Help!Need a quick grasp of Dynamics and compositing

[markosDV]

Dear Friends,

You´ve been always helpful but now there is a real hurry!I ´ve proposed to become a member of a VFX team and they want me to deal especially with everything regarding Maya Dynamics,Real Flow and Fusion 5.I have already completed Maya basic training but I need some good resources on techniques regarding Maya Dynamics so I can come up with a moderate reel (as they told me because time is of the essence) and get hired.
Also they want me for Fusion and I need also a good training resource there.I will have more time for this as they initially want me for Dynamics and simulations.
Also one question.I have no experience on Real Flow.Is it so much better than Maya Dynamics.Could or should I learn it solely and not get involved with Maya?Perhaps to impress them?I ´ve seen the program in action and it is really awesome.If that is the case can you propose any good resources?I need to learn them asap as they have more or less given me a time frame of some months to come up with something.This is really important for me.Can you pleeeeease advice?

Thank you from my heart for every knowledge you can share

Best Regards
Markos

[ShadowMaker SdR]

Since you have no experience in the field they're requesting. Are you sure you want to try and get the job? If you screw it up (which is possible even with more experience) your reputation will get hurt. Of course nothing is impossible, but be sure what you want to get yourself into.

[gottony]

Yeah, I agree with Shadow. Both are concepts that take time to master. You should find someone who knows them and pay them and you be the middleman. That way you make some money atleast. Don't put your reputation on the line for something that sounds like a quick project. If you were to attempt it, there are some good maya dynamics dvds by gnomon.

[markosDV]

Dear Shadow and Gottony,

Forgive me for my late reply as I had no internet access for some days.I really thank you for your input and this thoughful insight.I do believe myself that´s it´s quite a far stretched leap for me.And I find your perception of this quite justified.Of course I am not sad about this reality.But these people (offering the job) are familiar to me and they told me "they can wait for me but not come back with a reel after 2 years!!!"....They need something a little earlier as they let me understood.So If I would like to rephrase the initial issue it would be like:"Can you please provide some good resources regarding Maya Dynamics,Fusion 5 (with which I am a little familiar (basically from books) but never taken it to a real job) and possibly RF4?".As far as it concerns Maya dynamics I have already gathered some experience (again basically from books) but I need to go further in order to feel confident.


Gottony I will check on the Gnomon DVDs you proposed.I hope you don´t find my behaviour egoistic.I understand how difficult the issue is.I just need to try it.And there appears to be an open time window just enough to do it (hopefully).So everything you can advice would be really seriously appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to read and answer to this.

Best Regards
Markos

[theta]

I'd try the Gnomon DVD's. They've always been a really great resource on learning new techniques.

[michaelmovies]

FXPHD.com has a good course in Fusion, it's also got some basic Maya classes, but nothing especially on dynamics yet.

ODForce.net is Houdini related, not RF or Maya, but that and the SideFX website will give you lots of info on dynamics in general.

Only specific RF4 training I've heard of is Digital Tutors, who have a whole series on RealFlow.

[markosDV]

Dear Theta and Michaelnmovies,

Thanks a lot for your input!I will check immediately on your proposed resources.I hope everything works out fine.

Best Regards
Markos

[IKandee]

So you have Maya,RealFlow and Fusion and don't know how to use any of them that's alot of software to try to grasp and very expensive

[sgr]

Honestly I don't think you will be doing anyone any favor of learning them all - sure you can get a grasp of the basic but I seriously doubt that you will get anything out of it. each program are hugh and requires a lot of attention to master especially if you need to adhere to production timing.

@IKandee: Each program comes as a learning edition.

[markosDV]

Dear Ikandee and sgr,

I am really so new to all this.I have dealt with Maya for a year or more but haven´t really got an elaborate dynamics session.I also know some basics from Fusion.No idea about RF though.In this team fortunatelly someone else will finally deal with RF.I found some nice gnomon new DVDs on Maya dynamics and fluids as well as Fusion DVSs on cmiVFX.So far that´s the only thing I have discovered.Do you they are any good?Lucky for me they have asked for a basic reel not displaying perfection but moderate animations and compositions showing that I have a basic understanding of them.I will be working with much more experienced people who will handle the "perfection" stuff...

I sincerely thank you both.

Best Regards
Markos

[ShadowMaker SdR]

I'd like to have a client like this someday. Being asked to join a team without having to learn all the skills first. It would be my dream job!

[Silence]

Gnomon dvd-s for Dynamics are the best. There are about 13 of them, and they are mentioned in this topic more then once. I m just confirming that they are great resource because I used them.

The problem for you is that when you combine these 13 dvd-s , you get something like 50 Bibles. The point is that the material is huge, and it will take you a lot of time just to go over it, not to mention the practice. I really don t know how all of this will fit your time-menagment.

Maybe you are just a little over-ambicious.... if you menage to learn 25% of what you sad in a 12 month period, you ll be a king of vfx industry.

[sgr]

Do you they are any good?

Besides Digital-Tutors you've seem to have listed the ones that I also uses. Other than that the Manual is always a good place to start. :-)

[jbidwell]

You might want to try something like Particle Illusion, which will give you animated particles in real-time. It's similar to the particle engine for Combustion, but more flexible.

You could learn the basics of that program in an afternoon.

[jbidwell]

Also, if you are going to make usable water sim's with RealFlow, you should add Python programming to your list of things to learn...