Rigging and animation course NYC

[lildragon]

No it's fine, and sounds pretty interesting I might add. ;)

[dvornik]

Ooof... Thanks, man. The machines are P4 1.4G with Quadro 2 Pro so don't bring heavy models.

[dvornik]

Bump. I hope this is not a bad moment...

The course was postponed until Sep 19 so unless 2 other people join it's cancelled. I can't believe this. The instructors work for EyeballNYC, they are pretty damn good. Check it out (http://www.eyeballnyc.com/).

[GRMac13]

I might be interested, but what days/times is the course offered? Also, how long is it? Do they offer this course regularly, or is it just a one time deal?

P.S. If it's more than one night a week, I prob won't be able to do it. Let me know anyway though.

[dvornik]

It's every semester (unless the instructors quit :)) Thursday evening, 8 to 10. It's 15 sessions, but they like to combine it into 7.5 4-hour sessions, like one long class every 2 weeks from 6 to 10 PM. Their character modelling class is good too, but I've already taken it. The main instructor is Stuart Simms. He has a TA who works as his rigger at EyeballNYC.

I think this semester it'll get cancelled cause it wasn't promoted at all. The school has moved to a new building and the summer semester was cancelld and all of that. But next January there are all the students who take the modelling class now that will hopefully join. They are also thinking about separating rigging and animation into 2 different courses but it looks like there's not enough demand for it at the moment.

There are 3 semesters: Sep-Dec, Jan-May, Jun-Aug. Email the instructor with professional questions (I hope he doesn't mind): stuart@eyeballnyc_no _spam.com. Remove the no spam part, I'm just paranoid.

[edit] Come to think of it next semester may be better cause they will have their max 5 workflow sorted out.

[GRMac13]

Thanx for the info dvornik. Is the class pretty advanced, or more of a beginner's course? I've already learned rigging and some animation, but I'd like to know more about it. If I can really gain alot from it, then I'll try to get in next quarter.

P.S. I'm assuming that Pratt students get priority, so how soon do you think the class would fill up?

[dvornik]

It's a continuing education class and is part of the DTC (discreet training center) program. You get a discreet certificate at the end if you care about these things. Unfortunately it wasn't adequately promoted, so it usually isn't full, which is a shame.

The course is advanced (it's called "3ds max Advanced Character Animation") and technically requires you to take max animation 1 and 2 courses. But if the instructor thinks your level is appropriate they may wave the prerequisites. You'll have to email him directly with samples of your work. They concentrate on building and animating custom rigs (not a cs biped) for a character that you already have. The description also sais that the instructor can provide you with a character to animate, but why would you do that?

I would recommend it. It's also a good way to get your foot in the door if you're good at it; they would keep you in mind and refer you to their contacts in the industry.

[tubby]

dude, that's like excactly what i was looking for, but since im in school year round and live on the west coast there is noway i could do that. i'll just weep here in the rain and daydream of being able to take one of those courses. :sad:

[dvornik]

[December Update]

Well guys, take the spring class if you feel like. These classes are not gonna last forever.

Here's a rigged hand with the custom attributes on the wrist controller shown. The mesh is a cloned mesh with skin removed and broken into pieces to increase viewport speed during animation. All students have to work on the same rig, model provided. Printed tutorials with color illustrations provided.

Max 5, new dual 2200+ Boxx machines with Quadro4 750 XGL - it's a shame noone promotes it except me. Email Stuart with professional questions and for a permission to join the class.

Serge Cashman
Pratt Manhattan

http://home.earthlink.net/~dvornik/cgt/tech/rig_hand.gif
http://home.earthlink.net/~dvornik/cgt/tech/rig_foot.gif

[richd]

when does the next course start? im looking to join. will they let me in because its undercrowded or will there be any specific requirments needed? maybe you have some updated info.
thnks

[dvornik]

It's Jan 30 to May 8, 15 sessions on Thursday night. The requirement technically is to take a character design first (in itself a good course) but on practice it's instructor approval. If you don't have experience in character design and in basic (non-character) animation you won't be able to attend.

The courses I recommend are tought by Stuart Simms and Sal Midolo: here (http://search.pratt.edu/FMPro?-db=sps.fp4&-format=pro%5foffer.htm&-lay=search&-sortfield=CourseCode&-sortfield=Section&Subject=Animation&-lop=or&-skip=25&-find)

Kim Lee is teaching a couple of seminars here as well but I don't have any personal experience with them. He's supposed to be one of the top discreet instructors in NYC.
link (http://search.pratt.edu/FMPro?-db=sps.fp4&-format=pro%5foffer.htm&-lay=search&-sortfield=CourseCode&-sortfield=Section&Subject=Animation&-lop=or&-skip=0&-find)

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