The NFTS Finishing School, the digital compositing and 3D animation training arm of the U.K.'s National Film and Television School, is running an EU funded 12-week "Masters in Visual Effects" compositing course in Madrid, Spain. Hosted at the Spanish film school ECAM (Escuela de Cinematografia y del Audiovisual de la Comunidad de Madrid), in partnership with Spanish post-production house EnEfecto, the pan-European program was created to help students come up to speed in the booming visual effects business.

ILM animation director Tom Bertino and senior VP Patty Blau head a roster of presenters at Ex’pression Center for New Media's "Insider Day," January 10, 2003. Ex'pression hosts ten Insider Days a year and each includes workshops and seminars featuring technology movers and shakers, famous producers and engineers, musical and digital artists, and other resources to keep students on the new media front lines. The Insider Day experience provides a valuable networking arsenal for students after graduation.

Anzovin Studio, a leading publisher of training materials for Hash's Animation:Master 3D animation software, has released a new instructional CD-ROM entitled MODEL A FACE WITH BILL YOUNG. Anzovin Studio's lead modeler and technical director, Bill Young, takes students step by step through the detailed process of modeling an anatomically accurate human face. Young's emphasis is on crafting efficient Hash splinage that doesn't just look good in stills but animates well, too.

The Art Institutes International Minnesota (Ai Minnesota), located in downtown Minneapolis, is now offering a bachelor's degree program in Visual Effects & Motion Graphics. To accommodate the new program, Ai Minnesota has expanded its facilities to include a green room, a professional-level sound recording studio, several digital video cameras and lighting kits. The Visual Effects & Motion Graphics program utilizes software applications such as Combustion, Shake, Maya, Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects.

The Gnomon Workshop has released three new training DVDs on deformers in Alias|Wavefront's Maya. This series specifically covers clusters, blendshape, sculpt, lattice, wrap, wire and jiggle deformers. Each title has 120 minutes of instruction, lecture notes, scene files, resource spotlights and bonus materials. DVDs are priced at $79 each and may be purchased at www.thegnomonworkshop.com.

Discreet has announced an expanded partnership with The Art Institutes, which has purchased 2,500 copies of Discreet's 3ds max 5 for use in its design and art schools throughout North America. Various Art Institutes across North America have recently launched a new Game Art & Design degree to capitalize on the ever-growing game development market. "Enormous industry acceptance and demand by our employers has led The Art Institutes to implement 3ds max 5 as the natural and optimal choice for our curriculum needs.

A newly released book by college educator Mike S. Fowler illustrates the principles of layout from an instructor's perspective. Created by Fowler to use when teaching, ANIMATION BACKGROUND LAYOUT: FROM STUDENT TO PROFESSIONAL illustrates the purpose and function of animation layout, and is applicable to both students and more experienced animators. Fowler previewed his book at this year's 2002 Ottawa International Animation Festival, and reports it received rave reviews from the staff of many colleges and universities from across North America.

Oregon3D, Inc. has appointed Mark Noland as educational director and Phillip Guzzo as associate educational director. Mark Noland has worked for over 15 years in nearly every area of digital imaging including Web, print, game, film and video production. He founded Mercury Studios in 1997 where he acted as a producer and director for clients such as Fox Sports and The Golf Channel. Phillip A.

The Gnomon Workshop has released four new training DVDs that focus on modeling and kinematics in Alias|Wavefront's Maya. This series includes two DVDs on Polygon modeling and two more titles on Maya's Kinematics engine. Each title has 110 minutes of instruction, lecture notes, scene files, resource spotlights and bonus materials. The DVDs were produced by Alex Alvarez, director of the Gnomon Workshop and Gnomon School of Visual Effects; and Darrin Krumweide, associate director of Gnomon.

Detroit, Michigan's College for Creative Studies (CCS) Animation and Digital Media department will welcome a group of industry experts in 2002. Lanfranco Aceti, Thom Gillespie and Bill Tomlinson will be guest speakers at a series of presentations hosted by the college. Lanfranco Aceti is a digital artist and a Ph.D. researcher in fine art at Central Saint Martins in London. He has been focusing on the cross-platform media as expression of the contemporary avant-garde. Aceti will be giving an open presentation on November 25, 2002 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.