Julia Stein -2017/2018

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

Before the VFX Course at Seneca College, I started my higher education doing my undergraduate career in Advertising. As I wanted to improve in the technical area, I did Digital Design in Vancouver Film School. That made me realize 3D would be an interesting approach to bring me new opportunities in the market, bringing me to the 3D animation course at Seneca. As the course ended I got the chance to experience compositing, which made me do the course and is my current area.

Tell us a bit about your experience at the college.

My experience at Seneca altogether was amazing. I did two separate courses, 8 months each. They both complemented one another, 3D animation and VFX, having intense programs focused on the technical skills, just as you would do in a studio. The 3D animation course provides all the basics on the pipeline, and VFX introduces to some of it but focus on the area itself of editing and effects, so I would recommend doing both as it facilitates understanding. 

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

I use everything that I learned on the compositing side on the daily basis. Having the 3D knowledge of passes definitely helps also as I understand how, where and why thinks are placed and used in a determined way. The experience at school was just like at work, but more demanding in the aspect of assignments as we were learning so much in a short period of time, that helped me also understand studio deadlines.

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

The advice I would give is work hard and be humble. This area is demanding but rewarding at the same time. It’s necessary creativity and the hunger for more knowledge. It also helps to have an artistic background to start this course for sure. 

(Written in 2019)