Education

[Darby Edelen]

As a general rule in looking at programs I would recommend contacting the programs directly in addition to researching online, which it sounds you’re doing already… good job! =)

I can’t recommend any programs from personal experience, but I do know that the Academy of Art in San Francisco has many different programs covering a broad range of media.

My experience in the industry leads me to believe that an education is important in giving you an edge, but most employers will be looking for professional experience.

You might be better off if you can manage to develop skills in a starting position somewhere and supplement that with any courses that interest you… of course, in the end, it’s really up to you!

Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

Another thing to think about is the student works. How good are they.

Ringling in Sarasota Florida produces some of the best student works I’ve seen. That says a lot about the school.

These places can’t teach talent, but they can teach technique, and help you turn a talent into a professional skill.

My point is, go to different websites, see what the students are producing, and that will give you a better idea about the school.

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Aharon Rabinowitz
arabinowitz(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com

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Click the link below to subscribe to the Creative Cow After Effects Podcast, and get free AE video tutorials:

https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=111087911

[J.p.]

Alejandro –

I have been looking for graduate motion graphics programs myself. I’ve done research for a few years, on a few programs,
and visited a lot of schools.

I fully agree with Aharon, look at the quality of the schools,
visit as many as you can, talk with professors and students.
Some schools focus on technical mastery and others more on concept and idea generation.

The two schools that always come up with freelancers that I’ve worked with are Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which has a specific motion graphics focus, and Otis in L.A. Personally wasn’t impressed by Otis during one of their college open houses.

I live in New York, and I’d say the best programs here are at School for Visual Arts and Parsons. These two however, do not have a specific motion graphics focus. Motion graphics classes are under the umbrella of graphics and illustration.

New York University (NYU) has a certificate program through the Continuing Education division. The classes, however, seem more production and technically oriented, and less conceptual.

Again, it’s up to you, to decide what you want out of a program. A rep. from SCAD told me that the undergrad program was concerned more with equipping their students with portfolios and job skills, and at the graduate school level, the focus is less on ‘artifacts’ and more about concept development.

Try to attend a National Portfolio Day, if you can.
https://portfolioday.net/
All of the schools will be there with brochures.
You can talk to representatives in person,
and get critiques on your work.

Hope this helps out, and good luck!

Best,

-J.P.

[Alejandro Torres]

Thanks to everybody for your help.

My main aim is to learn as much as I can of this programs. I want to develop a visual effects studio for broadcast and TV in Mexico City.

I can currently handle the workload (as a freelancer) and my current skills are enough for it but eventually I want to take higher demanding jobs from clients that require high-end animations. That is why I am looking for a quick (1-2years) course.

What would you recommend? Is it possible to continue on improving my skills with books, tutorials, experience and self education? or would it be easier/faster to learn it formally from a school? I know there is no definite answer for this and it is up to myself to decide but based on your experience, etc what would you do?

As you can see I’m a bit confused here, especially being in Mexico where this type of courses are scarcely available.

Thanks again Darby, Aharon and JP

Regards

Alejandro

[Jeff Memmer]

Alejandro,

What you might actually be looking for is a Telecommunications Degree, which deals primarily with the broadcast industry, but includes aspects of production that you are referring too. Most public universities list their compositing and video production classes under this type of program. Personally, I would recommend a dual major in Telecom and Business to give you the best broad range of skills necessary.

I used a lot of my basic knowledge of Adobe programs to blow away people with very simple stuff learned from online tutorials and just messing around. Business marketing and Telecom may be the way to go for you:

This is where I took mine, though my major was Business (IU is a top 20 program), I took some Telecom for fun, which it was very fun. One thing to note, most large schools always have film/production clubs and contests.

https://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/

Also, see this link for a list of classes (now you will know where to look at other schools):
IU Telecom Production & Design
https://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/design.html

About the Program:
https://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/faq.html
Most schools offer Adobe, Flash, and other courses that you would be interested in.

While I was there, the students were asked by John Mellencamp to film a documentary (he lives near the school) at the making of his new album at the time. We were shown bits and pieces in class – very interesting stuff.

IU Sponsored media festivals (notice they include 2d, 3d, etc):
https://www.ideasfest.org/

For Business, here is a club that was started back in 03-04 while I was there:
https://www.indiana.edu/~bcec/

If you search through their links, you’ll find interesting stuff like this about them bringing execs to campus, or taking trips to visit studio execs:
https://www.indiana.edu/~bcec/committees/film.php

So, basically, you should just goto Indiana University. It’s awesome, you’ll love it:

https://www.kelley.iu.edu/ugrad/academics/curriculum/international_maj.cfm

Hey, remember the Star Wars Gangsta Rap:
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The original “Star Wars Gangsta Rap” (or Classic edition) was conceived by Jason Brannon at Indiana University in 1996 and recorded in Chicago in the summer of 1999. Five years later, in 2004, Bentframe Comedy decided to completely redo the animation, adding shaded colors and thinner lines, and several animated versions of scenes in the actual Star Wars film. In addition, there were entirely new credits added, showing small animated clips from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. However, the lyrics were left untouched except for some sound effects from the real movies.

The “Star Wars Gangsta Rap Special Edition” follows along parts of the basic plotlines for Star Wars Episode IV and V, along with a small addition of Episode VI unlike in the original one.
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source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Gangsta_Rap

and of course they did the Chipmunk Gangsta Rap.

Some guy in the class ahead of mine even won some award:
https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/1912.html

Anyways, hope this opens some thoughts on other schools where you probably didn’t think to look.