diamondsky601
08-08-2010, 06:27 PM
Hello, I'm new to the forum and am hoping I could get some advice.
I am finishing up a BA in Cinematography at Emerson College and am starting a career in live-action filmmaking. But I've always been very inspired by CG and hope to someday be involved in lighting and camera for VFX-heavy films (superhero movies, action, sci-fi, etc).
I have no background in animation, and am not interested in modeling or rigging, but I want to get a base in CG and don't know where to start. I actually attended SIGGRAPH this year, but I'm afraid it raised more questions than it answered for me (although I had a great time!).
As I understand it, many people say that it is more important to gain an understanding of CG and filmmaking in general rather than learning individual software, and when I look at even the most basic tutorials for programs like Blender I feel lost because I have only live-action knowledge to build on. I know it carries over, but I haven't seen how yet.
So here are my questions:
1) What is a good place to start (books, sites, general topics to study) to learn the basis of how CG relates to filmmaking and the basic terms and concepts of 3d/CG?
2) How can I use my knowledge about real-life lights and cameras to relate to CG? For example, I looked at the mini-challenges forum and am really interested in the lighting challenges--I like the idea that you start with a scene and then light it and how each artist has a completely different take. But where does this come from? What kind of training does it take to start playing with challenges like that?
I'm perfectly willing to download or buy software--I already have Blender on my computer--but I feel like I want a basic understanding of what I'm doing with the program before burying myself in keyboard shortcuts and menus.
Thanks!
I am finishing up a BA in Cinematography at Emerson College and am starting a career in live-action filmmaking. But I've always been very inspired by CG and hope to someday be involved in lighting and camera for VFX-heavy films (superhero movies, action, sci-fi, etc).
I have no background in animation, and am not interested in modeling or rigging, but I want to get a base in CG and don't know where to start. I actually attended SIGGRAPH this year, but I'm afraid it raised more questions than it answered for me (although I had a great time!).
As I understand it, many people say that it is more important to gain an understanding of CG and filmmaking in general rather than learning individual software, and when I look at even the most basic tutorials for programs like Blender I feel lost because I have only live-action knowledge to build on. I know it carries over, but I haven't seen how yet.
So here are my questions:
1) What is a good place to start (books, sites, general topics to study) to learn the basis of how CG relates to filmmaking and the basic terms and concepts of 3d/CG?
2) How can I use my knowledge about real-life lights and cameras to relate to CG? For example, I looked at the mini-challenges forum and am really interested in the lighting challenges--I like the idea that you start with a scene and then light it and how each artist has a completely different take. But where does this come from? What kind of training does it take to start playing with challenges like that?
I'm perfectly willing to download or buy software--I already have Blender on my computer--but I feel like I want a basic understanding of what I'm doing with the program before burying myself in keyboard shortcuts and menus.
Thanks!