Roman
May 13, 2007, 02:47 PM
3D Animation & Visual Effects At Vancouver Film School
http://vfs.com/programs/3D-animation-vfx (http://vfs.com/programs/3D-animation-vfx)
The 3D Animation & Visual Effects program teaches the creative perspective that computer animation is an instrument for telling a compelling story. By combining theatrical and technological training you not only learn to make films, you learn to make your film.
Curriculum
As in all of our animation programs, the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program’s learning environment simulates the flow of a studio by teaching you to think and react as part of a production team. Through classroom teaching and guided mentoring, experienced animation professionals instruct you on the use of advanced digital tools and cinematic storytelling skills. Your study of the principles and tools of animation covers the fundamentals of motion, life drawing, composition, character design, sculpture, storyboarding, lighting, and art direction. After electing a specialization in Animation, Modeling, or Visual Effects, you develop a final project which showcases your achievements.
The following is a breakdown of the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program by term.
Program & Term Overview
Weeks 1-8 (Term 1)
You begin the program by studying both traditional arts and software fundamentals. Traditional subjects provide you with the foundation to work within the computer-generated imagery (CGI) environment and include design, concept development, composition, character design, and 2D animation. You also begin courses in the fundamentals of computer-generated image creation, including the operating environment, 3D animation, 3D modeling, surfacing, and rendering, as well as editing, compositing, and camera for visual effects.
Weeks 9-16 (Term 2)
Your studies of 2D animation and design continue as you begin courses in life drawing and texturing and visual storytelling. You are also introduced to character setup and visual effects classes. The study of surfacing, compositing, 3D modeling, and 3D animation continues with intermediate courses. Students are introduced to the three streams for the final project - modeling, animation, and visual effects - in stream workshops with project mentors. You are required to create and propose a pitch document outlining three projects, one of which you will complete in the following terms. A demo reel of your work to-date will be required in your pitch to assess your skills and help guide you to the appropriate stream. Upon completion of Term 2, you will begin to stream into your primary field of study with a secondary stream to support your work.
Weeks 17-24 (Term 3)
Foundation and intermediate subjects continue, as you incorporate these into a simulated production scenario. With classes in visual storytelling, design, digital compositing, and concept, you are guided through the initial steps on your road to final project creation. By the end of Term 3, students select their prime focus on animation, modeling, or visual effects. Through meetings with program mentors and instructors, you prepare assets, animatics, and shoot plates to launch your studies in the second half of the program. In addition, you also attend a variety of classes that will complement the development of your final project.
Weeks 25-32 (Term 4)
The production component of the program takes off as you begin to build a portfolio in your chosen specialty (animation, modeling, or visual effects). All 3D concept project requirements including script, design bible, storyboards, concept drawings, colour palette, 2D and 3D animatics are completed. You start fulfilling scheduling and production requirements on your project, such as modeling, texturing, blocking and posing animations, final plate acquisition, and tracking. Meanwhile, you begin advanced courses that are stream-specific. Students present work for feedback twice a term to a panel of mentors and instructors in a theatre presentation setting. Weekly lab periods and reviews with mentors and instructors provide regular feedback and advice on the final project.
Weeks 33-40 (Term 5)
You continue with the production of your project. You are required to maintain a full production schedule under the guidance of your project mentors. Advanced stream courses continue. Theatre presentations, weekly reviews, and meetings with mentors continue.
Weeks 41-48 (Term 6)
You finalize shots, complete lighting, rendering, visual effects and compositing, and produce the final cut of your reel. Besides the guidance of staff mentors, classes in career preparation provide guidance in preparing resumes, cover letters, and industry practices and ethics. In addition, you work with a sound and post-production team to make creative decisions on the final portfolio output. Your completed portfolio is publicly screened and selected films are distributed to festivals.
Faculty
Staffed entirely by industry professionals, the VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects departments is one-of-a-kind for the skills and knowledge that every member of its faculty brings to the school. Our instructors take their expertise to every class for the most in-depth lessons based on professional protocol and creative experience.
Head of 3D Animation & Visual Effects
Marianne O'Reilly has excelled in entertainment, visual effects, and animation management for over 20 years with experience in feature films, television, and sports.
Marianne served as President of Rainmaker Visual Effects and was instrumental in the sale of Rainmaker's Vancouver and London facilities to Deluxe Entertainment and the CIS Visual Effects Group in early 2008. She continued on as President of CIS Vancouver through the company's transition in 2008 before relocating to the East Coast where she was an executive consultant focusing on strategic business initiatives for several global visual effects companies.
Marianne first joined Rainmaker in 1999 as a visual effects producer. Over the years, she has worked on such television productions as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, The Outer Limits and Dead Like Me. In 2003 she transitioned to film visual effects with the animation/live action hybrid Garfield. Marianne was named Rainmaker Animation and Visual Effects' executive producer in 2004 and oversaw the facility's feature effects work on titles including Night at the Museum, Elektra, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, Blades of Glory, and Vantage Point. After being named President of Rainmaker in 2007, Marianne oversaw business operations in both Vancouver and London, including the management teams working on the features Tropic Thunder, Snow Buddies, Inkheart, and Changeling.
Prior to Rainmaker, Marianne held executive positions and was a sports entertainment producer for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, where she served as the director of game presentation and special events. While with the Vancouver Canucks, she was manager of game presentation, and during her tenure with the CFL's BC Lions, Marianne was the director of advertising and promotions and was presented with a Grey Cup championship ring in 1994. She first entered the entertainment world as a producer and account manager at Northwest Imaging & FX in 1991 and returned there in 1998 as executive producer before moving to Rainmaker.
Marianne was born in British Columbia and attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Broadcast Communications for Television. She actively served as a Board Member for the Visual Effects Society (VES) from 2006-2008.
Program Requirements:
Successful completion of the VFS Foundation Visual Art & Design program
- OR -
A visual art portfolio of your work that includes life (preferred), still, or character drawings and 3D computer work (maximum 12 pieces total). To gain admittance and begin studies in 3D Animation & Visual Effects, some 3D experience is required. However, if you do not currently have sufficient 3D experience you may be given conditional acceptance based on the strength of a combination of your other computer artwork (e.g. Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) and your drawing skills.
http://vfs.com/programs/3D-animation-vfx (http://vfs.com/programs/3D-animation-vfx)
The 3D Animation & Visual Effects program teaches the creative perspective that computer animation is an instrument for telling a compelling story. By combining theatrical and technological training you not only learn to make films, you learn to make your film.
Curriculum
As in all of our animation programs, the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program’s learning environment simulates the flow of a studio by teaching you to think and react as part of a production team. Through classroom teaching and guided mentoring, experienced animation professionals instruct you on the use of advanced digital tools and cinematic storytelling skills. Your study of the principles and tools of animation covers the fundamentals of motion, life drawing, composition, character design, sculpture, storyboarding, lighting, and art direction. After electing a specialization in Animation, Modeling, or Visual Effects, you develop a final project which showcases your achievements.
The following is a breakdown of the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program by term.
Program & Term Overview
Weeks 1-8 (Term 1)
You begin the program by studying both traditional arts and software fundamentals. Traditional subjects provide you with the foundation to work within the computer-generated imagery (CGI) environment and include design, concept development, composition, character design, and 2D animation. You also begin courses in the fundamentals of computer-generated image creation, including the operating environment, 3D animation, 3D modeling, surfacing, and rendering, as well as editing, compositing, and camera for visual effects.
Weeks 9-16 (Term 2)
Your studies of 2D animation and design continue as you begin courses in life drawing and texturing and visual storytelling. You are also introduced to character setup and visual effects classes. The study of surfacing, compositing, 3D modeling, and 3D animation continues with intermediate courses. Students are introduced to the three streams for the final project - modeling, animation, and visual effects - in stream workshops with project mentors. You are required to create and propose a pitch document outlining three projects, one of which you will complete in the following terms. A demo reel of your work to-date will be required in your pitch to assess your skills and help guide you to the appropriate stream. Upon completion of Term 2, you will begin to stream into your primary field of study with a secondary stream to support your work.
Weeks 17-24 (Term 3)
Foundation and intermediate subjects continue, as you incorporate these into a simulated production scenario. With classes in visual storytelling, design, digital compositing, and concept, you are guided through the initial steps on your road to final project creation. By the end of Term 3, students select their prime focus on animation, modeling, or visual effects. Through meetings with program mentors and instructors, you prepare assets, animatics, and shoot plates to launch your studies in the second half of the program. In addition, you also attend a variety of classes that will complement the development of your final project.
Weeks 25-32 (Term 4)
The production component of the program takes off as you begin to build a portfolio in your chosen specialty (animation, modeling, or visual effects). All 3D concept project requirements including script, design bible, storyboards, concept drawings, colour palette, 2D and 3D animatics are completed. You start fulfilling scheduling and production requirements on your project, such as modeling, texturing, blocking and posing animations, final plate acquisition, and tracking. Meanwhile, you begin advanced courses that are stream-specific. Students present work for feedback twice a term to a panel of mentors and instructors in a theatre presentation setting. Weekly lab periods and reviews with mentors and instructors provide regular feedback and advice on the final project.
Weeks 33-40 (Term 5)
You continue with the production of your project. You are required to maintain a full production schedule under the guidance of your project mentors. Advanced stream courses continue. Theatre presentations, weekly reviews, and meetings with mentors continue.
Weeks 41-48 (Term 6)
You finalize shots, complete lighting, rendering, visual effects and compositing, and produce the final cut of your reel. Besides the guidance of staff mentors, classes in career preparation provide guidance in preparing resumes, cover letters, and industry practices and ethics. In addition, you work with a sound and post-production team to make creative decisions on the final portfolio output. Your completed portfolio is publicly screened and selected films are distributed to festivals.
Faculty
Staffed entirely by industry professionals, the VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects departments is one-of-a-kind for the skills and knowledge that every member of its faculty brings to the school. Our instructors take their expertise to every class for the most in-depth lessons based on professional protocol and creative experience.
Head of 3D Animation & Visual Effects
Marianne O'Reilly has excelled in entertainment, visual effects, and animation management for over 20 years with experience in feature films, television, and sports.
Marianne served as President of Rainmaker Visual Effects and was instrumental in the sale of Rainmaker's Vancouver and London facilities to Deluxe Entertainment and the CIS Visual Effects Group in early 2008. She continued on as President of CIS Vancouver through the company's transition in 2008 before relocating to the East Coast where she was an executive consultant focusing on strategic business initiatives for several global visual effects companies.
Marianne first joined Rainmaker in 1999 as a visual effects producer. Over the years, she has worked on such television productions as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, The Outer Limits and Dead Like Me. In 2003 she transitioned to film visual effects with the animation/live action hybrid Garfield. Marianne was named Rainmaker Animation and Visual Effects' executive producer in 2004 and oversaw the facility's feature effects work on titles including Night at the Museum, Elektra, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, Blades of Glory, and Vantage Point. After being named President of Rainmaker in 2007, Marianne oversaw business operations in both Vancouver and London, including the management teams working on the features Tropic Thunder, Snow Buddies, Inkheart, and Changeling.
Prior to Rainmaker, Marianne held executive positions and was a sports entertainment producer for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, where she served as the director of game presentation and special events. While with the Vancouver Canucks, she was manager of game presentation, and during her tenure with the CFL's BC Lions, Marianne was the director of advertising and promotions and was presented with a Grey Cup championship ring in 1994. She first entered the entertainment world as a producer and account manager at Northwest Imaging & FX in 1991 and returned there in 1998 as executive producer before moving to Rainmaker.
Marianne was born in British Columbia and attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Broadcast Communications for Television. She actively served as a Board Member for the Visual Effects Society (VES) from 2006-2008.
Program Requirements:
Successful completion of the VFS Foundation Visual Art & Design program
- OR -
A visual art portfolio of your work that includes life (preferred), still, or character drawings and 3D computer work (maximum 12 pieces total). To gain admittance and begin studies in 3D Animation & Visual Effects, some 3D experience is required. However, if you do not currently have sufficient 3D experience you may be given conditional acceptance based on the strength of a combination of your other computer artwork (e.g. Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) and your drawing skills.