Tuesday 13 December 2011

Is Design School Actually Worth it?

Written by The Gorilla on May 5, 2011

Let’s be very clear. School isn’t mandatory to be successful in a creative industry. Nobody cares if you have a degree or if you went to a prestigious school. No matter how you get there, the only thing that matters is that you’re good. That’s it.

So what value does school have to offer if not a degree? Why should you even go?

The Hard Stuff
Please don’t go to school to learn Software. What a gigantic waste. Software is easy to learn. Just search for some video training for any tool and you will find hours of people showing you what each and every button does. Learn that stuff on the weekend and test out of those classes. Instead, while you’re at school, learn the hard stuff like design, color theory, typography, story telling, composition, animation, editing, and compositing.

Forced Deadlines
School helps to get you ready for working with clients and getting projects finished by giving you hard deadlines to work with. A project due on monday means a weekend of working your ass off. Learning how to create great work and put it out for the world to see is THE KEY to being a creative. School projects give you great excuses to stay up all night worrying about a big project. And, that’s EXACTLY where the learning happens.

Mentors
Ask anybody that went to school what they thought of it, and you will get the same response. “It was ok, not great. But this one teacher made it all worth while.” It’s exactly that one or two teachers that you connect with that make the school experience “worth it”. When you find your mentor, go out of your way to take more classes with them. Ask them for guidance and have them critique your work HARD. Their advice will be more than worth the tuition.

Contacts
Being great is only half of the equation of course. You also need people. Without people, you don’t get work or show work. Great work without people is useless. Don’t end up being a great artist in the basement. People hire or recommend, or see, or enjoy, or buy what you do. Your classmates and teachers are the usually the first contacts you have and these relationships can help you throughout your career.

Time
Most importantly, school gives you the time you need to play and learn. You must make many many ugly things before you start making pretty ones. School gives you that time to go though that phase without the pressure to “Get A Job”. Especially for young students, school is where you make all your mistakes and find out what your strengths are.

Really Worth It????
Is it really worth all this time and money just for the piece of paper nobody will ever ask you for? Of course not. It’s all the other stuff that goes along with school that you are really paying for. In the end, you get out of school what you put in. Can you skip school and save the cash? Sure! Many successful talented people have. Can you get some of these things on your own? Yep. There are always outliers. But as a rule, If you are thinking about going to school, do it.

http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2011/05/is-design-school-actually-worth-it/

Sunday 4 December 2011

PCTIA - Tuition and Fee Refund Policy

The tuition and fee refund policy is subject to the minimum requirements set out herein. In the event that the terms of this policy conflict with or are silent on a matter addressed in these Bylaws, the Bylaws will prevail.

An institution may adopt a tuition and fee refund policy which is more generous than the minimum requirements set out herein

A student may be entitled to a refund of tuition fees paid to an institution in the event that:

  • The student provides written notice to the institution that he or she is withdrawing from the program; or
  • The institution provides written notice to the student advising that the student has been dismissed from the program

The written notice of withdrawal or dismissal may be delivered in any manner provided that a receipt or other verification is available that indicates the date on which the notice is delivered.

The notice of withdrawal or dismissal is deemed to be effective from the date it is delivered.

The refund entitlement to which a student is entitled is calculated on the total tuition fees due under the contract. Where total tuition fees have not yet been collected, the institution is not responsible for refunding more than has been collected to date and a student may be required to make up for monies due under the contract.

If the institution has received fees in excess of the amount it is entitled to under the student contract, the excess amounts must be refunded.

Refund policy for students:

Refunds before the program of study begins:

  • If written notice of withdrawal is received by the institution less than 7 calendar days after the contract is made, and before the commencement of the period of instruction specified in the contract, the institution may retain the lesser of 10% of the total tuition and fees due under the contract or $250.00.
  • Subject to subsection 24. 11) a) i), if written notice of withdrawal is received by the institution 30 calendar days or more before the commencement of the period of instruction specified in the contract, the institution may retain the lesser of 10% of the total tuition and fees due under the contract, or $750.00.
  • Subject to subsection 24.11)a) i), if written notice of withdrawal is received by the institution less than 30 calendar days before the commencement of the period of instruction specified in the contract, the institution may retain the lesser of 20% of the total tuition and fees due under the contract, or $1000.00.

Refunds after the program of study starts:

  • If written notice of withdrawal is received by the institution or a student is dismissed before 10% of the period of instruction specified in the contract has elapsed, the institution may retain 30% of the tuition and fees due under the contract.
  • If written notice of withdrawal is received by the institution, or a student is dismissed, after 10% and before 30% of the period of instruction specified in the contract has elapsed, the institution may retain 50% of the tuition and fees due under the contract.
  • If a student withdraws or is dismissed after 30% of the period of instruction specified in the contract has elapsed, no refund is required.

Where a student is deemed not to have met the institutional and/or program specific minimum requirements for admission through no misrepresentation or fault of their own, the institution must refund all tuition and fees paid under the contract, less the applicable non‐ refundable student application or registration fee.

Where a student withdraws or is dismissed from their program they are entitled to 100% refund of any as‐yet to be received consumables that have been pre‐paid.

Where a student withdraws or is dismissed from their program after receiving technical equipment from the institution free of charge:

  • The student must return the equipment unopened or as issued within 14 calendar days; and
  • If the student fails to return the equipment as set out above, the institution may deduct the reasonable cost of the equipment from any amount to be refunded to the student.

Refunds owing to students must be paid within 30 calendar days of the institution receiving written notification of withdrawal and all required supporting documentation, or within 30 calendar days of an institution’s written notice of dismissal.

Where the delivery of the program of study is through home study or distance education, refunds must be based on the percent of the program of study completed at the rates as set out in the Refund Policy for Students section of these Bylaws.

VFX education is a very hard topic to bitch about

VFX education is a very hard topic to bitch about :) You'll need a computer, yes, and if you're honest and not too poor, you can get the software and courses legally. If you're not so honest or too poor, you can get everything for free. Forums where people all over the world can critique your work - the second ingredient in education - are free and people write on them 24/7. I don't really see any other field where you can get good education totally for free, investing just your time and effort. So we can't complain really.

One important thing not noted in your article - understandable, since you wouldn't like pesky foreigners like me taking westerners nice jobs away, hehe, is that an actual degree from an actual university is very important for immigration officials, if one wants to move from the east to the west.

Cheers ;)

Glacierise (a.k.a. Hristo Velev) said...

http://effectscorner.blogspot.com/2010/09/price-of-vfx-education.html

Saturday 3 December 2011

Lost Boys - Go for it!!!

Introduction:
I always had a passion to get into entertainment industry. After graduating in Commerce I ended up becoming a VFX Artist. I started in the animation industry by taking a short course at Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematic, Pune, India. I worked as 3D Generalist and Lighting Artist in India for few years but my goal was always to get into the VFX industry.

To further enhance my skills for VFX and gain some International experience, I decided to take a course in Canada. I chose Lost Boys Learning because the duration was for one year and the course was financially beneficial. The course structure was based on various projects, which would cover all the basic knowledge to get into the industry as an artist. I also researched about the school through alumni who were from India. The school was situated in the beautiful Comox valley. It is the best place to stay and to be focused on your studies. Now the school has moved to Vancouver, where the industry is situated. At the school we have amazing mentors like Mark Benard (VFX Director & Owner), Ganz Ramalingam (Visual Effects Instructor/IT Manager) and Ria Ambrose (Program Administrator/Student Services Director/VFX Production Manager). Mark has 15 years of industry experience. He is an excellent teacher and a fun person to work with. Ganz was my classmate from batch 007. He has over 10 years experience in multimedia. He is also a Nuke certified trainer. Ria was our VFX production manager and also helped out a lot with student projects with her Special Effects Make-up and Prosthetic experience. She is also currently handling the administration of the school and has run an animation school in the past.

About The Program:
The program is mainly with Autodesk’s Maya and The foundry’s Nuke. The curriculum is on their website and it is strictly followed from day one. You are assigned projects and also provided with lectures and demonstrations. Mark with all his creative experience will always keep giving his inputs. You get the liberty to be as creative as you can be, as long as you complete your assignments. One day of the week is industry studies where you are to discuss current things happening in the industry, watch reels, read articles etc. Every Friday is a ‘Screening Day’ in which you have to show your week’s work and of course, get loads of feedback from classmates and mentors. Believe me it gets the best out of you.

As the program is project based it starts with basics and gets more complicated till the date of your graduation, (LOL) but that’s how it is in real production. The project based learning teaches you the importance of deadlines and your commitment towards the assigned shot. The facility is open 24 hours for students so it practically becomes your second home. You can work, play, nap, watch movies, while you render... or whatever you want, but come ‘Screening Day’ you will have to present something each week. As the number of students per batch are less you will personally learn a lot from the staff and from your classmates. You get full guidance, on how to achieve what you want to from the industry.

The Verdict:
Tuition Rates are the same for both native and International Students, so it the best deal in a country like Canada. Being an international student I would totally recommend this school for its quality of education and the amazing people you will be with. I had the best year of my career in Lost Boys. It took me two months after my graduation to find my first job in Vancouver. During this period I had a lot of support from Lost Boys which was beyond my expectation... Lost Boys is the place to be if you want to nourish your potential. Go for it!!!

Kishor Joshi

PCTIA - How to Choose a School

Choosing to pursue post-secondary education is a big decision, both financially and personally. There are many options available to you.

PCTIA encourages all students and parents to be informed consumers. It is your responsibility to make sure the institution you choose is right for you.

So take your time. Consider your options. Ask lots of questions and visit the institution before enrolling.

Questions you may want to consider:

Is the institution registered to operate in BC? Does this program qualify for a student loan? Do the hours fit my lifestyle? Can I manage this around my current job? Is the cost manageable for me? Will the program better prepare me for employment?

You can find a list of registered private career training institutions here. We also maintain a list of suspended or cancelled schools for your information.

The BC Ministry of Advanced Education publishes a guide called Being an Informed Student providing information about how to choose the right institution for you.

http://www.pctia.bc.ca/students/how-to-choose-a-school

Think Tank - The Real Deal

A REVIEW OF THE Think Tank Training Centre - 3D Modeling & Animation PROGRAM.
BY NATHAN S. WHO GRADUATED IN 2008

I initially came across Think Tank Training Centre as I was searching for post-grad training in 3D animation. I had been accepted to Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood, CA but I was looking for some alternatives because of the price and location of that school.

Obviously because the school was so new at the time it was a bit of a gamble, but it was a gamble that paid off immensely.

After reviewing some of the instructor and student work (though there wasn’t much student work at the time as I was part of only the 2nd or 3rd term of students to ever go through the program) and talking with the staff, I felt like Think Tank was the place for me. Obviously because the school was so new at the time it was a bit of a gamble, but it was a gamble that paid off immensely.

Though I had some prior 3D self-instruction as well as rudimentary formal instruction, the training I received during my time at Think Tank is the primary reason I am in the 3D animation field today.

Your Typical Year…
The program is 1 year long broken up into three terms. The first term is very broad in subject matter. The idea is to give students a taste of every discipline to see where their strengths lie. With each successive term the curriculum becomes more tailored around that student’s focus. Eventually the student chooses a specific path (i.e. Modeler, Animator, Compositor, etc) and from then on you spend almost all of your time on your focus path.

I had high expectations for this school before I started as I had been burned by promises of “industry level training” before from another school. But I can honestly say that Think Tank lived up to its end of the bargain.

Not to say that it doesn’t take hard work, if you want to succeed in games or VFX a strong work ethic is an absolute must. This is no place for someone who thinks they can just show up and the school will make all their dreams come true. But what Think Tank will be is a strong guiding hand to help shape you into a true professional if you have ambition and a willingness to put in the hours.

The number one priority is to get you into the industry, and 20 minute epic short films aren’t usually the best way to go about it.

As for the pluses of this school (of which there are many) I would say class size is a huge one. My graduating class was me along with seven others. With only eight people in my class you can be sure we never felt like a number. Your instructors aren’t off in an office somewhere, they are in the room working with you directly. There is always help at hand even after class. And you never need to fight for computer time as you have a machine assigned to you that is yours alone. Every teacher we had was currently working in games, television, or film.

Another great plus is that the school is always open to student input. It’s your education and nothing is completely written in stone. But they will use their wisdom and infinite experience in the field to steer you away from a bad idea or two. We all want to make our opus, but your instructors will be very frank with you about time constraints and how feasible your ideas are. The number one priority is to get you into the industry, and 20 minute epic short films aren’t usually the best way to go about it.

In your final term you are assigned a direct mentor – a working professional whose job is to help you get your work where it needs to be and produce an employable demo reel or portfolio, so that when you leave Think Tank, you have not only the tools to succeed in this competitive field, but the means to get a job as well.

Honestly, I felt that the worst part of the program was that it was only a year. Which was more than enough to get me a job, but I sometimes wonder how good I could have become if it were a TWO year program. In actuality though I chose this school in-part because it was a one year program. I had been through a traditional art program already and didn’t want to waste my time on the very basics. But what’s great about Think Tank is that it can accommodate people of any skill in 3D from beginner to advanced.

If you are ahead of the curve they make sure you don’t feel like you’re being held back by other students. The education is highly individual. I had a fellow animator who came into our year with almost no 3D experience. But what he had was true dedication. I’m happy to say that thanks to Think Tank’s guidance and his hard work he is now a feature film animator.

The Verdict
I give this school my absolute highest recommendation. It is a wonderful alternative to some other expensive schools of lower immersion. For the money you aren’t likely to find another school that can compare. I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to study there. It is absolutely a cut above. The bottom line, if you are willing to put in the work—and it IS hard work—you will never regret your decision to attend Think Tank Training Centre.

If you are willing to put in the work—and it IS hard work—you will never regret your decision to attend Think Tank Training Centre.

You can see some of my work from Think Tank here (animations):
http://www.nathanjseitz.com/nSeitz_reel_08.mov
http://www.nathanjseitz.com

NOTE: This site hasn’t been updated in a long time (working for the last 2+ years) so this pretty much represents where I was – animation wise – a little after leaving Think Tank.

http://www.artschoolreviews.ca/reviews/think-tank-training-centre/3d-modeling-animation/the-real-deal

VFS - Its what you make of it.

When I was in VFS, I noticed there were 3 kinds of students. Ones who just didn’t have the eye and didn’t really give it the effort needed to succeed. Students who literally worked non-stop till there bodies shut down not allowing them to learn in a healthy way. And the smart ones who dedicated there lives to this one year goal on getting a good demo reel to send them into a great career. I knew Remo, and I believe him to be a great guy, very talented. But i remember he had some stressful times at VFS, no sleep, late nights, which lead him to see this negative atmosphere he described. Most of us have been through all this aswell, but its up to us on how we deal with it.

VFS was one of the best years of my life, thanks to VFS and most of its staff, I am doing what I love today! VFS is like most other schools in that it is not perfect, and yes it was very expensive. But these days, money can only do so much, even if it is $50,000. Software licenses, hardware, staff payroll… It all adds up! I am glad they were able to provide us with all of this. And to be honest, the building was like being in a comfortable office. Describing the building as run down and dilapidated is a bit much. But taking into consideration all the other schools, I am happy with the choice I made. VFS is like life, its what you make of it.

Adam Vorous
11.21.09

http://www.artschoolreviews.ca/reviews/vancouver-film-school/3d-animation-visual-effects/a-risky-investment