By the end of the course, you will be able to:

- Supervise visual FX shoots as part of a film production crew

- Develop CG animated shorts from script to screen

- Communicate effectively with filmmakers and cinematographers

- Problem-solve effectively and construct dynamic production workarounds

- Work seamlessly between industry standard visual effects software packages

Layout & Previz Artists
Layout artists are responsible for staging every shot and pre-visualising the action that will take place in every scene. Whereas a traditional storyboard artist creates a 2D representation of the individual shots within a production, a Previz artist creates a 3D representation of a storyboard including spatial information and camera motion.
 

Texture Artist
A texture artist is required to create all the textures for all of the models, objects and environments within the production. Ideally a texture artist will also have skills as a 3D modeller and vice-versa. But the larger the production the more likely modelling and texturing processes are treated as separate jobs within the production pipeline.  
 

Roto Prep Artist
A roto prep artist prepares 2D digital or digitised film plates for compositing. Typical tasks range from wire and rig removal, in addition to rotoscoping and keying out alpha channels using match-move techniques wherever possible. The role of a roto prep artist is a very common entry-level role within a large VFX production facility.
 

3D Tracker
The 3D Tracker or Camera Tracker is responsible for extracting the camera and /or object motion from a live action plate to be used in a 3D environment. The tracking process is one of the first steps in the 3D production pipeline.  From time to time the a 3D tracking artist may be required to be on-set taking measurements and recording camera settings in order to extract the camera motion.
 

Render Wrangler
The role of the render wrangler is to keep the render farm running at maximum capacity, monitor, manage and check rendered shots and verify the delivery of completed shots. Often the render wrangler works the ‘graveyard’ shift and is therefore expected to be able to work independently.

3D Environment Artist
The job of the environment artist is to model all of the elements within a scene other than the characters. Often referred to as hard-surface modeling, environment artists are responsible for anything from building interiors and exteriors, cars and vehicles as well as props, plants and landscapes.

Character Finishing Artist
The role of the Character Finishing artist is to animate the effects of fur, cloth or musculature on a character. These FX are applied subsequent to the primary animation of the character, hence the name. These additional reactive layers of animation are intended to add a sense of realism to the overall movement of the character.
 

Full-time: 22 April 2013 – 18 October 2013, £7,000

Minimum Age: 18 at start of course

Entry Requirements: Our Applied Visual Effects and Animation course is open enrolment and there are no entry requirements.

Enrolment Process: See the enrolment process for our Six-Month programmes.

Have you also considered our Visual Effects for Film & Digital Animation programmes?