Paula Fanaia

VFT Program-2020/2021

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

Before the VFX Course at Seneca College, I graduated in Social Communications with a major in Cinema at a Brazilian university. After 4+ years working as a video editor, I started to work closely with the VFX team of my company, and got interested in the field. When I moved to Canada, that was the best opportunity to get into the area and that’s what brought me to Seneca.

Tell us a bit about your experience at the college.

My experience at Seneca couldn’t be better. I did my course during the first year of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and it was only online for that reason. However, all professors went above and beyond to make our experience closer to what we would’ve had in person. The program was intense, all professors kept pushing us to achieve better results every time and we learnt so much in 8 months. Not only did we learn about software and techniques, but we also learned about the VFX industry, which is as important as the others. I could 100% say that I kept all professors as role models for my career path.

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

I use a lot of things on a daily basis, even the subjects not compositing related. In VFX, knowing all areas makes a lot of difference. I didn’t have much knowledge of VFX tools before Seneca and, after starting my first compositing job, I realized that because of the course, I had a solid foundation to get shots done. Not only did I know tools and techniques that I keep using everyday, but I knew how to find a solution for a harder shot and how to break the problem into smaller pieces.

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

The course, as I said before, is short and intense, so get the best out of it. Try to learn as much as you can, no matter the field you choose after – it’s really important to know the VFX pipeline and what you can ask or deliver to future coworkers. Treat the assignments seriously. Sometimes we get overloaded with assignments, but they’ll get you ready for the market and will teach you about the importance of deadlines. Ask questions and, whenever you need, ask for help. Not only from professors but also from your classmates. Sometimes a problem that you’re facing is something that another one just ran into. I’m sure if you work hard and apply all the knowledge the professors pass to you – including tips on how to build your demo reel and how to behave in an interview -, by the end of the course you’ll likely have a job offer.

(Written in 2022)