Some one asked me about CGI in Movies and how they could start learning VFX or animation?
My name is Peter and I've worked on several A+ listed movies as a special effects artist
To answer that question, I recommend to watch the breakdown cgi videos - they really show you what was DONE to the images created. VFX is just one component of film making - and is in the section called post production. Learning about how films are made can help you understand your role in the post production phase. Watch movies with lots of visual effects - read about what was done in the movie. A large staple of the vfx artist is effects that are seamless - a set extension, or added prop. (i had to add a flag to a pole poking a tiger in last samuari) Goto museums and look at art this will help you learn form and function and color. Finally each of the software has its niche- maya is used for almost everything while programs like lightwave are used more for TV. Max is more games, and houdini for smoke and particle effects. Pick something you love and concentrate on that and make sure you know it backwards and forwards. The CG field is more about niche abilities than generalists - although stick with it long enough and you automatically become a generalist =) here is a site that teaches animation - in 12 steps - these are really the core steps for animating characters and objects. Learn at the very least these core concepts - http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/12-principles-of-animation-by-frank-thomas-and-ollie-johnston/
Alot of good places on the web to look at how to making of videos' is on youtube - keyword making of video film.
turbosquid is a great place to get some free models to help jump start your projects as well .
there are scores of free model websites as well.
Facebook has groups also that you can subscribe to - and thats where i get the majority of my CG info these days. Its namely because people tend to showcase the cream of the crop stuff. So its great to see the best.
If you want to join a compositing group - search on FB for "compositing group fusion AE" and join to learn about compositing.
On this blog I'll be talking about some of my experiences in the VFX world, I've worked on movies like Sin city, Red planet, Welcome to mooseport, and several Sci fi channel movies. Each were unique experiences with unique challenges. VFX is a puzzle that you get to solve, and it's fun - or at least that is the best way to approach that kind of work.
Here is an example of a making of for a video game. Video game cinematics are just stunning these days as 3d programs become more and more capable.
http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/making-of-for-honor-by-unit-image/
check out my work on Sin city - here
http://forums.newtek.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=93749&d=1300405711