News
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 >>
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. >>
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!
Degree Pathways with Deakin University
March 26th, 2013
VanArts is pleased to announce that all of our programs now feature articulations for degree pathways with Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Various Bachelor Degrees specific to each program can be earned in as little as one full year (3 trimesters) at Deakin, after graduating from the diploma program of their choice at VanArts.
VanArts graduates from 2D/3D Character Animation are eligible to receive up to 12 credit points of advanced standing towards the 24-credit point Bachelor of Film and Digital Media (Animation Major) or Bachelor of Animation and Motion Capture degree programs. The latter degree is also available to VanArts graduates in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects.
VanArts graduates may have the option of completing these Deakin degree programs over one full calendar year (three consecutive trimesters) of full-time intensive study (4 credit points of study per trimester x 3), or over two years (two trimesters per year x 2) of reduced load full-time study (3 credit points of study per trimester x 4).
VanArts graduates in Acting for Film & Television, Broadcasting for Radio & Television, Web Development & Interactive Design and Digital Photography are now also eligible for 8 credit points into various degree programs at Deakin, for completing 4 credit points each in four trimesters. An additional 12-credit articulation is also available for Digital Photography into their Bachelor of Creative Arts - Photography major.
For international students at Deakin, their work permit is part of the student visa allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week.
Detailed assessments for the VanArts-Deakin articulations can be explored and accessed at the following link: deakin.edu.au/courses/credit/search.php
From this link, up-to-date information can be found by simply:
1. Selecting Canada from the first drop box;
2. Selecting VanArts from the second drop box;
3. Selecting the VanArts Diploma program from the third drop box; and
4. Selecting the Deakin degree program from the fourth drop box
For more information, you can also visit Deakin at www.deakin.edu.au
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Career Profile: Visual Effects Grad at Method Studios
February 19th, 2013In this video, VanArts Visual Effects graduate Harsh Mistry, from India, talks about his experience studying and working in Vancouver.
VanArts Represented in Fake Film Festival
February 13th, 2013Virgin Radio is currently holding their annual Fake Film Festival, and VanArts is excited to have our students represented in some of this year's entries once again. Participants must create a 60-second version of their favorite film and compete for prizes.
UPDATE: Both of these films have made it into the Top 25 selections!
Our current Visual Effects student Calvin Romeyn did the effects work for this entry, JAWS in 60 Seconds. Cast votes for the film by 'Liking' it here >>
Nicole LaVoie, our own recent graduate from Acting for Film & Television, also stars as Mila Kunis in this version of TED in 60 Seconds.
Cast votes for the film by 'Liking' it here >>
Best of luck to these contest entries!
Career Profile: Visual Effects Grad at Rhythm & Hues
January 30th, 2013
Niña Laureles has been working steadily in Vancouver's film & effects industry since graduating from the Visual Effects diploma program at VanArts.
Starting her career on small projects and music videos, Niña began as a render wrangler at Method Studios, eventually moving into an effects TD (Technical Director) position on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. From there, she moved on to The Embassy to work on Neil Blomkamp's Elysium and to Rainmaker Entertainment on their Barbie animated feature. She is now at Vancouver's branch of Rhythm & Hues as an effects TD on the upcoming feature Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.
Of her time at VanArts, Niña shares with us, "In the intensive one-year program at VanArts, I not only learned all the fundamentals and possibilities for visual effects, but I also learned 'how to see'...how even the most miniscule thing like dust or debris off footprints you would notice if it wasn't there. After VanArts, everything looked entirely different...clearer and more tangible. I also learned that in the VFX industry, you never stop learning, and that the friendships and growing network that came out of VanArts is amazing! Vancouver is a great place to be working in VFX right now.
My advice for anyone studying VFX: do it because you love it, stay positive, humbled and friendly, keep applying and checking in with recruiters, and timing is everything...all you need to do is be prepared!"
VFX Student wins Second Place in Matte Painting Challenge
January 29th, 2013Rohit Nayak, a student from Mumbai, India currently in our Visual Effects Diploma Program, won second place in an international Matte Painting challenge on cguniverse.net. The challenge was judged by world-renowned matte artists in the industry who have worked on feature films and games.
Click here for the results along with the critiques from judges >>
Click here for a detailed breakdown of his workflow >>
Congratulations Rohit!
VanArts' Food Drive Morning Show
December 18th, 2012Last week VanArts hosted our special Food Drive Morning Show to celebrate the Christmas season, collect food for the needy, and with the help of our Broadcasting Department, provided a fun way for staff & students in all departments to mingle and connect.
Enjoy our Inside VanArts video highlights below and thanks to all who pulled together to make this fun event happen!
