Comp Primer
Nuke
Course Description
“Compositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene.” Wikipedia
Compositors are the masters of make-believe. Responsible for putting together the shot in a visual effects sequence, this is the process where we create the illusion of photorealism; creating invisible effects that make the impossible, possible!
Without compositing, we’d be looking at actors in front of a green screen, wires that support actors during action sequences, shots lacking in any kind of atmosphere or composition. As a Compositor, you’re the person who makes sure the shot meets the artistic brief set by the Director or Art Department.
You’re the person who naturally looks at the finer detail, checking whether that ‘minute detail’ looks right in the scene – and if not, why not? This department is where the real magic happens through a variety of creative and technical processes; and it takes highly skilled, creative individuals to make it happen.
Here’s a free lesson giving you a taste of what a Compositor does.
Compositing Intructor
Jon Anasasiades
"When a student unlocks some idea, some project they've always wanted to do, I just find that really, really rewarding."
I used to watch classic Star Trek with my mom. She loves sci-fi and I have early memories of me maybe being five or six years old and watching the original Captain Kirk Star Trek and wondering how they did the transporters and the phasers and the spaceship. It blew my mind back then and it really sparked a curiosity on how do they do that kind of thing. I would go to the library and take out every book on special effects. I was sort of fascinated by it.
Now I have worked on over 60 films and television shows for about 25 years; probably a dozen big commercials, some music videos, art installations and projection mapping for artists. Everything from small independent stuff with no budget to some of the biggest budget Hollywood films to ever come out.
I’ve got pretty fresh technical and hands-on studio know-how. I know what studios expect. I want to share that with students so that they know not just the technical skills, but the soft skills, focusing on the most practical ones that will get you work.
Lost Boys School has a really good reputation. I want students to continue to elevate the reputation here by having all this great practical knowledge that we can bring to the workforce.
Do you have any advice for people pursuing a career in Visual Effects?
A lot of the times you’re going to do things that seem like menial tasks. There’s a lot of repetition, not everything is blowing up the Death Star. You might touch shots like that a few times in your career. You’re going to do a lot of basic stuff, but you can find a beauty in it and passion in it and creativity in even the smallest thing.
And if you demonstrate that, and you bring that even on your small, easy shots, in no time, you’re going to be awarded bigger and better work. So try and do your best, even with the smallest thing, treat it like it’s the biggest thing and people will notice that and you’ll go further.
Course curriculum
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1
A Quick Introduction to Nuke
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What is Compositing? and what does a Compositor do?
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Project Data
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Lecture
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Questions?
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