Allan McKay's Tutorial Classes

[Hordak]

? I take it you weren't satisfied?

[Syndicate5]

I can teach myself for $0. Just will take a little longer. I wouldnt mind paying up to $50, but $500 is pure greed.

[Hordak]

Well I find it to be a rather fair price.. And I learned alot from the workshop.. Did you even take it?

[Syndicate5]

Dont have that type of money laying around. :arteest:

[JohnnyRandom]

I would like to add my 2 cents about this subject.

It seems everybody wants to learn, learn it quick, and do it for free.

Well that's all fine and dandy.

Although if you expect to be actually taught by someone and have that one-on-one attention, you should certainly see the value in that and expect that you should want to reimburse your mentor for the time that they took to learn and the will to take the time to teach you. It's only fair.

It would be nice if we could all go to College and get a free PHD of our choosing, that typically just doesn't happen.

What is your time worth?

[Hordak]

Well I find it a bit strange that you complain about a course you never tried.
Frankly I don't really see what you're trying to say other than you can't afford it, since you have no idea what the course is like.

I will though, recommend it and say if you ever do get the chance to pay for it, then do it...
In any case your complaints will, at least, be taken more seriously afterwards.

[amckay]

hah someone just pointed me to this thread, no I just get paid to teach I dont get the big bux ;)

Honestly the workshops that have been running so far have been a great success. What usually happens is you get 8 weeks (2 months) of training over a large amount of topics. So each week you're given a hour or two hour lecture video to download showing how to create the fx targeted for the week. So lets say a big tornado that tears through a house rippping it to shreads, or a vampire burning up like in blade. And then throughout that week, you and your classmates all post your work up on the private forum and talk to eachother, while the teacher is able to critique your work, as well as give pointers, and teach you any additional techniques or help you out with any problems you run into. I'm pretty impressed at what students have been able to do after completing the workshops. We get a wide range of people from beginners through to talented industry leaders who want to polish up their skills on a certain topic.

But at the same time its not for everybody, I think the rates they charge are quite fair, but if you want to learn for free I've got plenty of free tutorials on my website (I think between my website and others I've contributed to there's at least 50 written tutorials, and over 35+ video tutorials) plus there are many other people out there putting out cool training material too. But they mightnt necessarily get as in depth, or have the added bonus of personal tutoring with the speaker for the 2 months of the course.

Hopefully that clarifies everything. It does take a lot of time to put together workshops, as well as then every day answering and tutoring students, building new scene files to help explain concepts or questions they might have. But I find it to be a fun process and even more fun seeing what they are able come up with once they've learnt each weeks lessons

[TAVO]

i´m already too late for this one allan, do you believe that another one will come soon ?? i really hope so man. And what topics would be covered ?? just to know .... :)

[jimmy4d]

Allan's New FumeFXTutorials Here (http://workshops.cgsociety.org/courses/000087/) are a pretty penny. I sure hope the $500 class fee doesnt all go to Allan!!! Geez!


Come on dude....I too can not afford to take classes at 500 a pop but........... I also appreciate all that I have learned from Allen. I mean I did get his DVD's and his website has all the free tut's you could muster. So yeah don't cry about something you don't have.



On a better note, Hope to see some more tut's on your site Allen. (For us poor artist that don't get paid to do this .) Between you and people like peter draper you guys rock the free tut world, and thank you!

[ctrl.studio]

$500 is pure greed.
agreed. :surprised

max

[Glacierise]

If you haven't had the great opportunity to enjoy cheap education, I really envy you :) In case I don't make myself clear - I mean this in a VERY sarcastic way.

[darthviper107]

Also remember that going into these classes you get access to someone with years of experience--the price is the amount of knowledge and experience that the teacher has. You don't get that in college.

And also consider how much time they're giving you, good artists can charge $500 an hour for their services so this is a pretty good deal.

If I could do this, I would but I have to spend my money so I can go back to college next semester-although I won't actually learn as much there, but then this class won't give me a degree so...

[supremepizza]

I took his Afterburn class and it was worth every penny @ $425 and everyone, I mean everyone, thought it was a GREAT value. I took the MAXScript class for the same price with Michelle and Bobo and I walked away with easily 2 years worth of knowledge but I applied myself. I'm in the FumeFX class now and am having a ball. Time is the only resource you can never get more of. IMHO trading a hard earned $500 hurts in this economy but it is still faster than trying to stumble through things yourself. Considering how much you spend in college taking a class you don't want to take, learning something you'll never use, at $20 per hour, to listen to some guy with an accent you can't understand, this is still a great value. Like I said though, it's hard to swallow. But hey the master classes in Frisco + hotel + flights + food will easily cost you $500 per day and your whole week of vacation.

[scrimski]

IMHO trading a hard earned $500 hurts in this economy but it is still faster than trying to stumble through things yourself.Right. Take the rough amount of time you would need, multiply it with your daily rate and you got the amount you won't earn because you are busy teaching your self. Compare this to the spend 500 + amount of time for the course.

[dnashj33]

There are quite a few classes I want(ed) to take, including the Paul Hormis Character Studio Rigging class, but I don't have the cash either. Nevertheless, like anything else, you look for resources you CAN afford insteaded of bickering about the price. Look at Gnomon Online classes. They are similar in scope and cost.

[gaialau]

i just took the Fumefx class with Allan , worthed every cent i spent ,the class was a lot of fun .It gave me a pretty gd solid knowledge in Fumefx ,the course was really well designed , however I also have to say also that the special effects for films is a litlle out dated , using older version AFB , which for me was really an disappoint definitely wont recommend that one before it gets updated .

[amckay]

Cheers guys

gaialau - Yeah I didnt realize they had rewritten ab 4 completely from the ground up, and although everything the workshop teaches is applicable to AB it isnt too fair to have to go "ok well this button is here in X version and in XX version its over here" So before it runs again I might rerecord it to 4.0.
In the meantime I'm running a new workshop in January which will focus on live action compositing and integration. So creating fx and setting them up in the shot, compositing them etc. So I think it will fit nicely with the particles and fume fx workshops.

[jimmy4d]

Great Allen..... another one of your cool classes I will never get to attend. How about a poor mans raffle. :buttrock:

[amckay]

thats not a bad idea jimmy, maybe we can organize something like that :) I'll run it by cg society people, maybe they can organize a raffle or something for one or two extra seats, its definitely a possibility

ultimately I'd like to release more free content, but finding time to do so is pretty hard right now. lately I'm working 9am to 6pm at my day job, then I'm doing contracts til 4am, so finding time to do more stuff right now is pretty hard. But hopefully xmas time I can throw some more material out there!

one thing I was talking about on a different forum today (actually the fume workshop) but got me thinking, what are you guys interested in learning. in terms of subjects like "I want to learn real flow" or "I.C.E." "Maya particles" "max dynamics" "max TP" etc. or more specifically cool fx subjects, like "how to do the scarab beetles in the mummy" or "how to make a giant flood like in day after tomorrow" etc.
I'd love to hear your ideas for fx if you have any, feel free to paste them here or email me at amckay@allanmckay.com

[renochew]

I did take the class of visual effects for film I do felt that the content is really outdated, in the sense that many of the material have already been cover one way or other in the CG Academy series or even some free tutorials release by Allan himself, I thought I could learned some new cool technique with 500 bucks, but I am quite disappointed honestly.

[CapitanRed]

complaints complaints... I don't understand some people. There could be no tutorial at all in the internet!
But there are! To many of them if you ask me. People got spoiled. There are forums with so much information from people directly from the industy responding to any question. the trickier the better, as these guys love to get challenged.
but yea, if it's not a video tutorial, then it's to much work to learn :banghead:
And 500$ for a two months course with a closed community forum and a teatcher who responds and takes a look at your work. priceless!
I know some guys taking over 100$ per hour, and the stuff they teach is just basic.

I think if you really want to become a fx dude, you have to sacrifice time and money...and some hair maybe ;)

[jimmy4d]

complaints complaints... I don't understand some people. There could be no tutorial at all in the internet!
But there are! To many of them if you ask me. People got spoiled. There are forums with so much information from people directly from the industy responding to any question. the trickier the better, as these guys love to get challenged.
but yea, if it's not a video tutorial, then it's to much work to learn :banghead:
And 500$ for a two months course with a closed community forum and a teatcher who responds and takes a look at your work. priceless!
I know some guys taking over 100$ per hour, and the stuff they teach is just basic.

I think if you really want to become a fx dude, you have to sacrifice time and money...and some hair maybe ;)


hahah........ well said dude......:applause:


Allen thats a great Idea on sending you a list of ideas, that way you have an Idea on what to teach people. I mean you got all these people that have it in there mind what they want to learn and they are all different. got be hard to pick the right stuff plus with the ever fat growing software changes.

as for the raffle, that would be so cool.:bounce:

[DSVega93]

From what ive seen from taking both classes, the knowledge is worth more than the course fees alone. It doesnt matter what version you happen to be using since the methods and thought processes are what they are trying to teach you. Yes they also teach you to navigate the software but if you know the basics you can push further yourself, yeh?

Besides, what's the challenge of doing something if someone solves the puzzle for you and sends you off to just follow the instructions to do it again? ;) Think, Think, Think!

Anyway! Somethin ive been dyin to see is some lessons on PFlow Scripting, just somethin real basic to say "okay, this is how it works. Now get crackin!". Theres probably a thread that does just that but im still lookin :P. Few others would be meshing Reactor Dynamics with Particles/Fume/AB and maybe something on Compositing Techniques, since we like to abuse those alphas and add layers :D

[raymarcher]

I took the fx workshop one year ago and I was satisfied...

[Bardipper]

Just finished Allan's FFX class. There were about 35 people in it but it's interesting that only 6 or 7 contributed to the class. That means that 30 people wasted $500 each. All were professionals who posted really good work -- going beyond the lesson requirements. Allan answered questions almost every day, unlike another course that I took where the instructor answered questions twice a week -- if that. Classmates helped each other and commented on each other's work. Learning from Allan is a treat, and if you can afford to take the class, you can get a lot out of it -- as a newbie or a pro. There was one drawback, at least at first, where he gave us videos without stating the objective. Instead, Allan went through the exercise tweeking parameters to get results satisfactory to himself. In other words, his videos pretty well represented the way he tackled a problem. He's teaching a more advanced course which I'm taking.

[holycause]

There were about 35 people in it but it's interesting that only 6 or 7 contributed to the class.
it's always like this ;)

[Billabong]

My company just purchased this class that starts on the 19th of Jan. for myself and two other guys I work with. In my honest opinion if you walk away knowing anything more than you did when you started, then the 500 bucks is worth it.

People are wanting to much stuff these days for free. These guys work very hard I think in preparing these classes and I for one cannot wait to start. I am cramming everything I can into my brain before the class starts so i wont be behind.

So I just wanted to say thanks to Allan and the rest of the instructors for taking time out of their schedule to even consider doing these classes.

-B

[Glacierise]

C ya there, it's gonna rock!

[Billabong]

C ya there, it's gonna rock!

Damn right!

[diemacht]

i normaly dont do this kind of b.tching but...
The dude that started this thread who claims that 500$ is greed that Allan helps you in person for 8 weeks has clearly no idea or no perspective.
How much free tutorials do you have on your website?
How much people did you show your "skillz" for free?
would you want to do a workshop for free?
why dont you make a workshop?
geezz.....

[holycause]

So I just wanted to say thanks to Allan and the rest of the instructors for taking time out of their schedule to even consider doing these classes. I agree +1'000

[ArtiZta]

Woaahaha... this thread makes me laugh, especially for a comment like that from a person who didn't take a course. Yes it's true, it's possible to learn that by our selves and for free, BUT for how long? By the time you finish learning, people who took the course are earning much more then what they paid for the course.

I think the price is fair enough, although is a bit heavy for me where $500 value is huge amount, but for me it's worth it. All I've learnt from Allan's Workshops got used and helped me a lot in the industry. Thanks Allan & see you in your next workshop, I'm IN!

Cheers.

[thethule]

Of course its a fair price. This is the real world. You obviously are still a student or are not yet working in the industry. This is a very specialised field, and $500 is a reasonable price. Start saving up and don't be so bitter. Sheesh...

Any chance of you coming to London Allan?

[WGerick]

Just having the opportunity to take these kind of workshops is priceless, no doubt. The instructors are all professionals, who are highly qualified and take time out of their daily job.

Concerning the price, one can argue if it's expensive or not. 500 bucks isn't the same to everyone. When I was first looking around what else is out there, I found fxphd. There you will get SIX courses for 510 bucks, which last 10 weeks.
I took 4 courses, 420$, and also the last FumeFX course. So there is a huge difference concerning the price. And I have to say, at fxphd there are many things, that are far more thought through. This is not specific to the FumeFX course.

First of all, the classes are distributed via torrents, which are sent to you by mail. It's fast and the files are huge. So you get HD classes and HD footage. And it also leaves the possibility to have an open forum for all workshop participants. You cant access the other class material, but you can check out, what everyone else is doing. That way, you can decide, if another class looks interesting. I would have loved to look into the stuff people did for the last ZBrush - Workshop, or maybe Steve Wrights class.

Because, here is another thing: I own two of Steve Wrights books and I would like to see, how the workshop differs from the lessons in the book. While taking the last FumeFX course, a colleague of mine bought the FumeFX DVD from Turbosquid and, surprise, 3 weeks of the workshop are on the DVD. Even a bit longer and in much better quality. (We had people complaining, they couldn't see the exact numbers, because the workshop vids were too low res.) But we had a long discussion about all of that in the workshop forum and Allan was very understanding and determined that nobody felt like they wasted their money. He recorded a huge extra tutorial, which ran for HOURS, and dealt with things we suggested. But I'm not sure many people would have done that. So thanks again!

But back to the price issue. Even if you say, that 500$ is a fair price, you have to acknowledge, that there are less expensive opportunities. And I think, therefor some things could be better at CGS. How about HD vids? Maybe a torrent distribution, so huge files wouldn't be such a big problem. And you wouldn't have people complaining about a 11 minute lecture. ;) And I think, a "workshop area" would also be a huge benifit. Just like the CGS members forum, but for all the workshop participants. That way, more people could comment on your work and vice versa.

Going back in time, I wouldn't have taken the FumeFX workshop, but rather Allans new course and just bought the FumeFX DVD for 70$. Because now it says, that "the workshop material is 100% exclusive"... ;)

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