[Jyashuwa]

Has anyone here attended the Vancouver Film School? or heard anything about it?

It's a school I'm serious considering, but I'm trying to get a little more info on it.
-How is in terms of Illustration?
-Do they focus more on traditional art? or just learning 3d apps?

I live in Washington State, so it's not a huge move for me, but I'm wondering if it be worth it.

thanks all-in advance

[LoneDragoon]

VFS is a so-so school, if you're looking to go to school in vancouver, I'd suggest CDIS, (artschool.com). Its about the same cost as VFS, and is (in most opinions that I've heard) a much better school!

Good luck!

[Trance-R]

HAhahaha!!
VFS a so-so school?! I don't think so.
People who graduate from there get jobs right away. Big companies kinda just come and snatch them off the back. They are the "ONLY" certified school to teach Maya. CDIS is a really good school too though. But personally, I would go to VFS.
In case you don't know. They websites are http://vfs.com http://artschool.com
Compare the two yourself. I think it's worth the move for VFS, CDIS... I don't know. CDIS is more interactive with the highschool students. I went down to this information session they held for grade 11's 'n 12's. And they also have a media contest on almost everything in the multimedia field. That's right now....

[This message has been edited by Trance-R (edited May 25, 2000).]

[failsafe]

Dear god.... advising cdis over vfs? ... hmmm seems to be a bit of misinformation here, vfs is rated 2nd (some argue 1st) in Canada and is up there in the top 5-6 in north america.

the reason you'll hear bad reviews about vfs is because there are students that think they can come 9-4 , then go home and have an employable reel at the end. then they finish, and low and behold, they don't get a job, then turn around and scream bloody murder

if you are willing to work your ass off (and keep in mind it's a steep learning curve), and have some talent in the first place then vfs is definitly the place to go. It definitly takes alot of work and isn't something that will come easy, but in my mind the rewards are worth it.

it still seems that in a class of 26, only 2-3 really stick out as being good (though more than this get hired). fortunatly that number is on the rise.

who am I to be giving out opinions of vfs? I've been through the 3d program and was contacted by companies like Blue Sky, DreamQuest, Oddworld, Westwood, Mainframe, blah blah... before I even graduated and was picked up right out of school, been working in film, tv, and most recently made the move to the gaming industry, but then again it's just an opinion, in the end you should take everyones and formulate your own

good luck

[Guy]

Well i go to CDIS and i find it pretty good. they teach both traditional art and digital. they have life drawing classes and all that. They also teach traditional animation along with digiatal. CDIS also teaches maya as well as softimage and 3ds max, but im in the game design program not the animation one, so i cant tell you exactly what its like. there are lots of good teachers there. sure, ill admit its not the prefect school. im sure VFS isnt either. to tell you the truth i dont know which is better. rating the schools really means shit to me, just choose which ever you think looks more promising and/or afordable. good luck to you.

[Jyashuwa]

Thanks all. I appreciate the imput. It looks like a pretty good school.
If I do choose this school, I'll probubly be paying loans until I die. Then again, when is this not the case for college.

[laminator]

Failsafe is bang on! I am also a recent grad of the 3d program at VFS (class 17). You DO have to work!!! I was lucky, I kinda slacked but I was lucky enough to find a job. Current VFS students sleep at the school... hardcore eh?

In my opinion, nothing is going to be worth $20,000. So, I'd advise you to do as much research as possible and know what you are getting into....

Cheers,

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LaMInatoR

[PaK-RaT]

VFS is an awesome school. i *almost* went, but picked the Art Institute of Seattle instead....mistake, but still, i love my school. VFS is a wonderful school, don't let anyone tell u different. The program is tight, they focus on drawing, and they MAKE you study the human figure....fucking awesome...very very very good impression they left on me...too bad i was already attending A.I.S

[Trance-R]

So, is Sheridon the best school in Canada? Anyone got an URL?

[hennifer]

i went to sheridan a couple years ago, in the classical animation program, (the flagship program basically) and i've got to say right off the bat:

don't choose your school by its reputation!!! "the best" means NOTHING. much of the reason i went to sheridan was the hype i heard about it, and my time there ended up being some of the least enjoyable of my life. some people didn't mind the program, but its most important to actually research & visit the schools you're interested in, and make your own decision.

i found the atmosphere of the whole school very unfriendly and stuck up. i found the equipment in the animation program to be very lacking. (1 plastic skeleton, missing jaw bone, top of the skull, one hand, etc)

many of the staff are very negative, trying to weed out a certain quota of students by the end of the year. i was also disappointed to find many of the same flaws in teaching that i found in highschool.

finally, sheridan is VERY expensive for a college. not only do you pay $5000 in tuition, (probably going up as i type) you can expect to pay about $2000 for supplies, which increases greatly in the second and third years. also, many students end up having to take 'art fundamentals' before entering the animation program - that's an extra 2 years and $5000 approx.

all this said, many people do okay in that program. if you're interested in working for large animation houses (not independent filmmakers) and doing animation by hand (computer animation is a seperate post-grad program, almost impossible to get into) then sheridan might be good for you. i don't regret going, since i did learn all i need to know about animation in about a year. i also got straight a's before i left the school, which still looks good on a resume.

[Guy]

i would suggest taking a tour of the schools. best way to see and compare the 2 places in my opinion.

[Sieb]

Anyone around here looked or been at SCAD? Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah,Georgia? Im transfering there this fall to start in compuer graphics and animation. They have some good labs set up with Alias, 3dsm and Softimage. Not the biggest Im sure but its in a nice environment.

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~>|Sieb|<~