Special Effects Schools
Special effects have become so commonplace that we sometimes completely forget about them. Movie explosions and death-defying stunts are easy to spot, but what about the crowded stadium filled with computer-animated extras or the bustling city street designed entirely with computers? Thanks to major advances in technology, both the frequency and quality of special effects have risen exponentially.
For moviegoers this is great news, since they benefit from better graphics and more realistic action scenes. For special effects artists, this is also terrific news, but only for those with the expertise to keep pace with the rising technology. Without formal training from special effects schools, it can be very difficult to break into this incredibly technical and challenging field.
What Can Special Effects Schools Teach You?
Part art and part science, special effects demand a certain degree of outside-the-box creativity mingled with extensive analytical ability. As such, a standard special effects school exposes you to:
- 2D art
- 3D art
- Modeling
- Cinematography
- Programming
- Computer-aided design
- Computer science
- Mathematics
While there is no minimal educational requirement for entry into this field, each successive year of schooling helps to open more doors down the road.
Career Prospects after Special Effects Schools
Not surprisingly, the majority of graduates flock to Hollywood and other television and film hubs in order to apply their skills in the professional world. However, these two media represent only the tip of the iceberg. There exist demand for special effects artists in the video game, computer, mobile phone, and advertising industries as well. In fact, anywhere users interact with a screen represents a potential employment opportunity for graduates of special effects schools.
