable guidance on how to navigate this industry as a working professional.

The program ramps up fairly quickly. I found the pace to be exciting and the constant exposure to new concepts kept me inspired throughout. I learned quickly that what I once thought was impossible is possible with hard work and the right direction.

The program at Seneca attracts some wonderful students and I found my peers to be a huge source of inspiration and motivation. I still talk to the friends I made during the program weekly. It has been great to see their VFX journeys unfold after completing the VFT program at Seneca.

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

I am currently an effects animator in feature animation so I use almost everything I learned at Seneca on a daily basis. My education at Seneca made me comfortable in the software tools I use for my job. I went from constantly looking at the documentation to figure out how to perform basic actions to having a solid foundation that I can build on for years to come.

The most important thing I got out of my time at Seneca is learning how to effectively problem solve. A lot of working in the VFX or animation industry is coming up with a solution -- and overcoming technical hurdles-- to make that final beautiful image. The shots

I worked on at Seneca were great practice for encountering problems, figuring out how to solve them, discovering new techniques, and of course knowing when is the right time to seek out help.

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

I think it is important to be excited and willing to learn everything, but find out early on what you want to specialize in. This will give you enough time to craft a nice demo reel showing what you are capable of.

I also recommend talking to your fellow classmates and the instructors and overcoming the fear of showing your work. These are the people you will be working alongside in the future. Developing good relationships with your peers will help push your work to a level you didn’t know was possible.

(Written in 2021)