Featured Video: Photography Shoot
May 16th, 2013This special video features a behind-the-scenes look at our Digital Photography students observing a professional photo shoot by their instructor Adam Blasberg. The shoot served as a demonstration of Advanced Lighting and Production, and really showed the students what it takes to make it happen!
Shot & Edited by Digital Photography Program Manager, Jeff Bell.
VanArts visits Partner Universities
April 30th, 2013
One of the most exciting developments at VanArts has been our degree pathway partnerships with universities and colleges around the world, which give our graduates the option of continuing their studies towards a Bachelors' degree in their chosen field.
VanArts' President Alan Phillips and Student Services Director Ken Priebe both had the recent opportunity to visit some of these schools in person, see their beautiful campuses and meet their staff and students. The schools visited were Bond University in Queensland, Australia (above left and below), Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. All three campuses are beautiful, dynamic, and full of creative energy, with excellent programs and facilities for students to pursue their studies.
At Bond University: (Left to right) Professor Raoul Mortley, Dean of Faculty in Humanities & Social Sciences, Mr. Alan Phillips, President of VanArts, Ms. Veronica Boulton, Faculty Business Manager, Dr. Michael Sergi, Director of Film & Television
At Deakin University (above photo: Motion Capture Lab), we also got to catch up with our fellow VanArts 2D Animation graduate Rhin Kelly (below), who is currently studying at Deakin pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Film and Digital Media under the pathway program (and really enjoying the experience.) We look forward to seeing more of our graduates choose this option of pursuing their degree at these fine institutions!
For a detailed look at which VanArts programs are eligible for applications to these degree pathways, visit our Degree Pathways page here >>
Degree Pathways with University of Gloucestershire
April 29th, 2013
VanArts is pleased to announce a new degree pathway available for qualified graduates who wish to pursue an honours degree after acquiring their diploma with us.
The University of Gloucestershire, located in Cheltenham Spa, UK, can accept applications for advanced standing into the 2nd year of a 3-year honours degree program. Graduates of the following VanArts programs can transfer into the following degrees:
Game Art & Design = BSc (Hons) Interactive Games Design
Broadcasting for Radio & Television = BA (Hons) Radio Production
Digital Photography = BA (Hons) Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
Web Development & Interactive Design = BA (Hons) Multimedia Web Design
Contact us for more information, and find out more about University of Gloucestershire by visiting them at http://www.glos.ac.uk/international
Featured Video: Web Development Program
April 25th, 2013Check out this new video preview of our full-time diploma program in Web Development & Interactive Design, featuring comments from staff & students, plus a fast-paced look at the work process for one of our graduate's final projects!
Our Web Development program has a special website where you can view samples of student work and read through an overview of the curriculum here: http://webdev.vanarts.com/
We are also offering SCHOLARSHIPS for applicants to our next upcoming start date in Fall 2013. Click here for more information >>
News from Photography Grads
April 25th, 2013At VanArts we love hearing stories and getting e-mails from our graduates to see what projects they are working on as their careers unfold. Here are a few examples of what our Digital Photography grads have been up to lately...
Our own Program Assistant Belle Ancell has been recently hired as a freelancer for Canada's Gay & Lesbian newspaper Xtra West, and just had her first cover photo published for a featured article on Vancouver's Little Sister's bookstore. Her blog states that she feels "like a giggly school girl" at this great opportunity.
Check out more of Belle's work at belleancellphotography.com
Taylor McBride, our youngest graduate to date at 18, has been hired as a retoucher for event photography by The Collective You, and also as an intern with Steve Kirby at The Image Lab. Taylor has had the opportunity to work on massive campaigns for clients including Miller Beer, Esso Gas and Nike, and to work alongside other artists like Phillip Jarmain.
In Taylor's words, "I would not be where I am today without going to study at VanArts. Thank you for all your support over the year!"
Chena San Martin, one of our graduates from Mexico City, has her photography featured in a new book which just launched here in Vancouver, Love & Cooking: The Erotic Cookbook by writer Tanille Geib. On working with Chena, Geib says on her website, "One can easily be caught up in the excitement that builds once she's developed an image in her mind's eye. This creative energy helps bring out the best in her models who forget themselves and come to share in that moment - a joint venture on either side of the lens."
Of all this inspiring creativity exhibited by our VanArts staff & graduates, Chena herself sums things up perfectly when she says, "The world is full of pictures that I can't stop taking."
VanArts Acting Grad stars in CBC's Mr. Hockey
April 24th, 2013
The William Davis Centre for Actors' Study at VanArts is very proud of our graduate Andrew Herr, who is starring in his first leading film role airing at 8pm this Sunday, April 28 on CBC.
Andrew plays the role of Mark Howe in the new TV movie for CBC Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story, an experience which enabled him to combine acting with his background playing Junior B hockey. He gained immense experience working under the enthusiastic direction of Andy Mikita and several other talented actors such as Michael Shanks, Kathleen Robertson, Lochlyn Munro, Martin Cummins, Brad Turner, Teach Grant, and the rest of his cast.
Andrew (on left) shares with us about his experience, "Hitting the ground running on my first film role coming out of school, I really got to see how a film comes together in addition to the acting, which was amazing. Working with the director Andy was great because his enthusiasm for the project was contagious, and I felt I could always ask him questions and stay on the same page. Working with the other actors was a great experience and wonderful to see how they approach the craft. My first time playing hockey in vintage gear from the 1970s was a challenge, but overall it was a lot of fun. It was a dream to start my career with such an experience, one I will never forget."
About his training at VanArts, "The Acting Department at VanArts helped me learn and use all the tools necessary to work as an actor. As a school they pushed me beyond my comfort zone to find ways of working the craft continually, even outside the classroom. The teachers were incredibly encouraging and there was a level of trust that allowed me as a performer to take more risks and then form it into a habit. The tools VanArts taught me I will continue to work on and use for the rest of my life."
Great work Andrew, we're proud of you!
Film Still from Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story © 2013 CBC
VFX Student wins Matte Painting Challenge
April 24th, 2013Rohit Nayak, a student from Mumbai, India currently in our Visual Effects Diploma Program, won first place in an International Matte Painting challenge on cguniverse.net. This was Rohit's second award through the challenge, having won another second place award just a few months ago. The challenge was judged by world-renowned matte artists in the industry who have worked on feature films and games. Congratulations, Rohit!
Rohit had the opportunity to personally meet and have lunch with one of the judges in the challenge, Frederic St- Arnaud, a leading matte artist in the industry having more than 16 years of experience, currently working at Industrial Light & Magic.
See results of the challenge along with the critiques from judges here. >>
Story & Animation Masterclass Down Under
April 23rd, 2013The Story & Animation Masterclass, a special event taught by instructors from Pixar and hosted by VanArts all across North America for the past 5 years, has finally gone global by having toured "down under" in Australia and New Zealand. Sold-out crowds of students, professionals and film enthusiasts packed venues in three cities this month to hear Pixar's head story artist Matthew Luhn and directing animator Andrew Gordon teach about their craft.
On April 5th & 6th, the masterclass was held at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, where VanArts has a degree pathway partnership for graduates in all of our programs. The following week on April 12th & 13th, another masterclass was held at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia.
This was followed by another class at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand on April 16th & 17th. VanArts also has a degree pathway partnership with Media Design School, where graduates from our 3D Character Animation, Game Art & Design, and Visual Effects diploma programs can apply to pursue Bachelors' degrees after graduation.
For everyone who participated in these events, it was a great experience to see these schools and venues first-hand, see the beautiful landscapes of Australia and New Zealand, and develop strong relationships with the people there. Thanks to everyone who made this tour possible!
Click here for more information on the Degree Pathways available for VanArts graduates >>
Click here for information on our next two Masterclasses in New York and San Diego >>
Australia & New Zealand - attend VanArts & ski Whistler
April 9th, 2013
It often seems the real capital of Australia is Whistler, BC. The beautiful world class ski resort, home to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, attracts visitors from around the world, particularly those from "down under."
Given this strong connection, VanArts is running a special offer for students from Australia and New Zealand. To receive a free trip to Whistler you must apply, be accepted and enrol in the September 2013, March or September 2014 intakes.
The package includes:
- Three day ski or snowboarding pass
- Two nights hotel accomodation
- Free equipment rental
- Bus shuttle to/from Whistler
All application requirements must be submitted by June 30, 2013 to qualify. The trip voucher will be issued to students in good standing three months after the start date of your qualifying intake, and the trip must be taken during your year of study at VanArts. This offer is open to students from Australia and New Zealand, is non-transferable, non-redeemable and does not include airfare or travel to Canada.
Visit by VanArts Grad at Ubisoft
March 26th, 2013
Yesterday our students in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects programs received a special visit from Genseki Tanaka, a fellow VanArts graduate and Assistant Art Director at Ubisoft in Montreal. Genseki is en route to attend the Game Developers’ Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, and gave his time generously while stopping in Vancouver to speak to our students about working in the game industry. He shared a presentation about the art direction for Far Cry 3, and spent some time in the computer labs looking at the students’ work.
After graduating from the Visual Effects Diploma Program at VanArts, Genseki worked as a Modeler at Electronic Arts Canada on the titles Need for Speed and Skate 2, then moved on to Ubisoft as a Shader Artist and Senior Concept Artist. He said the knowledge and contacts he made at VanArts were a great help in launching his career, and that he was impressed with the programs’ current focus on production, to help our students with the skills they need.
Thanks Genseki for coming back to spend time with our students!
