ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 3 months ago - Adriano Cirulli

1) Depending on what you want to do: Nuke (compositing), Maya (3D), Houdini (effects), Python (R&D) are among the most used applications/programming languages.
2) Usually you either start as a runner at a post house or do a course through which you might get a junior position somewhere.
3) Lots of team work involved. Especially at the beginning there is a fair amount of long hours and weekend work to take into account.

11 years, 3 months ago - Yen Yau

Hi Elena,

I've been doing a VFX careers outreach programme (funded by Creative Skillset), called Skill Fusion. There is a skills shortage and the industry is particularly seeking new entrants with strong STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths and computing science) subject backgrounds, so you are in good position.

This is the careers map I commissioned which has been useful to illustrate routes in, courses, what employers look for:

http://bit.ly/1n71TWs

A qualification in of itself is not enough. A showreel is going to be essential. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SkillsFusion/ - got some examples here which I posted last month.

Dneg have a great careers section on their website: http://www.dneg.com/career_info/

I've been on one of Escape Studios one day tasters - good way to meet the tutors and they have a good track record. They too have good careers resource which is has been recently updated.

Finally, have a look the this doc - The Core Skills of VFX Primer (produced by Skillset with industry and university lecturers):

http://bit.ly/1lU1Kpf

Good luck, Yen

11 years, 3 months ago - Black Swamp Films

Hi Elena,

I looked into CGI work a while back and went along to see the folk at Escape Studios in London.
http://www.escapestudios.com/
I can't vouch for them but they seem to know their onions. Costly though, if I remember.

Ray,
BlackSwamp Films.

11 years, 3 months ago - Andrew Morgan

Python is probably the most useful language for scripting CG applications at the moment - if you're looking for studio TD work, it probably couldn't hurt to learn MEL Script either (Maya's scripting language).

There's a great deal of competition for all levels of CG work and without credits/a great demo reel you'll struggle even finding junior positions. Whilst I don't usually recommend CG courses (since it's entirely possible to teach yourself), given your mathematics background I'd suggest you take a look at SideFX Houdini - it's a procedural animation program used on a lot of big features and due to it being quite technical, there's less competent Houdini artists around than say Maya or 3D Studio Max.

What's it like? Hard - very hard. You have to be passionate about it or you'll burn out quickly - hours are long and stressful and it can be a nomadic lifestyle (few studios keep staff on full-time so you'll likely always be looking for your next job whilst working late on your current one).

For more input from experienced CG artists, I suggest you look at CGTalk.com