VFX School - Should You Go To College for 3D? (3DS Max Houdini Maya)

Рет қаралды 7,060

5 жыл бұрын

The big question I get asked a lot is "what's the best 3D school?" or "should I go to college to study 3D?"
I've asked a lot of people both in the industry, as well as teachers at VFX schools that I trust - what their opinions are on this. Because I have my beliefs around this but I wanted to get others takes on this as well.
Now I wanted to dive into the PROS and CONS of these 3 options:
1) Go to 3D College to study Visual Effects
2) Study online on your own - using free content
3) Study online doing paid courses
I am excited for this episode!
I'm keeping an open mind and an unbiased opinion about all 3 - as well as sharing my own experiences. As I personally invest tens of thousands of dollars every year into learning and studying myself.
There are some great options out there from Gnomon Workshop, FXPHD, Digital Tutors, Lost Boys, Vancouver Film School (VFS), Sheridan College, Full-Sail University, SCAD and others.
Just as there are great options online ranging from CG Spectrum, Gnomon, and dozens of courses on Gumroad and more.
I of course have my FXTD Mentorship which is open once a year. And that has given me a lot of insights into what works in studying online, as well as the struggles some people have as well. Like I said I want to keep this completely unbiased and I think I've successfully done that in this video.
Questions also come down to whether you're studying 3DS Max, Maya, Houdini, Blender or Cinema 4D, After Effects, Photoshop, Nuke, Fusion or many others.
Or whether you want to be an FX Technical Director, Character Animator, 3D Modeler, Character TD or so much more.
So what do you do!?
I'm excited to answer that in this video - let's dive in!
Also - make sure to subscribe to the channel (here): kzfaq.info...
Allan McKay's Instagram: / allanmckayofficial

Пікірлер: 89

@MaxFkh 5 жыл бұрын

Hey ! The livestream was really nice, I'm gonna watch that video now :) again, thanks a lot for everything you're doing for us Allan ! 😁

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Maxime! Yeah I really enjoyed it - I wanted to put a condensed version up on KZfaq hoping to do more streams this week - although gotta fly to LA for a shoot so if I do it'll probably be from my hotel room haha Thanks again brother :)

@garsaxon3788 5 жыл бұрын

I wanna work on VFX, you help a lot. The most usefull youtube channel.

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Gar!

@xpez9694 3 жыл бұрын

it comes down to passion. If you go to art school you have a program developed that will spoon feed your passion gradually building up your abilities and talents. If you study online and make a lot of tutorials you basically have to drive your own passion and self development which can be easily interrupted by friends, work, schedules, other life things that force you to constantly keep your skill building a little hobby that develops much slower. But some people can do it. Maybe try it for a couple of years see how far you get. See what your work looks like. If it aint looking super amazing I would suggest getting on the art school train and accelerate your learning.

@AllanMcKay 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing xpez!

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

yeah gnomon is like $180,000.00 with room and board now that is super crazy to me holy shit lol. just like 10 years ago i think it was around 50k but the price of school is insane now . I kinda feel bad for younger kids getting into college now . there are a lot of great online courses now though so that is a good thing if you are starting out and dont have a lot of money you can still learn a bit of it online. To me though I would not pay 180 k for a school unless i was going into the medical field because most artist dont make over 60 k a year in the usa.

@markgarcia2775 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Such great advice and perspective! Everyone wanting to get into this industry needs to hear this! Appreciate all you do and all you share! Keep it rockin!

@imvinit-xr2fh 4 жыл бұрын

Hey! Love from India. That really helped. Watched completely 56 minutes and found it really worth. Keep making more coz no one is gonna tell us all this information the way you did. Really appreciate all the efforts from your side. Thanks.

@maisbela3068 5 жыл бұрын

I'm from Brazil and I really admire your work, allan mckay.

@esdrasalvarado1976 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the information sir. this really helps me out! Greetings

@AllanMcKay 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Esdras! I appreciate you 🙏

@Thebluebananas100 4 жыл бұрын

this is what i've been searching for! AWESOME MATE

@AllanMcKay 4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome Gabriele!

@Titu- 5 жыл бұрын

Watched completely upto 38 mins continuesly, I think it's more then enough information. Actually I am jioning vfx college nxt year, 2 and half year course I am fearing does it really worth it . Ok any ways thanks a lot for ur such patience , kind and honest words .

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks AKTT!

@MapleJokerRofl 2 жыл бұрын

60% of people working in the big VFX companies have a degree in VFX. Many recruiters are now picking people with bachelors for junior roles over those without . unless you have experience . Sure you can do it but you'll be working years just to get to those jobs that pay good in a high end studio.

@dhaloh 2 жыл бұрын

That's what I noticed as well. I was looking at people on LinkedIn and seeing that most of them have either 10+ year experience in the VFX field or a VFX degree. Yet when I ask people on VFX forums if I should go to a VFX school to get into the field people tell me I shouldn't. They say that I should just learn from online sources. I'm getting these two very different responses and it's making it harder and harder to pick what to do. Now i don't know what to do. Are you in the VFX industry or are you just a hobbyist who has heard these things about the industry? I have just heard stuff so I don't know for sure.

@saqib3d 5 жыл бұрын

i am a self taught 3d Generalist agree with all of your points,

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

damn thats good for you man i always im learning online as well.

@Batman-nz2ue 4 жыл бұрын

Educational sources?

@Wargraven 5 жыл бұрын

I went to Fullsail University Online for Computer Animation to get into a VFX job. 3 and a half years I went through the program, wasted all of my G.I. Bill and I couldn't get through the benchmark courses and wasted all that time just to get an associate degree that I can do nothing with. Even now, I am trying to teach myself 3DS Max, Unreal Engine and Houdini. So, even if I have a super good demo reel, I don't think that's enough to get me an interview. Right now, if I were to send out a reel of my work, I'd be laughed at. I know I'm not ready, I still have much to learn and in my opinion Fullsail really only taught me the basics of the program (Maya). Like you said in this video, Self motivation should be paramount and staying hungry to learn is a very good key to being a successful VFX producer. Thank you for the video, very good information!

@pratapmistry7659 5 жыл бұрын

your genius man i mean your a crazy vfx artist..dammm i also want to do such crazy vfx stuffs...

@monhoobatraa3967 5 жыл бұрын

I very like option 2 because I didn't have internet and I can't go to any school then I am focused on the only very important thing as well but this actually this is what I doing since 5 years. Also, I focus on the wrong thing I don't have any demos now I try to make one demo. Maybe this is key. I watched your demo and it's was very cool. and I love this tutorial too.

@madebymahmood 5 жыл бұрын

Very nice piece of advice. Love your content, it sometimes gets pretty boring though. (You should hire a video editor, Your tutorials, videos, your whole content is really mature, but can be taken to next level with some editing. Film Riot or VC for example)

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tahleek - this was a live stream turned into a video. But I'll keep it in mind. Thank you

@datmatthiasnguyen174 4 жыл бұрын

i personally liked this video and i wouldnt changed a thing. Wasnt boring at all.

@maximostromogilsky188 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Allan, thank you for the enlightenment, very insightful! You mentioned a few online resources that you deem to be very good. Could you mention them here or in a future video? I would really love to find out what resources are so that i may learn from the best. Thank you for your time!

@matthiasbackmann2647 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for these informations. I can endorse a lot of what you said. Nevertheless, speaking as a former graduate in Germany (international filmschool cologne), the main issue is a little less pressing here: Money. My school wasn't free, but the whole bachelor was ~2.000€/term - so 14.000 all in all. And we could take interest-free loans to cover this (or even get a scholarship). And a few good filmschools are even inside the public system like Filmakademie Ludwigsburg or HFF Munich and are therefore nearly free. Even for non-EU-Students, the prices are moderate. This takes a lot of pressure of the students and you can really express your artistic side inside a "3-4-year-sandbox". But as you said, you have to be aware, that your Diploma/Bachelor/Master isn't worth a lot, what counts is the reel you could built with the projects you did and the network you established with your fellow students and tutors. For me that really paid of, because my prof took great care to show us this important part of our career.

@2waxxStudio 5 жыл бұрын

What's up Allan, i'm totally agree with your point of view about college but i would add "you can't go to college to learn ART" cause Art is the "job" where you do not do same thing everytime Regards, Newlc (3D modeler) PS: if you are visiting Paris, i 'll glide to meet you

@RAGArtist 4 жыл бұрын

Hi i have a question, some times to work to Canada for example, they require you have a degree to stay and work there, it's easy for Americans to work there for the American Visa i suppose, but, for people who are in other countries the reel it's not the guarantee pass to work there, or what you can do instead? You have a great reel but not a degree.

@KoopsTech 4 жыл бұрын

Really appreciate all the information! Thank you. I’ve been considering going with an online course. I’m very new to 3D. Is there any course you would personally recommend? I’ve been planning on starting with animation mentor, and move on from there. Thanks again!

@tarangpandya9416 5 жыл бұрын

what are the types of book behind you ? are all related with VFX ? suggest us as well . btw brilliant work as usual .

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

try and get pete drapers books they are the best for 3ds max but for anything in general. i dont really buy books anymore i havnt in like 10 years because there is just soo much great content online now i dont find a need for it mostly these days.

@robertstark7742 Жыл бұрын

Hey Allan! I had learnt a lot from you, though this entire duration & your learning technique & experience are awesome. Indeed you're amazing, i like it the way you describe each point. As, by next i have a question floating over a couple of mins that is today's generation gaming laptops is not enough to load out vfx programmes like any softwares.. Unreal engine 5or Abode softwares etc... Thanks, a lot sir, I will wait for your response.

@50sorrowC 4 жыл бұрын

I am 34 and just started learning particle systems in my spare time. I will learn it by myself - online tutorials, maybe a paid course, time will tell. At this stage I just want to learn and not to speculate if I could live off it. p.s. What software & plug in is a good combo to start with? What is the standard. I am using 3ds max and fume fx.

@JulienDenamur 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Allan, great content as usual! I'm completing a degree in Anglophone studies while building my demo reel on the side. In my case, can I qualify my first reel as a student reel to look for an entry-level job even though my field of study is different/irrelevant? Thanks!

@TieGuy242 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Allen, are there any books that you would recommend for learning special effects? Thanks!

@tristanmarquez1 5 жыл бұрын

Unfortunatel, I went to a college and dumped 80k into the most expensive I have ever had. Now the school is closed and I'm working at an insurance company in Downtown Portland. I'm still doing 3D Modeling on the weekends for fun and going through your tutorials Allan. Thank you!

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Tristan, so sorry man that sucks - I think I know the college you're talking about. Doesn't mean you can't shop your reel around and make the leap over to 3D still at some stage! I'm actually in Portland, Oregon at the moment - hopefully organizing a drink mixer at some stage. Keep an eye out - it'd be great if you can make it out and get some beers sometime!

@tristanmarquez1 5 жыл бұрын

It does suck but the it gave me basic knowledge I needed to get started. I thought moving from Phoenix up here would help. I can't complain I got a job and I'm still working to for that career.

@909lena5 4 жыл бұрын

@@tristanmarquez1 Don't give up, Tris. Follow your dream. You can still design 3d models and more! Keep trying and get your name out there! You can even work on your own game. Remember Jonathon Mak created Everyday Shooter when he was 21 yrs old and it was very successful. Scott Cawthron created Five nights At Freddy's and it was successful. Those weren't really showcases for 3d modeling, but they showcased 2 people who created their own opportunities. Sometimes you have to create your own opportunity.

@peruvianpuffpepper904 5 жыл бұрын

So, I'm about to graduate, and I've beeen taught primarily 3DS MAX for animation and limited use of particle effects. My problem is that, I personally feel that despite being here for 4 years, I haven't learned as much as I could. What has interested me is the animation mentor site, even though they use Maya. Any suggestions on what I can do now that I'm pretty much done?

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

there are a ton of courses online but work on your reel . trust me you will never feel totally ready you just have to get into your first job and you will learn by trail by fire pretty much. when i started right out of school i didnt feel ready either but when i landed my first job thats where i learned a ton about workflow etc. also just working in different studios you will pick up new tricks but the advantage now is that there are so many great resources online like schoolofmotion, gnonom online workshop, pluralsight, lynda.com, eat 3d , youtube, CGMA , too many too list . when i started there was only one website which everyone used .now there are hundreds of online great sites .

@atelierfx5246 4 жыл бұрын

Yes yes..!

@iamwhoiam5483 5 жыл бұрын

Pls prefer best college... Is it is best college to study in van arts Canada

@xuanngocnguyen6939 4 жыл бұрын

hi, i would like to go to virtural college of art and design[vcda] is this a good college for virtual effect

@stuartbunkell1337 4 жыл бұрын

I live in scotland, university is free. But the courses arent as good as the best but.. i look at it in the way it gives me a few years to work on my craft every day.... :D i could be living at home but in the end this course will give me a degree hopefully helping in visa applications. I dunno still noob :D

@brucewayne243 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Allan! How can I get your mentorship? Where? Please give links

@LatePlayReviews 5 жыл бұрын

I'm in this phase where I have some knowledge in VFX and even some experience ( as a freelancer and as someone who worked in a studio ) but I don't have enough Design knowledge which is really important from what I figured out in my last job ( and the main reason why I didn't continue to work there ), and unfortunately I don't see a place where you can get that design knowledge except from universities ( with degree ). So what do you think I should do ? continue to search for jobs in VFX industry and learn from experience about design or maybe just waste those 3/4 years to learn it from universities ?

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

there are not a lot of great design courses online but the one that did help me learn a lot about design is this one www.schoolofmotion.com they have a great course called design bootcamp and i learned a ton from there .

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

i also struggel with design as well because i started out more of a traditional artist.

@amruthdesaraju5665 4 жыл бұрын

How to make a mini Render Farm out of a Dell Workstation?

@psbbianforlife 5 жыл бұрын

Sheridan college is in Toronto. I remember because I applied and they rejected me because I didn't have an art background

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

bastards! Yeah Sheridan definitely is more art related - but they still offer 3D. But - hey - use that muneeee you saved to finance your own personal studies. The piece of paper won't count in the end, your reel will. Maybe you dodged a bullet there?

@psbbianforlife 5 жыл бұрын

@@AllanMcKay that's what I'd like to think. I'm learning by watching videos online.

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

there are some great other schools there u could get into as well .

@berkcetin8450 5 жыл бұрын

I m your Turkish follower and I will be VFX artist 😎

@mehmetleo2620 5 жыл бұрын

Berk Çetin kanka Amerikada mı okuyorsun ?

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Great Berk that is awesome!

@berkcetin8450 5 жыл бұрын

Mehmet Leo yok kanka Türkiyedeyim .

@berkcetin8450 5 жыл бұрын

Allan McKay Actualy ı cant watch video all time. My english normal level . Ask you here . I WANT to be Vfx artist but there is no VFX school in Turkey:(. I want to learn Maya , Nuke and Houdini . How can ı learn this programs? Give me the advice

@dusleratasoy7025 5 жыл бұрын

Çizgi film animasyon bölümü olan okullara bakacaksın yalnız Türkiyede yüzeysel bir eğitim veriliyor kendini geliştirmen lazım

@aniketpatil4410 5 жыл бұрын

Should i work in a startup or in a well known studio or company By the way i just graduated

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

Congrats on graduating Aniket great question - smaller studios typically have to have a growing period. Especially because in this industry it's definitely client based. And getting the word out there, getting the reputation and getting the consistent work is always tricky in the beginning. I would be wary of going to studios that are just starting up - but unless you have the options of taking big studio work or small studio work - I would take whatever you can get, in the beginning. But always keep talking with other studios and keeping your options open - so if there was ever a quiet period, where they didn't have work lined up - you still have options Again, congratulations on graduating

@apmanti12 5 жыл бұрын

you should really try both.

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

i dont think it matters really no matter where you start you will learn something i like to work in smaller groups personally because you have a bit more say in production .

@Batman-nz2ue 4 жыл бұрын

Showreel?

@director_sonny 4 жыл бұрын

Aniket Patil hellow

@sammydiaz9373 5 жыл бұрын

do you know where i can learn maya houdini and 3ds max vfx in general in FL, like a college?

@peruvianpuffpepper904 5 жыл бұрын

In Florida? i\There's a place there I wanted to go to, called Full Sail. I didn't go because I didn't have the money, but if you're in the same state, check it out

@sammydiaz9373 5 жыл бұрын

@@peruvianpuffpepper904 thx but wich course mostly teaches vfx

@TheJennettKids 5 жыл бұрын

If you have your own decent pc and internet connection, Academy of Art University from SF does an online degree program. They are expensive though

@kirillkhomenko_ 4 жыл бұрын

Can you recommend paid VFX courses , please?

@manum8706 5 жыл бұрын

Hi this manu I'm from India I have done my 12th and I have joined in engineering but discontinued my studies because some financial problems. Am I eligible for VFX course or else is there any specific graduation needed and I'm very excited in donig VFX course and work in abroad. And we have bunch of institutions in India like pixelloid, redchillis, reliance so many or else I want to join in animation college and if I want work in other countries what is the eligibility please suggest me confused.

@dhanashekaranm4725 5 жыл бұрын

you need to learn vfx by yourself or from institution and you have enter into the vfx Industry in India and after some years experience u can move to aboard (Canada or UK)

@manum8706 5 жыл бұрын

@@dhanashekaranm4725 particular degree no need ha

@dhanashekaranm4725 5 жыл бұрын

no needed , just good solid knowledge in vfx is enough

@dhanashekaranm4725 5 жыл бұрын

and you must network with people in vfx and animation industry to get a job easily

@manum8706 5 жыл бұрын

@@dhanashekaranm4725 tq soooooo much

@sergiodiaz5673 4 жыл бұрын

What does “dema real” mean(i think thats how you spell it)? You said it in 23:20 part of the video

@porkydorky 4 жыл бұрын

He actually said "demo real" :) hope that helps haha

@marnofranck6204 5 жыл бұрын

I'm from South Africa, I really want to go study VFX and game development but South Africa isn't the place to do so. I've talk to people that go to collage to study VFX and they say the first 2 years is a waste of time. So I'm learning VFX on KZfaq and I'm still struggling to model a vehicle after doing 7 years of VFX..

@mfrancisco_850 4 жыл бұрын

wow

@MapleJokerRofl 3 жыл бұрын

Fuck it I’m going to gnomon

@dhaloh 2 жыл бұрын

Did you go?

@garsaxon3788 5 жыл бұрын

First

@AllanMcKay 5 жыл бұрын

You did it! :)