You get out of NYFA what you put in. When you show up each day with enthusiasm and a readiness to listen and learn, you’re planting seeds with your teachers and classmates that blossom into a professional network. I am very grateful for my teachers at NYFA who not only taught me the skills I needed but also nurtured my potential, and then gave me my first industry opportunities.
Knowing all of the stages of the pipeline, such as rigging, modeling, and lighting, is always a huge plus. There are other programs out there in which you are limited to learning only animation. What makes NYFA a little different than studying at a traditional 4 year college, is that you are learning right up until you graduate.
NYFA had what I consider the optimal solution because it allowed me to study the A to Z of visual effects from entertainment professionals. I was able to grasp a solid knowledge of screenwriting, storyboarding, 3D modeling, shading, texturing, lighting, compositing, editing, sound design, sound mixing and to subsequently make the right career choice based on my ambitions and on what I liked to do best.
Compositing was my final choice, not only because it is the very last assembly point in the visual effects chain (and therefore gives you full control on the final image), but also because it involves a lot of technical challenges with resolutions and formats. I had the time of my life while studying in New York City, and I felt well prepared by NYFA when I started my career 12 years ago.