If I want to have a career in Special Effects, what studies should I pursue in college?

Question

Visual special effects, but not 3d animation.

Answer 1

Visual special effects, like those performed by Industrial Light and Magic and Digital Domain? Depending on the position, these companies search for people with either (or often both) strong skills in art or technology. You should probably major in computer science or art (focusing on computer graphics.) Since most effects are now done by CGI, the computer focus in your degree will be very important.

For computer science, you can look at almost any good university, but also at specialty schools like Rensellaer Polytechnic, California Institute of Tech, or MIT.

For a film-based degree, but a focus on art/computers, I'd recommend that you try to get into one of the top film schools, which will help you get a head start in this very competitive industry. So, UCLA, NYU, Vancouver Film School, those are the top three. I also highly recommend that you try to do at least one internship in the industry before you graduate.

For art, you could either go to a school that specialises in art, like RISD, Pratt, Savannah College of Art and Design, or to a good art school within a larger university, like Syracuse.

The direction you pick depends on your own interests and talents.

I've linked to ILM's internship listing so you can see what sorts of things they require. I've also linked to Digital Domain. Look under their "careers" pages to see what they require of interns, and what sorts of jobs, and job requirements, they list.

Answer 2

If you are really interested in that sort of thing I would think you would already know. I just finished a flash course, it was neet!

Answer 3

Math, physics, biology, art, languages.

Also get your first aid diploma and stick with it.....you really will learn a lot there.

Answer 4

Thats what im gonna do---erm graphics and/or art....maybe a macromedia flash course.

Answer 5

graphics arts