Escape or Gnomon?

[blackmonkey]

Hello, need some advice in which school I should attend. I have been wanting to get into vfx and compositing for a long time, been doing mostly 2d work and motion graphics and I think it's time for me to take this plunge. So I want to take a crash course to get me started and I have decided it's either the vfx comp course in escape or the gnomon maya fast track course. Which one is better? and which one should I attend, please give me some advice, thanks!

[3dfx]

I think escape studio would be a better choice for you since you're going for 2d compositing. For 3D I think gnomon might be better.

I know two people who have taken classes at gnomon and they weren't very happy. One girl took a class and the teacher often talks about his personal life during lecture. She asked him not to do that and he told her "oh if I keep going off track, remind to stop it". She felt bad and didn't want to keep telling him not to sidetrack. She complained to Darin Krumweide and he felt sorry for her since he knows that students paid a lot of $$$ to go there. He gave her a free class since refund was too late.

Another guy took tracking (boujou), and was hoping to learn a lot about boujou. He took notes mostly and the teacher opened boujou only 1 day and went over very fast. The student was very disappointed w/ the class.

The same guy took Dynamics II at gnomon and I thought he would learn something totally new, but he told me that Alex Alvarez went over the same stuff that he did w/ the dynamics dvd. Only 5 or 6 new things were taught. I was very surprised since he paid a lot of money.

The good side of gnomon is that it's well known and I heard that they get a lot of referrals from industry people. I guess gnomon has many artists or recruiters come and get students jobs. Also recently there was an article about qualifying for financial aid to students at Gnomon School. However, this is true for students with citizenship in america only. Also if you have a degree already (bachelor degree), then the government won't give it to you.

Overall, I have to say that your reels speaks louder than anything. Whether someone is recommending you for the company or not, if your reel sucks, then why should that person recommend you to work for that company? First, do an awesome reel so that you can show off your skills. 2nd). find jobs and connections with people to get you in. Companies don't care what schools or how many classes you've taken, they want to see what you can do with that knowledge you've gained. Even someone w/ a master's degree or PhD. So? show me what you can do w/ a PhD compared to the guy who doesn't have PhD. If your work far exceeds his degree, than why should companies care about his degree. In the end, your work will end up on the big screen. If it is sucks, then people will not go see a crappy movie, and studios won't profit.

[jeeva]

The same guy took Dynamics II at gnomon and I thought he would learn something totally new, but he told me that Alex Alvarez went over the same stuff that he did w/ the dynamics dvd. Only 5 or 6 new things were taught. I was very surprised since he paid a lot of money.

Unless it is their 3D program, don't go there. I heard others are not the best hands on. Now their Dynamics DVDs are probably the most useful ones I have found on Dynamics. Everything with dynamics is just learn your own after you pick up the basics. I looked at the Dynamics DVD long time ago, but they explain a lot in detail. So no need to take classes anywhere on those topics. Just spend time in creating reel quality effects and that itself will get you up faster.

On 2D comp, gnomon doesn't have much clases. There are few palces that focus on those and are better choice than gnomon

[sorin]

...

On 2D comp, gnomon doesn't have much clases. There are few palces that focus on those and are better choice than gnomon

can u please tell us what are those options, besides Escape. thank you.

[whalerider]

What comp software do you want to learn?
fxphd.com teach Shake, Flame, After Effects, Combustion and Toxik.
It's just $300 for every 3-month term. Next term starts in about 3 weeks.
They give you HD footage shot by industry professionals.
All the instructors work in the industry. You may want to check it out.

[blackmonkey]

whalerider: I am not sure which package I should learn, though I do know that Escape Studios offer Shake/Maya for their vfx comp course. Which are the two softwares I think I need to learn for right now.

I have been following fxphd, looks very interesting and I will most likely join up for term 3. From their array of classes they offer, I have been scratching my head wondering which three classes will benefit me most. I guess I am still trying to find my nich in the vfx field. I know photoshop and AE. so their are my basics for doing compositing. I would still like to take a crash crouse though because I feel I can learn better in a classroom environment.

My background is in film, and I love telling stories with moving images and now more so than ever I feel the need to also get to know compositing/vfx. I am sure I don't want to do animation, but I am not sure about oh dynamics and modelling, matchmoving...

Let's say if I would to shoot a live action of a person with a gun shooting another person (fictional of course ) and I want to manipulate the path/speed of the bullet(creating the bullet), muzzle flash, composite this footage against another background and add 3d camera move.

this is the kind of stuff I am intersted in and would like to know...so it covers 2d/3d. I know that the jobs in industry are broken down to specific areas so I guess I am trying to do too much here, so are shake and maya what I should be focus on?

I think I diverged a bit but thanks for any comments/suggestion

[maynard]

Escape is a better solution.

Which software do you want to learn?

[whalerider]

In the features market Shake is the best choice (well, Fusion and Nuke are just as good, but noone's teaching that).
For TVCs I'd recommend Flame.

AFAIK, fxphd will allow taking one extra class as of next term..

whalerider: I am not sure which package I should learn, though I do know that Escape Studios offer Shake/Maya for their vfx comp course. Which are the two softwares I think I need to learn for right now.

I have been following fxphd, looks very interesting and I will most likely join up for term 3. From their array of classes they offer, I have been scratching my head wondering which three classes will benefit me most. I guess I am still trying to find my nich in the vfx field. I know photoshop and AE. so their are my basics for doing compositing. I would still like to take a crash crouse though because I feel I can learn better in a classroom environment.

My background is in film, and I love telling stories with moving images and now more so than ever I feel the need to also get to know compositing/vfx. I am sure I don't want to do animation, but I am not sure about oh dynamics and modelling, matchmoving...

Let's say if I would to shoot a live action of a person with a gun shooting another person (fictional of course ) and I want to manipulate the path/speed of the bullet(creating the bullet), muzzle flash, composite this footage against another background and add 3d camera move.

this is the kind of stuff I am intersted in and would like to know...so it covers 2d/3d. I know that the jobs in industry are broken down to specific areas so I guess I am trying to do too much here, so are shake and maya what I should be focus on?

I think I diverged a bit but thanks for any comments/suggestion

[mbenard]

Hey blackmonkey,

If you can wait until next Sept. I'm offering a program that has a good balance between Compositing and 3D.

It's unconventional and personal. Project based learning that does the body good!

Just keep in mind that I only take a handful of new students each year so if you find it a good match apply early.

Cheers,

M

[P.Y.R.O.]

Hi i even sent u a PM , buyt again writing it here , i thought it might be a usefull information to others.....
--- ITS A LONG CONVERSATION TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND READ -----------------------------------------


Hi its good to have you here,

I would like to tell a bit about my self. I am rajbir , born in India, i am 21, no girlfriend , single and smart:P

a lil about my eduction--

I am a graphics designer, tattoo artist, 3d modeler, and a film editor,
I have also studied Photography, Theatre, and media for 2 years.

After completing my 12th (equivalent to completion of High School) i joined
Institute of Film Television - Rai University, New Delhi, where i opted for 3d
animation and computer graphics.
i studied there for 1 and half year, but unfortunalely the Indian government
passed orders to shut down all the private universities and rai university being
private had to shut down. So i came back home wasting 2 precious years of y
life without any degree i had hard time, then i joined another private
institution "MAAC" Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics where i joined a one year 3d modeling course and i have recently completed my course and now i am Doing Autidesk Maya from the same institute.

-----------------------------------------------

now i planned to go gnomon school of visual effects , i sent my portfolio to them but they really didnt liked it, in my portfolio i included sketched some 3d work (highly detailed i am really good at making cars though, not kidding).

and they asked me to work again on my portfolio. so now i am working on it. At present i am also doing maya from an institute, as now i wont be able to go gnomon in this year as i have to prepare my portfolio, and i might plan there for next year in 2008.

then i came across escape studios, i read about the courses, i seen they only provide short term course.
like for maximum they have 6 months course.

now i am really confused among the two , like where to get the visual effects training..!

-------WHAT I WANNA DO--------

What i wanna do in life is to be a visual effects supervisor, i know its hard to reach that place,.

before that
I want to be good in visual effects like , smoke fire, water, (dynamics effects, fluid effects) compositing, slow mos, etc,

other problem is i have very less knowledge about visual effects, like what all elements make visual effects..

and effects foir the movie matrix made me mad.!

i wanna be a high end 3d modeler.

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So my questions are

1. Do u think escape is a better chioce than gnomon or vice versa

2. Joining Escape studio , does that helped you in anyway, i mean like in reel oor anything, or inlearning wise

3. Did you knew shake before joining escape.

4. What course you did at Escape.

5. Did escape gave u any assistance in finding a job.

6. that all i remember right now, i'll write another message if i needed

------------------------------------------------

Sorry for this loooooong letter---

but your reaply can be helpful. !!!

waiting for a positive reply

thanks

PYRO (rajbir)