Jeremie Maheu
Jeremie Maheu
VFT Program-2013
Jeremie Maheu
What education did you have before you took the Visual Effects for Film and Television course?
The VFX program was my first college experience. When I finished high school, I started working at a video production studio in Québec where I learned a lot about production and post-production. I did a lot of shooting, editing & color correction, but what I liked the most was doing Motion Graphics projects. At the time, I was very into graphic and motion design, so I pretty much taught myself After Effects. I then became more and more interested in Visual Effects and Compositing.
Tell us a bit about your experience at the college.
The time I spent at Seneca was, without the shadow of a doubt, very rewarding. At first it was very intense since everything was new to me, but the amount of things you learn in such a short period of time is amazing. The teachers are active in the industry and offer hands-on education that makes the learning curve way smoother. You get to learn every dominant software package that's used in the industry and gain knowledge of everything there is to know about Visual Effects.
How do you use the education you got at Seneca in your job today?
When I first started the program, I knew very little about Visual Effects. Consequently, I owe almost everything I know to the education I received at Seneca. You are taught every technical detail to be able to get a job quickly and efficiently complete day-to-day tasks. I started working at a VFX studio in Toronto a couple of weeks before graduation and I felt absolutely comfortable completing the shots I was assigned to. I was able to apply techniques, tips and tricks I learned in class to successfully work my way up. Since then, I've taken a job at BUF in Montréal, where I'll have the opportunity to work on Feature Films.
Jeremie's Demo Reel when he graduated in the Summer of 2013
What advice would you give potential students who are thinking of taking the course?
Take in as much as you can from your teachers. Ask as many questions as necessary and keep a good relationship with them. Their goal is to make you job-ready as soon as you graduate, so do not hesitate to ask them anything technical or job related. They will be happy to answer any question you might have and they will give you tips to help you job-hunting.
Also, do not be afraid to do some research of your own. Visual Effects is a fast growing industry and new things are developed very quickly. Stay up to date with new software updates, techniques and news from the industry.
(Written in 2013)