Film Visual Effects Compositing - Introduction

Hi All!

Only a few weeks now until the first course in Film Visual Effects Compositing runs, so I thought I would say 'Hi' and let you know a bit about myself and the course content.

I currently teach Digital Filmmaking at SAE Glasgow, Scotland, and have been doing so for several years now. As well as film, I teach Graphic Design and Animation classes as I have a varied 10+ year career covering various aspects of creative media, short films and advertisments.

The Film Visual Effects Compositing course is aimed at making the student aware of the 'hidden' process in visual effects work. When people think of visual effects, they think of giant robots, scenes of mass destruction, or spaceships fighting above alien worlds. The first thing people notice is the subject matter (the robot, the ship...) but this is only one part of the 'shot'.

This course will introduce you to the 'Glue' that holds it all together. The reason an effect shot is convincing is that the unreal blends seamlessly into the real. Like the robot is *really there* in the scene. Compositors are the ones that make that happen. Great 3D modelling and animation gives you great subject matter to work with, and the compositor puts it in the scene. Compositors are the unsung heroes of visual effects in the public eye!

So, with this course you'll get to grips with the concepts, the terminology, the workflow, and most importantly, the techniques. Using Shake and a little bit of After Effects, we'll be exploring Green Screen, Layer vs Node Based Compositing, Set Extensions, Motion Tracking and more. It's a fairly comprehensive and packed 4 weeks, and with a great balance of theory and practical assignments, you'll hopefully be able to start creating dynamic and exciting effects yourself!

Look forward to seeing you in September!

Jon