Film and game industry experts from Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Turner Studios and Weta Digital are scheduled to present Alias MasterClasses at SIGGRAPH, Aug. 1-5 in Los Angeles. May 31 is the early bird deadline to receive 20% off the cost of classes. Getting in early guarantees the opportunity to learn techniques that push the boundaries of creativity and improve production workflows.
Now in its seventh year, the program offers 15 Maya MasterClasses and five Alias MotionBuilder MasterClasses. Highlights include: Jeff Unay and Rudy Grossman from Weta Digital presenting hyper-real advanced facial blend shape techniques and tools for production; Chad Moore from Sony Computer Ent. presenting character animation with Alias MotionBuilder; and Derald Hunt and Chris Higgins from Turner Studios presenting tips, tricks, cheats and a variety of techniques for getting stunning results quickly and efficiently.
Teaching a MasterClass like this is a great way to download production-proven techniques and ideas to an open-minded and captive audience, said Erick Miller, a senior/lead character technical director at Sony Pictures Imageworks. This year, I'm totally amped for our all new hyper-real sessions, which feature seriously gifted high-end professionals from around the globe for a jam-packed day of total mind-blowing Maya CG creature magic, added Miller. He will be presenting a hyper-real session on facial rigging.
Bundling classes is the way to go to get the most out of your investment and out of the unique experiences MasterClasses provide, said Danielle Lamothe, product manager for learning tools and training at Alias. The connections you will make will be invaluable, so will the conference DVD you receive with a bundle class purchase. The DVD includes notes from all of the sessions presented over the course of the week and enables learning long after the summer has ended.
Classes are available to purchase in bundles of five, 10, 15 or 20. Five and 10 bundles come with a Class Kit and cost $420 and $800, respectively. Fifteen and 20 bundles come with a MasterClass Kit and cost $1,160 and $1,500, respectively.
For more information on courses and professors, visit www.alias.com/masterclasses. Maya MasterClass sizes are limited.
As a leading innovator of 3D graphics technology, Alias (www.alias.com) develops software for the film and video, games, web, interactive media, industrial design, automotive, architecture and visualization markets. Alias has headquarters in Toronto and a custom development center in Santa Barbara, California, with offices worldwide.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
