Spotlight: Jason Keyser – VFX Apprentice

Why does VFX Apprentice exist?

In higher education institutions, the classes that teach you how to make VFX are sparse or not in-depth enough. We built the VFX Apprentice ecosystem with the gamedev pipeline in mind: our students can start from the basics, and gradually elevate their knowledge as they work in a production-like environment. 

Roughly how many artists has VFX Apprentice helped since launching in 2019?

It’s hard to get a solid estimate, but we know that through our various channels for training, school events and conventions, studio workshops, and so on, VFX Apprentice has helped thousands of VFX artists..

Are you seeing an increase in women wanting a career in gaming/VFX?

Yes! We have noticed a steady increase in interest from women. It’s a goal of ours to foster a community that is welcoming and diverse for everyone, regardless of gender. We see women playing a strong role as instructors and students in our various classes. In every new class we run, we see more and more women involved and interested in the career as a VFX artist or technical artist.

Given all the layoffs and uncertainty across VFX at the moment, is there a safer or better approach to learning that will help diversify skills and increase job opportunities, once students are ready to start a career, or professionals wanting to move into a new area of VFX?

Yes, we are in a time where the entertainment industry is under a massive upheaval. Then again, every career path within the entertainment industry has always been especially challenging. It’s competitive, complex, and deeply rewarding for those who brave the wilds of a career in entertainment. I think the best thing any student or professional can do is adopt an attitude of endless learning and adaptability. That’s not different at all from the advice I gave before mass layoffs started following the post-Covid downturn. It’s competitive out there, because there are more talented people than there are jobs. So learn skills outside of your comfort zone. Be willing to go where the water is, and go deep on your passion areas to excel and surpass your peers. There is always room in this industry for those who do these things.

What are your most popular courses?

From the Guided Training realm, Beginner Class is one of the most successful classes. Students get a thorough introduction into the world of VFX, and we often see the graduates of the Beginner class in more advanced classes, such as Houdini & EmberGen, Timing in VFX and Stylized VFX in Unreal. When it comes to our on-demand classes, Intro to Substance Designer takes the cake, with more in-depth lesson series about VFX case studies in Unity and Unreal coming next.

VFX Apprentice offers Financial Aid, could you tell us more about that?

Financial Aid is the initiative we have for people with low or inconsistent income, to help them learn and thrive as VFX artists. Everybody comes to us with their own unique financial background and career goals. We would love to hear the stories of our students, and see what we can do to help them on their way.

What is the most satisfying or rewarding part of your job?

Seeing our students go from zero to hero is something else. We see how they learn and grow, and there’s nothing better than to get a message from a student saying they’ve got a job they’ve been striving for.

What are your future plans for VFX Apprentice?

We live what we teach, never stopping our growth and learning. Software and techniques always keep evolving, and we will too. There are more classes in the works, and other announcements to come as well.