Best College for learning Visual Effects

[niceguysan]

<!--Hi I am from india interested in doing visual effects program, i have research & found SENECA college, Sheradian, Centinnial,VFS,VanArts, from canada , AIE, CHarles Sturt Univ in Australia & Expression Colege of DFigital art  & Academy of art from US, calfornia , for this , i find US colleges to expensive & moreover the durations of teh program is more than 1 year, what i think Senca would be best to go but as a backup if i dont get to go i dont find anything else as Sheradia has dropped its program till Sept 2008 (got mail from their Laison officer) , VFS & Van arts are too expensive, I also want know why VanArts asking fees in US $ while all cnaadaian college in CDN $. 
 
Being an Indian , its hard to go for high investment. Please suggets what College would be best to pursue for the course of VFX, Currrently i am doing 3D animaton course from MAAC in India,-->

[mboden]

If school is the route you want to go. I go to Academy of Art, SF. Yes it expensive, but all art school will be expensive. Then, if you non resident USA state schools will payer a higher price, so Art school becomes about the same price. Try and do as much as you can on your own, If coming to US or Canada will be the only way for you to learn VFX, your going to drop some cash.

[niceguysan]

i know that i am going to drop some cash , & i am ready for such an investment... as in India education in this field is not upto what it sould be , why i am not gong into US Academy of Arts is because they are offering course which is 3 year grad that wil cost me 36000$ /year.

Anyhow thanks for replying

[mboden]

Gnomon Workshop in LA, Lost Boys Learning in Vancouver, FXPHD.com, TD-Academy.com. Do some more reseach. Ask your self what is part about VFX am I interested in.

[kmurpheus]

Fxphd.com is the definitely the cheapest and easiest to access.. and the training is very high-end..

[Rich]

I recommend Seneca VFX program or Sheradian. both program are 8months and they're about $9000 in total for canadians and I think $15000 for non canadians.

I myself graduated from Seneca's VFX and now working in the field. Mostly everyone that I know that taken the program has gotten a job in the industry. Its a fast 8months and after that u'll be working.

I learned a good amount at seneca. worked with HD footage while in school, keying. roto, software, 3d particle and 2d, maya, the list goes on. also the teacher at Seneca works at eyeon which makes fusion so we understand how things work. Most compositor just know clicking this button does that but they don't understand what is really happening when that button is being clicked.

I'm not saying Seneca is the best but its pretty good for the price u pay.

[niceguysan]

i hav also found that Seneca would be the best , I come to know about Sherdian has cancelled the course in VFX for this year & will start by sept 2008, so Seneca from cnada i guess is the only best left , please tell me more

[jpwilhelm]

All the schooling in the world will not get you a job. I suggest getting a intern or assistant job. Onsite training and paying your dues is better than school any day. I don't know where you’re at in India, but I would try for a Assistant job at a post or vfx house in Mumbai, New Delhi or even Hyderabad . Then at night when no one is on the boxes like Flame/Inferno learn all you can, plus it will look good to your employer. It shows you want to learn, so then they move you up to Jr. Op. School is not a replacement for hands on learning in this field.

[mboden]

All the schooling in the world will not get you a job. I suggest getting a intern or assistant job. Onsite training and paying your dues is better than school any day.

I totally agree, just sometimes the opportunity just is not there for such a position in which you need to find another route to learn.

[Cainor]

If your looking for a fast paced school, and your able to work long hours. I recommend Vancouver Film School. I just recently graduated from VFS Vis Effects stream. The course is very intense tho, but you get a good understanding knowledge of alot of things, Classical, Modeling, Animation, Visual Effects. After 6 months you branch off into your respective stream.

[girlcompositor]

I say get some gnomon dvds and learn it yourself. You already have two degrees, right? Forget about going back to school, it's just not worth it sometimes.

If you get the gnomon dvds you can watch them over and over, and you will always have the teacher on hand for things you might of forgotten. I would just practice and make a reel at this rate, instead of spending money on college, take a few weeks off, maybe pick up a course online once you understand the fundamentals, but I wouldn't take a whole program.

Lot of people in the industry only have computer science degrees, so I feel like you've already put in your college dues. What you really need is to start networking and learning on your own. Besides, you can find tons of online tutorials, and when you have questions, you can do what you are doing right now and ask people here on vfxtalk.

School helped me network, the programs I learned on my own, the techniques I learned in the field with a job.

[niceguysan]

i guess even the DVD will be needed to buy so wont that be equal spending at some college.. like academy of art ort at Seneca..

[girlcompositor]

i guess even the DVD will be needed to buy so wont that be equal spending at some college.. like academy of art ort at Seneca..

Yes, but generally a lot cheaper, plus, unlike a class you can always rewatch the same lesson and watch it anywhere you go. This might not be true for some online college, but generally even those you can only long in for a certain amount of time.

I happened to like the dvds, because you can work along beside them.

[Rich]

Do whatever you feel will help you get to your goal. honestly their is no right answer. no right path. It all depends on you. If u feel school will help guide you better than DVD go to school. If intern or assistant job is the way u wanna go take that route. do whatever u feel will help you get to your goal. there are lots of way to become a visual effect artist. No path is right or wrong. do whatever u feel most comfortable.

good luck.

[icedeyes]

Good Universities and schools (All have a vfx prog exept CalArts if my memory doesnt decieve me) from the info i managed to gather are:

In Europe: Bournemouth uni and Escape studios (they have some good connections with the industry as well)...

In Canada: Sheridans, VFS and Lost Boys Learning...

In the US: CalArts, Gnomon and a couple of others that i cant really remember...

Personally, i have applied for Lost Boys Learning after searching a hell of a lot... I chose this school to apply because i really loved their student reels (you have to see them... trust me) and because my second choice (VFS) way extremely more expensive without offering something more (from what i could see at least)...

Hope this helps...