Course description:
The Diploma of Visual Effects (VFX) and Motion Graphics is a training course created for people with a love of design, the moving image and moviemaking. Over this year-long course you’ll gain the skills necessary to turn that passion into a job in the broadcasting, post production or the visual effects industries.
These industries are multidisciplinary, and utilise professionals who have varied skill sets but specialize in specific areas of design, animation and photo realistic compositing. This year will give you the foundations that you need to start your career and specialise in your desired area.
This course is action-packed. You’ll work on a series of ‘live’ projects – often with external clients that Media Design School brings into the school – from experimental concept-driven pieces to blue screen productions, titling sequences (for broadcast media), advertising and music videos. Projects are a mixture of individual and team-based productions.
Career paths:
Graduates from the Visual Effects course could expect to find employment opportunities primarily in the following areas:
Motion Graphics Artist in:
- Broadcast television
- Advertising agencies
- Video post production
- Motion design corporate and industrial video production
- Motion design corporate event production
Visual Effects Artist:
- Post production
- Visual effects production companies
- Production companies
Future Management Roles Could Include:
- Director Of Motion Design
- Visual Effects Supervisor
Course breakdown:
Overview Weeks 1-8
The first eight weeks focus on an overview of moving image production techniques including: Moviemaking fundamentals, design theory for the moving image (including graphic design, branding and identity design), Pre-Production (including ideation, storyboarding and visual communication), video editing, audio editing and technical considerations for video production.
Motion Graphics Weeks 9-17
The Motion Graphics component delves in-depth into skills required to put design in motion including: Composition, Shape and text choreography, 2D animation, compositing, tracking, manipulation of 2D layers in 3D space and manipulation and animation of virtual cameras and lights.
Visual Effects (VFX) Weeks 18-26
The Visual Effects (VFX) Component continues to build on the skills you’ve learnt to date, as well as moving on to develop specialised skill sets in VFX proceedures including: Roto paint, wire and rig removal, roto masking, matte painting, keying and plate integration using techniques such as light wrap and colour correction, and matching and grading (as well as camera matchmoving).
Production Projects Weeks 27-40
The course concludes with a series of production projects that let you further develop and hone your skills in creating lifelike, fluid animated movement and photo realistic composits. Bring your creativity to life! The work done in this component is edited into the your final show reel portfolio.
Entry requirements:
Age:
Minimum 17 years (domestic) and 18 years (international).
Prerequisites:
An intermediate level of computing knowledge with graphical software (such as Photoshop) and a creative flair for visual storytelling. Experience with editing and After Effects would be helpful.
Portfolio Requirements:
Relevant work such as digital design, photography, videos.
NB: The Diploma of Visual Effects and Motion Graphics does not teach 3D Computer Animation or Autodesk Maya (refer to 3D Computer Animation).