Houdini | FX Track

Learn how to harness fire, water, smoke, and more in a track that unravels the mysteries of the industry-standard tools and techniques for control of simulation-based animation

Courses start on October 1st, 2022

TRACKS OVERVIEW

Understand the role of the VFX Artist

Imagine the power to control the elements: directing the flow of water, shaping smoke, or conjuring flames. What about the ability to micromanage the movement of a million tiny particles? Or orchestrate the destruction of vehicles, buildings, and entire worlds? Better still, how about performing all these feats at the same time? That, in a nutshell, is what it means to work as an FX artist (aka effects technical director). The role of VFX artist is one of the more demanding in entertainment design, requiring strong coding chops, mathematical smarts, an appreciation of physics, plus a solid art foundation on which to build everything. This is where our VFX/Houdini Track comes in. With a comprehensive suite of classes based around the use of film industry-standard tool Houdini, students, from beginners to advanced, will learn how to master pyro and fluid effects, cloth, crowds, destruction, and more. The track also includes training for those looking at an FX-based role at a games development studio, with the unique demands of controlling particle, environmental, and other simulation-based animation within a real-time pipeline all covered in-depth.

As you complete each VFX online course, you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. In order to qualify for a course certificate of completion, students must complete at least 80% of the class assignment during the duration of the course.

Should you have any questions regarding these courses please contact [email protected]. Additionally, you only pay for the course(s) you take in a given term.

Understand the role of the VFX Artist

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  • Carlos Puccio

    Timothy always shows his passion as an FX artist and TD, in the Q&I and reviews he was searching what were our goals as artists for supporting and helping us to enhance that skill.

  • Vitaly Bonndar

    I really like Clinton’s style of teaching. He explains any topic in a way that’s very accessible and detailed. I would love to have gone through another course with such a great teacher.

  • James Morgan

    Clinton was a great instructor providing excellent feedback great tips and techniques. He also provided extra material relating to each week’s theme or area. This adds more value to course, providing tutorials and documents to continue study.

  • JD Gardner

    Clinton is amazing; I would absolutely take another class with him in a second. Very personable and active in the forums, great with specific feedback examples, and he clearly knows his technical stuff.

  • Andy Fraser

    He was great. Love that he found documentations on each subject that we were learning to help us further our education.

  • Luca Tietto

    He was really clear during the lectures and has incredible patience. Never received late a feedback or email. Definitely an incredible teacher and artist!

  • Caitlyn Kenney

    Clinton is a very good teacher. He explains things well and is easy to understand. He went above and beyond the class material and explained other things too, and answered our questions about the industry.

  • Virendra Pratap Singh

    This course was an amazing experience. Clinton is simply outstanding both in his knowledge and the way he teaches.

  • Zian Hsu

    Clinton explained all fundamental very clearly and will provide a lot of article links you may need, also the reviews were always on point! Best teacher ever!

  • Parker Miltsch

    Clinton always made sure you understood what he was teaching and would go over anything and everything with you until it clicked without hesitation.

  • Chang Jeong

    Clinton was so generous in giving everyone constructive criticism and every comment he’s made improved my work.

  • Dave

    Great teacher. Really solid directions and explanations around ‘why’ you use the tools your doing as opposed to just outlining general best practices.

  • Mitch

    Clinton is by far the best teacher I’ve experienced on CGMA so far. He’s kind, patient and very much into detail when answering a question.

  • Kat

    Clinton is excellent at explaining answers from a wide range of questions; from very intricate and complex as well as for someone brand new. He’s also very patient, supportive, and I can tell that he very much enjoys what he teaches!

  • Cassidy Handford

    He did a great job, he always answered forum questions quickly and provided feedback on time. The lessons were all very clear and covered a good range of useful and industry relevant topics.

  • Andrew Malvasio

    Very happy with this course it was exactly what I was looking for to get me jump started in Nuke.

  • Hayden Matheson

    My instructor was very detailed when explaining the functions and steps to complete the desired task. He didn’t just give the technical reasons but shared his experience from an artistic point of view. His personality and approach to handling students is friendly and met with enthusiasm. Assets of a great teacher.

  • Divya Jadhav

    Behnam Shafiebeik is really a great instructor. He made the process of learning Nuke for production quite simple, by breaking it down in to parts that could be understood and exercised in a weeks duration.

  • Evelyn Yao

    Great instructor! Always very clear on videos and feedbacks as well as live Q & A.

  • Marian Aquilizan

    Behnam is a great instructor! He was very patient and answered questions in detail.