VFX

CAREERS
GUIDE
2014
Image courtesy of MPC 20th Century Fox
Contents
AN INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL EFFECTS 3
A Growing, Diverse and Global Industry 3
Why We Use VFX 4
The Skills That Make Up This Industry 5
A Brief History 6
Bridge the Artist-Techie Gap 7
The VFX Pipeline Explained 9
CAREERS IN VFX 10
VFX Around the World 11
Mastering a VFX Discipline 12
The Freelance Culture 13
Earning Power 13
Tools of the Trade 14
GETTING HIRED 15
What the Industry Wants 16
The Showreel Clinic 17
GET STUDIO-READY 18
VFX Training 19
Your Options 20
SO WHAT NOW? 21
Join the Community 21
Image courtesy of Rhythm & Hues
20th Century Fox
Contents | 2 escapestudios.com
Looking to forge a career in visual efects
(VFX)? This is your guide to the craft, the
industry and the career prospects that
make up this booming, global business.
Over the last two decades the VFX job market has changed
dramatically and quickly. Once managed by a small number
of specialists, VFX is now a major global industry. As it grows,
new opportunities for VFX professionals develop all the
time, worldwide.
In this digital age, its easy to take the technical achievements
of VFX for granted, but before we continue, take a moment
to think how much of what you see on screen these days is
a product of VFX?
AN INTRODUCTION
TO VISUAL EFFECTS
A Growing, Diverse
and Global Industry
The art of visual efects involves
nothing less than making words
into pictures, technology into art,
and magic into reality. Artists and
technicians who create this magic
have laboured throughout the history
of moving imagery, always working
in service of the story, the directors
vision, and the cinematographers art.
Michael Fink and Jacquelyn Ford Morie
The VES Handbook of Visual Efects
Image courtesy of MPC
Three Mobile
Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) the VFX studio
responsible for the VFX in Star Wars, Terminator
2, Jurassic Park, Avatar, Transformers, Iron
Man, Star Trek and many more now have a
studio here in London, creating 200 jobs for the
VFX community in the UK. ILM also have studios in
Singapore, San Francisco, Vancouver, Los Angeles
and San Rafael.
ILM COME TO LONDON
An introduction to visual efects | 3 escapestudios.com
Visual efects is a device used in lmmaking to tell stories
in a visual way that wont detract from the emotion of a
scene. It allows lmmakers to bring ambitious ideas to
life that otherwise would be too expensive or physically
impossible to capture with a camera on the lm set.
It is the technical trickery that breathes life into a lm,
suspending disbelief with photorealistic efects that seem
so real, the audience cant tell the diference between what
was faked and what was captured on camera.
Sometimes when VFX is being used, the aim is to make
the efect invisible, blending all the elements convincingly
and photo-realistically. An artist has done their job well when
the scene is believable. This is often done for set-extensions
or removing unwanted elements from a shot.
There are also more stylised obvious efects that bring
superheroes, mythical worlds and impossible stunts to life.
Although we can recognise these efects as being a product
of VFX, no expense is spared on detail, making these VFX
assets mimic real-world elements as much as possible.
Visual Efects (VFX)
Visual efects is the largest computer graphics (CG) sector
and the biggest employer of CG artists. VFX is the production
of efects, CG assets and motion graphics for movies, TV,
commercials and other video-based media, such as the web.
Feature Animation
Computer graphics animation has grown into a blockbusting
movie genre of its own in the 19 years since Pixar pioneered
the form with Toy Story. Big studios use hundreds of artists
on a single title, with teams specialising in one discipline such
as character design, animation or lighting.
Games
Games studios produce immersive environments within
tight technical limitations. Video games development is the
second fastest growing media segment in the world, behind
online advertising.
Virtualisation
Modern engineering, architecture, motor and product
manufacturing industries all rely on CG artists to help
visualise projects during the design process.
Why We Use VFX
A recent introduction of tax incentives
from the European Commission will see
a 188 million investment for Britains
games development sector.
DID YOU KNOW?
The annual revenue of the British
VFX industry is expected to reach
600 million in 2014.
DID YOU KNOW?
Image courtesy of MPC
20th Century Fox
An introduction to visual efects | 4 escapestudios.com
Visual efects is an industry where art, science,
maths and technology all come together with
a shared goal to create something visually
awesome in the most cost and time efective
way possible.
The industry needs people with talents across all these areas
not just the artistic. Mathematics, physics and programming
are also skills that help push the boundaries, allowing VFX to
reach new technical heights that wow audiences.
This industry also relies on talented project managers and
people with a good mind for business. These skills make up
the production team VFX co-ordinators and producers
who keep the production and delivery of VFX on schedule
as well as bringing new business to the studio. After all,
someone needs to make sure the studio is making money.
The Skills That Make
Up This Industry
We want the superstar
maths students too, not just
the kids who studied media,
drama or art.
Michael Elson Film and VFX Consultant
at Prime Focus World
Image courtesy of Cinesite
escapestudios.com An introduction to visual efects | 5
To get to grips with the art of visual efects,
it helps to go back to where it all started, and
discover how far the craft has come. Over the
last century the techniques and technology used
to create a visual efect has advanced incredibly.
From the earliest use of in-camera efects in the 1890s to the
use of 3D computer graphics in todays industry, it is humbling
to think how far weve come in so little time.
Learn from the past and take a look at examples of lmmaking
pre computer-generated imagery (CGI) to better understand
the principle techniques at work in visual efects today. Much
of the functionality we gain through software tools now, is
based on artistic, scientic and mathematical logic that were
achieved by hand (along with very acute attention to detail),
right up until the evolution of computer graphics.
So we salute the pioneers of VFX who dared to experiment
and consequently push the boundaries of lmmaking. From
Alfred Clarkes stop action beheading of Mary Queen of Scots
in 1895, through to Mlis, Murneau and Lang, OBriens
King Kong, Harryhausens ghting skeletons, Trumbulls
gravity-free atmosphere in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the
technical innovations of Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith
at Pixar, to the digital era with John Gaetas bullet time
in The Matrix and Joe Letteris Avatar.
Driven by advances in technology, the growth of new
media sectors and demand for bigger, better, more
spectacular digital experiences, computer graphics
has grown into a multi-billion pound worldwide industry.
A Brief History
An industry built on the
shoulders of giants
The history of VFX is still being written, and relies on
new talent to surprise us all. We look forward to what
todays VFX students will create tomorrow.
Creative Skillset Core Skills VFX Handbook
Image courtesy of Cinesite
Warner Bros. Pictures
1896 French magician Georges Mlis
accidentally invents the shot substitution technique
while lming a street in Paris. Following an error
where his camera jammed, Mlis discovers this
happy accident produced a shot where a bus
magically transforms into a hearse inspiring
a succession of in-camera efects that would
spark the future development of VFX.
1985 ILM produce the rst 3D CG character
composited into a live action shot for Barry
Levinsons Young Sherlock Holmes. This paved
the way for the incredible CG achievements in
lms like The Abyss, Terminator 2 and the rst
ever photorealistic creature created for Jurassic
Park in 1993 another ground-breaking moment
in lm history.
HISTORY LESSON
escapestudios.com An introduction to visual efects | 6
Visual efects is a marriage of art, science,
maths and technology. If youre new to the
craft of VFX, this may sound a little scary
but fear not, no one is expecting you to be
an expert. These are simply the theoretical
principles at work when creating visual efects.
An understanding or awareness of each area
will greatly support your progression as a
CG artist, but advanced knowledge is only
important for certain VFX roles.
The VFX industry is built on a balance between art and
technology, both working together to make a cooler image.
Without artists, the technology is missing a vital part for
what creates awesome visual efects, and this relationship
is what makes VFX such an interesting area to work in.
The Art
Fundamentally, VFX is a creative discipline. A VFX
artist should have a good grounding in art and art history.
You can begin training your eye by learning the theory of
composition, balance, chiaroscuro, framing, implied motion
and other concepts used in the art world. Just like a painter,
a VFX artist needs to examine the natural world and mimic
how it moves, forms, disintegrates or erodes.
Painting can help you appreciate light and colour and what
it takes to replicate or suggest reality. However, if the idea
of putting paint to canvas isnt for you, then try photography.
This is a great way to observe and frame what is real, and
apply what you learn from that process to your work in VFX.
Art is particularly important for artists working in compositing
as they work to blend all the elements together, telling a visual
story that brings the full efect to life.
The Science
Physics can be a very useful subject to know as a VFX
professional. While working in a 3D space, artists will
think about how to mimic the natural world around them.
If a lm shot ignores the standard laws of physics, such as
a solid object doing an impossible manoeuvre, an artist
will lose the realism they were working so hard to achieve.
The science of sight also has a part to play. Magic or reality
the way our eyes and brain respond to light and colour tones
can lead to a visual misinterpretation. In areas such as lighting,
compositing and matte painting, VFX artists can create optical
illusions that fool the eye or direct its gaze to a particular part
of the screen.
Image courtesy of MPC
Warner Bros. Pictures
Bridge the Artist-Techie Gap
The relationship between mathematics, science and art
escapestudios.com An introduction to visual efects | 7
Two major reasons drove Renaissance
artists towards the pursuit of mathematics.
First, painters needed to gure out how to
depict three-dimensional scenes on a two-
dimensional canvas. Second, philosophers and
artists alike were convinced that mathematics
was the true essence of the physical world
and that the entire universe, including the
arts, could be explained in geometric terms.
Michelle Emmer Visual Mind, Volume 2,
Section 3, MIT Press 2005
There is particularly poor awareness among
students interested in maths and sciences
of the potential application of their skills to
VFX; yet these are the students who hold the
most potential for us in technical positions,
which are the most difcult to recruit.
Courtney Vanderslice-Law
Production Director at Cinesite
Technology
If youre a dab hand at computer programming
consider yourself an asset to the VFX industry. In some
roles it is desirable (but not essential) to have a working
knowledge of Python, C/C++, or other forms of scripting
and programming. Technical Director (TD) roles are where
we see this in practice most, but if youre an artist and are
new to the concept of computer programming, this is a
skill you can learn along the way.
Mathematics
Its a common misconception that maths isnt creative,
yet maths in itself is a form of art. A creative mind is
essentially a curious one, and by applying thinking skills
and creative thought you gain a better understanding
of maths. Mathematicians tend to have a mind-set that
promotes curiosity and problem solving, two attractive
attributes for a VFX professional.
In VFX, the maths element is really only about thinking
logically and mental arithmetic. So if youre an artist
thinking you need to be an expert, dont worry. Knowledge
of trigonometry, matrices, vectors, applied mechanics and
basic algebra are deemed to be useful, but you can learn
these as you go. We simply want to draw attention to the
beautiful relationship between art and maths, and how
they can support your work as a VFX professional.
Image courtesy of MPC
Warner Bros. Pictures
escapestudios.com An introduction to visual efects | 8
The VFX Pipeline Explained
Art
department
Research and
development
Pre-viz
Dailies
Post-viz
Matchmove
Rotoscoping
Matte paint
Animation
FX
Lighting
Compositing
Modeling
Texture
Shading
Rigging
ASSET GENERATION
POST
PRODUCTION
FILM
OUT
THE
SHOOT
PRE
PRODUCTION
If you want to work in visual efects, youll need to
understand the VFX pipeline and we aim to help.
This is the process that makes VFX possible, from
the initial idea to the nished image. Ever wonder
why the list of rolling credits for the VFX department
is so insanely long?
Films that rely heavily on VFX lms like Inception, The Matrix,
Avatar, Tron: Legacy require thousands of artists, sometimes
working from many diferent studios across the globe. The work
from each artist slots into a chain of complex tasks that when brought
together will create the ultimate visual efect and the illusion of reality.
Every nished VFX shot you see is the result of a dened pipeline that
guides the diferent stages of achieving a visual efect. Along the process,
each set of artists will have their own specialised task to complete
before passing the shot on to the next stage.
So having a good understanding of the entire VFX pipeline allows you
to recognise how your work contributes towards the entire process
and what you need to deliver to keep a project running smoothly
further down the line. In the industry, delivering accurate and efcient
work will earn you friends higher up the ranks. By anticipating whats
coming up ahead, you can second-guess potential issues or pitfalls.
Here at Escape Studios, we help VFX artists learn the skills to work in
two main departments 2D (also referred to as Compositing) and 3D
(otherwise known as CGI). Both of these departments play an important
part in the process of creating a visual efect. Our courses not only teach
you the techniques, they also give you an in-depth knowledge of the
VFX pipeline so you can fully understand the process and how it works.
escapestudios.com An introduction to visual efects | 9
CAREERS
IN VFX
If youre looking to kick-start your VFX career here
in the UK, then youre in luck. The UK boasts one
of the largest visual efects industries in the world.
Double Negative, Framestore, MPC and ILM all have
UK-based studios and lms including the Harry Potter
franchise, Gravity, Avatar and Inception, have been
made possible due to the work of UK artists.
Over the last decade, the UK lm industry has built on its niche appeal for VFX
production. There is a rich talent pool of VFX professionals, capable of meeting
Oscar-winning high standards and this is what has attracted companies like
ILM, who will begin work on the next Star Wars trilogy over the coming year,
right here in London.
Filmmaking produced in the UK is supported by the UK government through
tax incentives. As nancial incentives like these continue, the UK can look
forward to attracting many more exciting projects to its shores. And lets not
forget that VFX is also widely used in international advertising, long-form TV
series (such as Game of Thrones) and games industries, of which the UK is
among the most high prole in the world.
The European Commission has conrmed
a tax relief for game developers based in
the UK. To be eligible, video games must
be in line with EU state aid rules.
Find out more
DID YOU KNOW?
Since 2007, tax relief has provided
more than 800 million worth of
support for more than 800 British
lms with a combined production
value of 5.5 billion.
DID YOU KNOW?
Image courtesy of The Mill Smithwicks
Careers in VFX | 10 escapestudios.com
So VFX as an industry is doing well here in the UK, but
what about the rest of the world? Well, youll be glad to
know that this industry is global, with opportunities for
VFX professionals to work in established VFX communities
across Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle
East, Asia and the wider southern hemisphere.
The past few years have seen an encouraging rise in VFX
communities among developing economies such as the
Asia Pacic regions, India and Latin America.
Take a look at the VFX studios in your area
VFX Around the World
Europe
1,140
Asia
Pacic
281
Russia
44
Middle
East
57
Africa
2
Latin
America
224
North
America
653
South
Africa
24
Australasia
73
The estimated number of CG studios
currently active around the globe.
escapestudios.com Careers in VFX | 11
As computer graphics have become more specialised,
the opportunities available to artists expand. To embark
on a successful career in VFX, you should look at your
natural abilities and aptitude and choose a path that best
compliments them. However, if youre up for a challenge,
theres no reason why you shouldnt work hard to try
something outside your comfort zone.
Although not extensive, heres a rough guide to some VFX
disciplines you could consider working towards. The great
thing about VFX is you dont need to choose just one of
these. You could be skilled in a combination of these areas,
qualifying you as a VFX generalist. Generalist VFX artists
are popular among smaller studios, because they can apply
a range of valuable skills to a collection of projects. At the
larger studios artists tend to specialise in one area.
In VFX theres a specialism for everyone, you just need
to nd where your particular talents lie.
Mastering a
VFX Discipline
COMPOSITING /
2D DEPARTMENT
Director
VFX Supervisor
Facility VFX Supervisor
Motion
Capture Prep
Animator
Creature /
Rigging TD
Facility 3D Supervisor
Sequence Lead Lighting TD
CGI / 3D DEPARTMENT
ANIMATION
DEPARTMENT
Pipeline TD
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Efects TD
Assistant TD
Shading
Programmer
Roto Artist
Compositor
Sequence Lead Compositor
Compositing Supervisor
Digital Matte
Painter
Prep / Paint Artist
Matchmove / Camera Tracking Artist
PRODUCTION
DEPARTMENT
VFX Producer
VFX Co-ordinator
Assistant VFX
Co-ordinator
Runner
CG GENERALIST
3D Modeler Texture Painter Lighting TD
S
E
N
I
O
R
J
U
N
I
O
R
escapestudios.com Careers in VFX | 12
VFX has a large freelance culture. In fact many artists
freelance their whole career. Its an attractive way to
work for many people, as they are given the freedom
to move between a range of studios, on a mixture of
projects. Variety is the spice of life after all!
Thats not to say there arent many permanent roles available to artists
as well, especially at the big post houses, where they tend to work on the
big blockbuster titles. Smaller studios also see their fair share of exciting
projects, and their reliance on artists to display a wide range of skills
across all their projects means you may nd youll get your foot on
the career ladder a lot quicker.
Salary Guide for 2014 Freelance positions (/day)
75-100 Entry-level/Juniors
100-150 Junior to Mid-level
150-250 Mid-level to Senior
250-350 Senior to Experienced
350+ Supervisor/Senior TD/Lead
The Freelance Culture
The main bit of advice I can ofer anyone wanting to work in
VFX is that you need to really want this career and be willing to
work hard to achieve what you want. When applying for work,
you must apply everywhere. If you dont get a reply from one
or many companies, dont give up. Studios hire people depending
on how busy they are. Also, dont just target the big VFX studios.
Youll quite often have more luck with smaller studios, plus theres
the added advantage of working on a greater range of projects,
and using a wider range of skills.
Taran Spear Escape Studios graduate and now NUKE Artist at Electric
Theatre Collective
Image courtesy of Prime Focus
Lionsgate
Earning Power
What you can expect to earn as a VFX artist
escapestudios.com Careers in VFX | 13
These are some of the leading industry software tools used
by CG artists today. As mentioned earlier, technology in VFX
is evolving all the time, so dont sit on this list for too long.
Keep your ear to the ground and discover what technologies
are taking VFX production to new dimensions.
3D VFX
Autodesk Maya 3D computer animation, modeling,
visual efects and rendering software tool.
Autodesk Mudbox Computer-based 3D sculpting
and digital painting tool.
ZBrush 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing and digital
painting tool.
Adobe Photoshop Used by texture and paint artists
as an image editing and compositing tool.
MARI 3D paint tool that ofers a uid and exible way
to paint directly onto 3D models.
3DEqualizer Used by tracking artists this tool lets you
accurately track and reconstruct the world space, camera
and object movements of the original live action scene.
PF Track Another tool used by tracking artists to
accurately track and reconstruct the world space,
camera and object movements in a scene.
Houdini A high-end 3D animation software used by
many FX Technical Directors when simulating ambitious
efects like particles and dynamics.
Cinema 4D Used in the Motion Graphics industry, this
tool allows graphic designers to add 3D to their work.
2D Compositing
NUKE The award-winning compositing tool for visual
efects and the industrys standard software.
Adobe Photoshop For matte painting and compositing
for accurate image editing.
Adobe After Efects A digital motion graphics, visual
efects and compositing tool, used in post-production
for lm and television production.
Mocha Pro A tool that lets you achieve multiple tasks
like planar tracking, rotoscoping, object removal, lens
calibration and stabilisation.
Silhouette This tool includes rotoscoping, non-destructive
paint, keying, matting, warping, morphing, stereoscopic
workow and 2D-3D conversion capabilities.
Start your education download free demos
and learning editions of leading VFX software
Maya and Mudbox autodesk.co.uk
NUKE, MARI, MODO and HIERO thefoundry.co.uk
Software and hardware discounts for students
Our friends at Escape Technology are always happy to help
you nd the kit you need to get started in your education
towards VFX stardom.
For more information, contact
Tools of the Trade
Image courtesy of Weta Digital
New Line Productions, Inc.
Careers in VFX | 14 escapestudios.com
GETTING
HIRED
Recruiters in any company will
be sent hundreds of applications
on a weekly basis, and when it
comes to getting your application
noticed, you need to make sure
you stand out. Your challenge,
should you choose to accept it,
is to impress them at a glance!
When applying for a junior role, we recommend you research
and understand the company youre applying to. Tailor your
application around the kind of work they do.
Show lots of enthusiasm for VFX and know the type of
work you want to focus on. Are you looking to specialise in a
particular area or will you be a generalist with a range of skills?
Keep improving your skills by learning new software. Some
software vendors will allow you to download a demo or
education version online.
Only put your very best work on your showreel. Push for quality
over quantity every time and position your best work rst.
Always include breakdowns of your work, especially if youve
worked as part of a team. Your breakdown should show exactly
what you have done, not the team as a collective.
ADVICE FROM VFX RECRUITERS
1
2
3
4
5
Image courtesy of MPC
Paramount Pictures
Getting hired | 15 escapestudios.com
What does it take to get your foot in the
door? A killer showreel is a great place to start.
The proof of your talent comes in the form of
a showreel (or demo reel). This is how you will
catch the eye of potential employers it is your
calling card to the industry.
Want to learn how to create an awesome showreel? Here
are some tips from the industry experts. Depending on the
VFX discipline youre applying for, you will need to show
your knowledge of specic techniques.
In a 2D or Compositing for VFX showreel,
demonstrate that you can:
Efectively perform rotoscope, paint and rig removal
techniques. These are entry-level skills for any artist
looking to work in the Compositing team and should
be on your reel.
Apply additional techniques such as keying and
3D compositing.
Pairing up with a 3D CG artist is a great way to get a 3D
composite shot in your reel. Escape Studios students do
this when working towards their end of course projects.
In a 3D for VFX showreel, demonstrate
that you can:
Camera track.
Create a photo-real CG shot showing of good
geometry, texturing and lighting. Show a bit of variety to
your skillset by incorporating a product shot. For example
a bottle of perfume, a bottle of gin, a watch or a detailed
high-end camera.
Attempt a product that forces you to work with glass
and reections. Its difcult to get these efects right,
and if you master them, youll win Recruiters over.
If youre really looking to impress, include an additional
matchmove shot with some basic 3D.
Image courtesy of Cinesite
Warner Bros. Pictures
What the Industry Wants
The proof is in a showreel
escapestudios.com Getting hired | 16
The Escape Studios in-house Aftercare Team, who
have helped place hundreds of our graduates into their
rst job, have some key dos and donts to bear in mind
when preparing your showreel.
DO
Keep it relevant to the position youre applying for.
Play to your strengths.
Lead with your best shot.
Show a range of skills but focus on the skills to get you that specic role.
Breakdown and annotate your work.
Show nished shots in the rst half and breakdowns in the second half.
Keep it fresh and original.
Keep it short and simple.
Think about composition and presentation.
Practice and develop all of your art skills.
Use reference material.
DONT
Attempt overly complex or ambitious work.
Use/copy other peoples work.
Show any work in progress.
Include sub-standard work.
Use ofensive material.
Make it too long.
When in between jobs, its important
to continue working on your own
projects, targeting the skills that tie
in with the company you want to work
for. For example, an animator applying
for animation work could try creating
realistic animation cycles, using rigs freely
available on the Internet. Research the
companies youre applying to and keep
in touch with Recruiters.
Ben Owen Global Head of
Recruitment at MPC
Every year Framestore will look to hire
approximately 30 to 40 junior artists,
depending on the type of projects being
produced in-house and how many juniors
are required. If you include Runner roles,
this number can rise from 40 to 60.
Anna Swift Recruitment Manager
at Framestore
The Showreel Clinic
Image courtesy of Framestore
Sony Pictures
escapestudios.com Getting hired | 17
GET
STUDIO-
READY
To work in VFX youll need to learn the
craft, and this requires training. One option
is to learn on the job, starting as a Runner
and working your way up. However, if youre
looking to live the dream a little sooner, you
can train with a VFX school like ours to try and
get a leg up on the competition. Our courses
are intensive, designed to give you the skills
and knowledge to help you get a job in VFX.
Educating the future generation of VFX talent is a big responsibility,
but weve taken it on and have been doing it for the last 12 years.
Alongside Pearson College, we have the pleasure of seeing literally
hundreds of students realise their dream job, turning their creative
passion into a career in VFX.
Image courtesy of Framestore
Marvel Studios
Escape Studios was born in 2002 with a singular vision to solve the
industrys lack of educated studio-ready talent. Since then, weve
graduated over 2000 Escapees. The Escape alumni now work in
every facet of the VFX industry working on:
VFX Oscar and BAFTA winning lms, including Gravity,
Life of Pi and Dark Knight Rises.
100s of award winning lms and television shows.
1,000s of award winning commercials.
As a student of VFX, its important to learn real-world production
techniques used by professional artists right now. The industry
evolves incredibly quickly, so youve got to keep up with the pace.
Here at Escape Studios, we can make sure youre learning the most
relevant skills for todays industry.
SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY
Get studio-ready | 18 escapestudios.com
Industry professional tutors
If youre going to learn something new, learn from an
expert. Someone who has been there, done that and now
wears the t-shirt. At Escape, we invite VFX professionals
who have worked on the big blockbusters and commercials
you will recognise, to teach our students.
Meet the Escape Studios tutors
Advisory board
Delivering the most up-to-date curriculum to our students
is always at the heart of Escape Studios training. To achieve
this we rely heavily on our industry connections to keep
us tuned into the latest trends, technologies and processes
at use in the current VFX climate. Our advisory board of
top industry players, help us develop and deliver the most
relevant training for those looking to forge a career in VFX.
Meet the Escape Studios advisory board
Industry partners
In any business, its important to have partners, and we
feel very lucky to have partners who are the leading names
in the VFX industry. As part of our industry partner scheme,
our students get to visit these world-renowned studios and
get a sneak peek into life as a VFX professional.
Check out our list of industry partners
Image courtesy of The Mill Valspar
VFX Training
Supported by the industry
escapestudios.com Get studio-ready | 19
At Escape Studios you can learn 3D and Compositing for
Visual Efects disciplines, starting with basic concepts, right
through to technically advanced techniques and ending with
a graduation project designed to showcase your skills and get
your showreel well and truly started. To help give your career
in VFX the best possible start, weve created three modes of
study so you can learn in a way that best suits your needs.
Full-time courses
Our fast-track classroom courses run for 12 weeks, giving you
the essential skills you need to get your career in VFX started
as soon as possible.
There is also the option to extend this training by 6 weeks
and take our advanced programme where you can sharpen
your technical understanding of VFX principles, before moving
onto more complex and sophisticated techniques. By the end
of an 18-week full-on VFX knowledge assault, youre going to
have a pretty awesome showreel!
Part-time evening courses
If youre someone who already juggles a lot during the day,
our part-time evening courses are a great alternative. Taught
by industry experts, who sometimes arrive at the classroom
directly from their day-job in VFX production, youll learn the
skills and techniques needed to create a kick-ass showreel of
your own the tools you need to apply for entry-level and
junior roles in the industry.
Online courses
If distance prevents you from attending a course in our
London studio, try learning visual efects online. Our online
courses also ofer support from expert tutors, using our
unique interactive learning platform.
With an internet connection, a workstation and the relevant
software, you can study from anywhere in the world using
the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This platform lets
you take advantage of pre-recorded and live tutorials as
well as feedback from tutors on your VFX creations.
The VLE also hosts a Student Wall the perfect place
to interact with your fellow students and a great online
community for VFX enthusiasts.
Taster courses
So youve got this far in the Careers Guide, and youre still
not sure which discipline is right for you. Whats the diference
between 2D Compositing and 3D for Visual Efects? And do
you fully understand what theyre all about?
To help you dig deeper, weve designed one-day classroom
taster courses, so you can jump straight in and get a hands-on
introduction to the software and skills we teach. Cant choose
between Compositing or 3D for VFX? Try both!
One-day classroom taster courses
3D for Visual Efects
Compositing for Visual Efects
Cant come to London?
Try a two-week online taster course
3D for Visual Efects
Compositing for Visual Efects
Your Options
Learning VFX your own way
Image courtesy of Framestore
Warner Bros. Pictures
escapestudios.com Get studio-ready | 20
SO WHAT
NOW?
We hope this guide has given you a
better idea of the size and scope of the
VFX industry and what its like to work as
a professional VFX artist. If weve inspired
you, the next step is to nd out more
about us and what we can ofer.
Visit our website
You can nd out more about Escape Studios, our courses
and the unique way we do things at:
escapestudios.com
Get a tour
We hold regular open days at our state of the art facilities
with guest speakers straight from some of the biggest post
houses in the world.
Book a studio tour
If youre more interested in distance learning, we can show
you around our facilities remotely with an online tour.
Book an online tour
Speak with an advisor
Our training experts are ready to answer any questions
you may still have about the fascinating world of VFX, so
what are you waiting for? Get in touch and get ready to
change the world!
Get in touch through our website
Email us at info@escapestudios.com
Or you can give us a call on +44 (0) 20 7348 1920
Free resource centre
For advice, tips and tutorials on a range of topics around
VFX, theres a range of free online resources you can get
your teeth into. All these tutorials are hosted on the Virtual
Learning Environment (VLE) and to access these for free,
all you need to do is register.
Take a look around
Student wall
Share your work, interact with other students and get
feedback from your peers. The student wall is a great
online community for VFX students.
Register for our VLE
Get social
For the latest VFX news and updates on free tutorials, tips
and tricks and what the VFX community are talking about,
follow us on:
Escape Studios Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Join the Community
YouTube
Pinterest
LinkedIn
So what now? | 21 escapestudios.com