Last Friday, some of the Escape staff & students were given the opportunity to visit the El Segundo studios of Rhythm & Hues, one of the premier studios in the VFX industry. Rhythm & Hues has led the way in CG animation with their work on such features as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Golden Compass and Hop. Currently they are working on Ang Lee's next film Life of PI and awaiting release of the much anticipated Snow White and the Huntsman.
A Chance to Win Free Maya or ZBrush Online Courses
We are very keen to find out what sort of video tutorials you like and which in particular you would like us to develop. So, in order to get as much feedback as possible, we have devised a very simple 5 questions survey. I takes less than a minute to complete and if you fill it in, you stand a chance to win 12-months access to our Maya Essentials online course or 12-months access to our ZBrush for 3D Artist course. Not bad for less than a minute's work!
The End is Just the Beginning
The inaugural VFX and Compositing courses at Escape Studios ended on Friday, February 17. On the last day of the courses, the students presented their work to the group in our screening room. Each went through their projects and explained the process they went through to get to that point.
Looking for a Way to Finance Your Dreams?
Finding the cash required to make your dream of working in VFX a reality can sometimes be difficult. That’s why we’ve come up with a way for you to finance your courses at Escape Studios in a way that’s easier on your wallet. After all, it would be a shame to miss out on your life long dreams just because you don’t have immediate access to cash.
Learn about VFX Workflows in the Commercial Industry from John Leonti at The Mill
We’re having a gathering at Escape Studios on March 15, 2012 for students and recent graduates who are curious and interested about VFX workflows in the Commercial/Advertising industry. John Leonti, head of 3D at The Mill, will be our guest speaker and he has some fantastic stuff to show us. He has promised a behind-the-scenes look at the work for the VES award-nominated spot “Immersion” for Mattel’s Hot Wheels, and the backstory behind Playstation’s cult-phenomena “Michael”.
New Term Dates & Brand New Maya Core & Compositing Evening Classes
We're over half way through with our first set of course offerings in VFX and Compositing and it has been an exciting ride. We'll be offering both of our 12 week daily courses again in 2012. We've set up our spring, summer and fall start dates for our Visual Effects Production and Compositing for Production courses so you can start your planning right away.
Our First US Escapee Mug Shots
Our first set of students just hit the mid-way mark of their courses so we decided it was high time we subjected them to a long-standing Escape Studios tradition, that consists of capturing their photos before they start pulling their hair out coming to grips with the more complicated side of the VFX pipeline.
Escape Studios LA Completes First Week of Classes
November 7 was our first day of classes here at Escape Studios LA. We’ve enrolled 14 students in our courses and they’ve already begun to learn the basics of Maya and NUKE. It’s clear that the students are learning a ton and enjoying the intensity of the courses. We can’t wait to see what our new students will be able to produce once they complete the next eleven weeks. I’m sure their demo reels will give us a taste of their talents.
Escapee Carlos Conceicao Lands Internship at The Foundry
Our UK team recently released a story about one of our compositing escapees - Carlos Conceicao - landing an internship at The Foundry. This got me thinking about the actual spectrum of jobs that are available to people who study with us. There is an expectation that the majority will go on to work for companies in the VFX, Animation or TV industry. And yet Carlos has just demonstrated that you can actually go on to work in the software industry, for companies who develop the tools that are used in the media and entertainment sector. They are many such companies. Most of you will have heard of the largest ones like Autodesk, but there is a plethora of other companies and a constant flow of new comers too. This
Classes in VFX & Compositing Starting November 7, 2011 in Santa Monica
It’s official! Intensive classroom courses in Visual Effects Production and Compositing for Production begin on November 7, 2011 at our Santa Monica Academy. These courses are intensive - they run 12 weeks, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. You can expect the following from each course:
Apprenticeship Spotlight: Derrick Sesson
We’ve highlighted the exploits of our summer apprentices and have yet another story to tell.
Escape Studios Hosts First LA Open House
After weeks of waiting we have finally moved into our new Santa Monica campus, and we’re enjoying every minute. The school is almost complete, but we just couldn’t wait to show people around. That’s why we were so thrilled when earlier this month we held our first LA open house event and got to show prospective students our brand new space. Everyone enjoyed it so much that we’ve decided to host an open house event every two weeks for the rest of year.
Apprenticeship Spotlight: James Brady
We have been catching up with another of our Summer Apprentices. Here is what James Brady, Junior 3D Artist at The Mill, had to say.
We're Almost There! LA Campus Update
A lot of progress has been made to our Santa Monica campus since the last we reported. Lighting is installed, reception desk is built, glass is in place, walls are up and paint is going on. Next steps after we finish painting the walls are to install the furniture and add the finishing touches with the glass and wall graphic treatments.
Escape Studios Summer Apprenticeship Kicks Off
As we near the launch of our US campus in Santa Monica, CA, Escape Studios will be hosting our first ever Summer Apprenticeship Program. Over a period of 12 weeks, selected juniors, interns, PAs, TAs, or runners from some of our partner studios including The Mill, The Third Floor, Method, a52, and Digital Domain and will gain the full Escape Studios’ experience.
Escapee Bastiaan Koch Finds Escape...Again!
Recently at the Games Developer Conference in San Francisco, a member of the Escape Studios team ran into Bastiaan Koch, founder of Marauder Films. Early into the conversation they discovered their commonality, Bastiaan is an escapee!
Mentored Training: One-2-One Online Tours
For anyone who cannot attend courses at our London or Los Angeles campuses, look no further. Escape Studios’ Online Mentored Training Courses are designed for you to learn the same curriculum as our classroom courses but from the convenience of your own home or office. If you have thought about a career change or simply want to advance your skills to land that dream job, we have the solution for you. Our dedicated instructors will guide you as you learn professional industry related skills.
April 21st Webinar: Entry Level Roles for Compositors
Sign up for this webinar on April 21, 2011 and find out what is expected from a Roto/Paint/Prep artist and how a compositor’s work fits into the team structure/pipeline at a typical studio. We will show you the kinds of work you will be presented with, the timescales for completion of work and the level of quality you will be expected to produce.
CreativeBloke Takes On ZBrush
Have you started our new ZBrush for 3D Artist online course or are you thinking about taking it? Do you want to find out what others think? One individual has taken on this task and will be recording his progress through his blog on creativebloke.com. He has had both great and awful experiences with online learning experiences so he is sure to give an honest opinion.
Beavis and Butt-head Are Back!
The rumors are true! Although the announcement is not so new anymore, I had to share the story myself. The socially inept, pre-pubescent, rock star loving, TV obsessed, animated duo are coming back to the small screen. Since their departure from MTV in 1997, Beavis and Butt-head’s cult following has been long awaiting a return. I’m guilty!
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