VFX newbie - Advice best way

[The Drop]

Hello everyone,
I’m new to the forum and a newbie to VFX.
I’m interested in going into VFX compositing and have chosen to learn Nuke, Maya and Python.
Can anyone let me know if these choose are the right ones to make for what I want to do?

I’m a bit confused because every time I browse a new forum, a different software is mentioned (Eg. Mari, Silhouette, PFTrack….).
I want to focus on the right software for VFX compositing.
Is any of this additional software essential for professional use or required on VFX compositing courses?
Thanks.

[seraph]

I used to believe that to get in you needed A) a degree B) formal education C) know someone.

About 30 minutes ago I threw that away. Actually, about years ago, but 30 minutes ago because I was just offered a job at a big name studio.

My art director at my previous gig, a commercial visual effects house, never went to college. In fact he dropped out of high school, got a GED and kept learning Maya every chance he could. Ten years later, he's an art director and is a great leader.

You don't need a degree because no one ever looks, or cares really. The only time a degree has any influence is if you're going overseas. Even then a good 4-5 years of work experience will outweight any degree.

As for software, that doesn't matter. My previous place used After Effects and Cinema 4D. When I came in they gave me a Maya license, and when the Nuke compisitors came in they gave them licenses too.

And the best part? People just work together and learn together.

So if I had to answer your question directly, I would say:

Learn Nuke, Learn Maya, Learn Python, skip college, volunteer in some local films or browse craigslist for crappy jobs and work those, learn on the job, and if you need some education, spend it rightly on things that directly benefit you. I'm thinking maybe an online course here or there, maybe Digital Tutors, master classes, etc.

[The Drop]

Thank you seraph for your advice.
Good look for you job, I'm happy for you

[radders]

The degree thing is important when you want to work overseas. Not so much to the company hiring you but to the immigration office who will give you a work permit. The degree doesn't have to be related to y our job though.

If you know that you want to be a compositor spend most of your time learning Nuke and the theories behind compositing. Also learn Mocha and Silhouette and get your rotoscoping really good.

Learn about the 3D space in Nuke and the things that you can do with it. Maya is useful, especially in the smaller places, but I hardly know anything about it and I work with many other compositors that don't know anything about it either so it isn't vital if you want to composite.

[Andreas.Jablonka]

I used to believe that to get in you needed A) a degree B) formal education C) know someone.

About 30 minutes ago I threw that away. Actually, about years ago, but 30 minutes ago because I was just offered a job at a big name studio.

My art director at my previous gig, a commercial visual effects house, never went to college. In fact he dropped out of high school, got a GED and kept learning Maya every chance he could. Ten years later, he's an art director and is a great leader.

You don't need a degree because no one ever looks, or cares really. The only time a degree has any influence is if you're going overseas. Even then a good 4-5 years of work experience will outweight any degree.

As for software, that doesn't matter. My previous place used After Effects and Cinema 4D. When I came in they gave me a Maya license, and when the Nuke compisitors came in they gave them licenses too.

And the best part? People just work together and learn together.

So if I had to answer your question directly, I would say:

Learn Nuke, Learn Maya, Learn Python, skip college, volunteer in some local films or browse craigslist for crappy jobs and work those, learn on the job, and if you need some education, spend it rightly on things that directly benefit you. I'm thinking maybe an online course here or there, maybe Digital Tutors, master classes, etc.

since you are annonymous anyway. what studio, what job and whats your rate? Id be curious to see if entry level jobs still sit at 15$/hr

[The Drop]

Thanks to all for the reply!
Thank Andreas thanks for the help in the activation of the account!!
Your advice about the best way?
I read that I need to start from Roto, and so Nuke + Silhouette + Mocha is it a good route?