Frequently Asked Questions

Written by Program Coordinator, Joe Raasch

Will this program get me a job?

This is a difficult questions to answer, it depends on a few factors, some of which are beyond your control. I've had semesters where everyone who graduated was working in the industry a few weeks after graduation. I've had other semesters where it took months for students to find work. A lot depends on the student, and if they produce quality work. If they do, then they tend to find work, if they just barely pass the course, they tend to not find work. It can also depend on how busy the city is. There are times when a lot of projects hit the city at once and people are in short supply, and other times when work is scarce.

Our instructors are industry professionals who love to teach. They will teach you the skills required in order to get a job at a visual effects facility, the rest is up to you.

What's the course like?

The teachers assume that you have little knowledge of visual effects, but a passionate interest. We start at the basics and build you up from there. The workload is very high, we throw a lot of topics at you in a hurry. You'll be given projects to complete in compositing (using Nuke and After Effects) and 3D (using Maya) that will get harder as you go through the course. The last half the course is dedicated to producing your demo reel, so you can find a job when you're done.

What are the labs like?

You have 24/7 access to the computer lab. All your courses are given in one classroom, so you don't have to run around the school from class to class. Currently, that classroom is only used for the VFT classes. The computers are upgraded every few years, and are more than powerful enough to handle whatever you throw at them. Some students choose to bring their laptops to work on, which is fine, the entire school is hooked up with Wi-Fi.

How much money do I have to spend on supplies and books?

You'll likely have to buy a portable hard drive to back up your work

What movies have past grads worked on?

The Avengers

Hugo

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen

The Dark Knight Rises

Tron:Legacy

Scott Pilgram vs the World

Hot Tub Time Machine

Real Steel

Alice in Wonderland

Mr and Mrs Smith

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