This week in Background Fundamentals and on the RC podcast we explored Kickstarter funding and spoke to the film makers behind a new documentary Life After Life. Continue reading →

We have a new new course added to the other stellar April term courses on offer: NUK222: Guerrilla Guide from the NUKE Trenches with Eric Deinzer. We’d like to pretend that nothing ever went wrong in VFX or in fxphd’s schedules,

To give you a glimpse of what fxphd is all about, we thought a great way was to highlight one of this term’s Background Fundamentals series classes. Think of it as kind of fxphd’s own private fxguidetv. We had intended

Seriously? A clean room.. wow Continue reading →

The new term has just started at fxphd and we have been working hard to produce a great range of courses to allow you to expand your skills and take your career to the next level. We are very aware times are tough for many artists, especially in feature films. Without wanting to sound self serving, now — more than ever — it is important to keep your skills up to date and stand out from the crowd.

We will be devoting a good amount of this terms free Background Fundamentals course to the Business of Being in Business, and encouraging members to network and connect with other members. Along with the free use of about $45,000 worth VPN software provided for learning, these bonuses are included with your membership to make your continuing education from fxphd as valuable and helpful as possible. Continue reading →

In one of our recent Background Fundamentals classes, we spoke to Graham Sharp from video and broadcast equipment provider Grass Valley. He talked about the current ‘upheaval’ going on in live production, such as outside broadcasts (OBs) at sporting events, and how multiple feeds are now being piped out of OBs for a range of devices – not just for television. Continue reading →

Today is United Nations World Water Day, a day to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources. VFX supervisor and fxphd prof Sheena Duggal is a volunteer and strong supporter of Pump Aid, a charity which brings clean water wells to rural Africa.

Last year, Duggal and editor Stephen Mirrione traveled to Malawi to help document the work that Pump Aid is doing. Marrione edited together the footage the two of them shot, and the videos can now be viewed on Vimeo. We hope you take the time to check them out, as well as consider donating to a very worthy cause. For the next week, Pump Aid has a donor who will match each and every donation to the charity — so your contribution is effectively doubled. Continue reading →

In this new TopTech review in partnership with the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS), Mike Seymour and DOP Tom Gleeson check out the Paralinx Arrow Plus which provides uncompressed realtime wireless monitoring. Continue reading →

It is half way through the Jan term – still a great time to join fxphd, and here is a look at what’s happening in some of the courses. Continue reading →

Watch Fin Design’s making of breakdown for a Mazda 6 spot recently featured in one of fxphd’s DOP216 classes. Fin re-lit a real car after it had been filmed by lighting a CG model precisely tracked to the live action vehicle. Continue reading →