Cultivating visual effects prowess
> The One Academy partners with John Hughes Institute to train global-standard VFX artists.
HAVE you ever wondered how a seemingly impossible act in a particular movie scene involving, for example, a mermaid or a talking fish is pulled off? These are usually products of visual effects (VFX). Once you pick up this process where imagery is manipulated or created on computer, you will see that VFX is, in fact, used in almost every movie.
That said, VFX should not be confused with SFX (special effects), the latter described as live-action illusions made during production to create practical effects. VFX are added or created digitally in “postproduction” – to create entirely new backgrounds; add characters or creatures; remove or add objects; and fix production issues.
Recognising the demand for world-class VFX education, The One Academy has partnered with John Hughes Institute (JHI). Previously known as the award-winning Rhythm & Hues, the collaboration provides a comprehensive syllabus in its Diploma in Film Visual Effects programme, developed to train young VFX artists to have what it takes to meet global standards.
This Academy Awardwinning VFX company had Malaysian talents working on popular box office movies like X-Men: First Class (2011) and Life of Pi (2012), among many other films. Led by John Hughes, JHI is driven by highlyindustrial pros and proficient experts who are more than qualified to educate a new generation of VFX artists.
With such vast experience in the actual production of awardwinning animated movies, JHI has engineered a course that provides intensive training for students who are taught to master vital areas of the visual effects world.
Students are exposed to an environment where they are able to produce projects as is done in the real world where they comply with current industry standards and regulations.
Working hand in hand with industry mentors, the three-year course encompasses creating organic modelling for liveaction feature films; conducting creative animation; simulating fur or hair; executing rigging for humans, creatures and animals; learning lighting principles and techniques of digital set lighting; implementing compositing for production which leads to a final projects, portfolio and more.
These which may sound extremely technical at the moment, will be familiar as students undergo the course.
The activities under the Diploma programme are aimed to provide students with the experience of taking on different roles and specialising in various areas across the whole visual effects industry.
These include developing their own specific areas of expertise and their ability to work as a team efficiently; the chance to work using industry standard software and hardware; opportunities to meet industry professionals to “pick their brains” and expertise; experience working on industry briefs; and the advantage of working with clients.
Those interested in taking on a journey as a visual effects expert can visit The One Academy at its campus in Bandar Sunway.
For enquiries, call 03-5637 5510, email enquiry@toa.edu. my or visit www.toa.edu.my