[Chris Armstrong] When you are
talking about Animation and VFX,
it's like you're talking about something like music.
There is no one real clear definition of what it is.
It is made up of many parts.
We try to create studio situations,
so they're actually learning under the same
kind of conditions that there would be
once they go out into the working world.
[Daisy Church] I think that's why
the Academy is just a really great place --
there's a huge variety of different
classes and instructors.
[Armstrong] There are probably
three major breakdowns:
One being 2D, the other being 3D,
and the other one being VFX.
[Tom Bertino] The curriculum here is huge and varied,
because the market is huge and varied.
One of the outstanding things about the program
at the Academy is our Studio Experience classes.
[Catherine Tate] Studio X
stands for studio experience.
You are actually working on real projects.
[Jumanah Shaheen] Everyone around you
in Studio X is constantly working,
or saying, "Oh, we should improve this way."
You are held responsible
for what you are delivering,
and what you're working on.
[Bertino] It is a wonderful experience for the students
to actually be part of a working pipeline --
learn exactly what the process is,
what you can and can't do,
and then see the results up on the big screen.
[Church] There is a glamour to it
that comes with working in Hollywood.
"Yes, I worked on this, and it was seen
by how many millions of people?"
[Bertino] I can vouch for the fact
that we care very much about the art form
that we've spent our lives in,
and we care very much about the future.
I am not alone in deriving intense satisfaction
from growing up new talents, seeing it flourish,
and sending our students on their way
with a good tool kit to make them
succeed out in that world.
