accelerate your career in twelve months in animation,visual effects and interactive content (AVEI) dmi-intertech.org learnbydoing IN ONLY 12 MONTHS
The DMII offers hands-on training in 3D animation and visual effects for film, television and gaming. Its industry-proven curriculum uses projectbased learning with a professional grade setup to maximize students understanding of skills and simultaneously prepare them for a seamless transition from graduation to a career. When students come to the Digital Media Institute at InterTech, they will learn the skills of tomorrow s workforce by actually performing them alongside mentors who have already experienced the field of digital media. Learning and working at the InterTech 1 facility grants students proximity to an environment that fuels the latest innovative entrepreneurship, which includes a large motion capture and green screen stage, as well as proximity to leading digital media studios such as Academy and Emmy Award-winning Moonbot Studios, Moonbot Interactive, CRM Studios, Sway Box Studios and the next-generation advertising agency BlueArx.
learn in a professional environment
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING DMII approach One of the hallmarks of an education at the DMII is the use of intensive, team-based projects that solidifies a student s understanding of key, industry-utilized skills and techniques. Through the process of project collaboration, students learn why certain skills are important because they get the opportunity to use them in educational situations developed by the instructors as a result of their real-world industry experience. PROBLEM SOLVING One of the key concepts emphasized is creative problem solving. As a result of the proven hands-on project educational model, students are, at times, tasked with creating their own content ideas, which requires problem solving in order to carry out the vision from beginning to end. TEAMWORK In today s digital media industry, students have to be both skilled individual workers and seasoned team players. The DMII s accelerated model allows for extensive experience in projects of both types.
QUALITY The DMII was built to industry standards and features the latest quality cost speed software techniques and veteran faculty. DMII reaches a quality level that is hard to beat in the Shreveport/Bossier City region at any price point. COST The tuition and fees of the programs are significantly below the largely for-profit competition. The DMII can propel one s career years faster than a traditional four-year option at a quality level that most other institutions cannot reach at DMII s price point. SPEED Students at the DMII are trained and receive their certificate in only 12 months. The curriculum contains approximately 1,030 hours of instruction and lab time. Students attend five days a week for five hours each session (day or night). No other institution in our region trains students to professional level in the same amount of time as the DMII.
our programs AVEI ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS, AND INTERACTIVE CONTENT Students will learn to create advanced digital media content. Both 3D and advanced 2D graphics are covered for animation, visual effects and interactive content. The areas of 3D modeling, texturing, animation, motion capture, film technology, digital compositing and editing contain some of the core skills, among others. Students who complete the program have both individual portfolio material and a capstone group project.
The DMII is selective in admitting candidates, and all student candidates must complete the enrollment process, which includes an assessment module and an in-person interview. The DMII trains intensively for five hours a day for one year. The student candidate must perform to remain in the program, holding a high GPA and a low absence rate. our students +success The DMII holds its students to high standards, and it shows in the quality of the results that students are able to achieve during and following the course of training. The DMII moves at the pace of a constantly changing, creative, and technology-focused industry, not at a traditional academic pace. Students receive more contact and focused project-driven lab time than traditional schools in the two to four-year space.
after graduation
Students who successfully complete the programs at the DMII are ready to enter digital media careers in film and television postproduction, advertising animation, and beyond. ALUMNI LAB ACCESS Alumni are granted 24/7 access to the Flex Lab for 12 months after successful graduation from the DMII. Space is subject to some restrictions and availability. Alumni may use non-commercial software for personal enrichment, free of charge. THE FLEX LAB AND WORKFORCE EXTENSION Following graduation, alumni receive placement counseling and access to our workforce accelerator lab called the Flex Lab. The Flex Lab model partners alumni directly with outside projectbased employment. The students are partnered with companies on compensated projects, using the DMII computer infrastructure and commercial versions of the software on which they were trained. This workforce transition is limited in time and scope but allows for alumni experience and staff mentorship to take place in a familiar environment. Flex Lab projects are subject to availability of external projects, and Flex Lab partner companies are exclusively responsible for employment and project lab fees.
admissions Operating as a non-profit school, the DMII offers a quality education for a lower cost, and students obtain skills in a one-year program as opposed to spending two to four years learning the same material on a lengthier curriculum. The DMII equips students with the skills to work in an array of fields, giving them assets one can use for a lifetime. Total Tuition for the One-Year (AVEI) Program: $24,000 Supplies and Fees: $1,730 Supplies include all required textbooks, drawing supplies and a Wacom tablet. Other fees include information technology, figure drawing, and studio and library fees. The DMII offers merit-based scholarships and in-house aid to low-income students, which is available to qualified applicants. The DMII encourages all students to apply for aid and scholarships. The DMII provides information for unsecured student loan options on request. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS >> At least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED >> Participation in a vetting module and interview process at DMII >> A letter of intent >> Two letters of recommendation >> Resume >> Official high school transcript or GED score
ADMISSION PROCESS 1 submit 2 vetting 3 interview 4 decision Submit an online application, along with a $20 application fee. Also include an official high school transcript or GED score, resume, letter of intent and two letters of recommendation, with at least one letter of recommendation from an employer, colleague or instructor. Letters from family members are not accepted. A digital portfolio is preferred but not required. Apply for a vetting module via the online DMII calendar. The vetting module is a required four-hour information session, evaluation and testing process where participants are given information on the program and have the opportunity to ask questions. Attend an interview with DMII administrators. Complete a scholarship application and receive an admissions decision. SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID AVAILABLE >> The Creative Excellence Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to students whose submitted portfolios meet the criteria of the portfolio guidelines, which are available upon request. >> Internal Student Aid is available to qualified students with demonstrated need; please contact the DMII for more information. >> Payment plans are available for all students regardless of need or scholarship status. >> Financing options and unsecured student loans can be obtained independently from DMII. Please inquire for details. HOUSING AND MEAL PLANS Through a partnership with a local college, the DMII offers quality dormitory-style housing about 2.5 miles from campus and commissary meal plans to DMII students for an additional fee. The plans include: >> A two-bedroom, one-bathroom suite with two people in each bedroom (single bedrooms are available at an additional cost) >> Access to the library, fitness center and resident parking lots >> Meal plans provide three meals a day, Monday through Friday, and two meals on the weekend
COURSE SESSIONS The one-year AVEI program consists of two terms: 2D and 3D. The entire program is 1,030 hours of in-class instructional time, and students must complete both terms to earn a certification. Students do not choose just one concentration but receive a well-rounded education in animation and visual effects for film, television and gaming. The maximum number of students in a class is 32 per session. TRANSFERABILITY Due to the accelerated nature of the programs at DMII, credits are not currently transferable to other institutions. DMII s programs are 100 percent on site in our Shreveport, LA, location. CLASS TIMES (AVEI) Day Session: 9:00am 3:00pm, Monday Friday (AVEI) Night Session: 5:30pm 11:00pm, Monday Friday DMII does not offer weekend classes but occasionally holds Saturday morning workshops. SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT Classroom professional workstations offer Adobe, Foundry and Autodesk software, including programs like Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, The Foundry Nuke, Autodesk Maya and Unreal Game Engine. Students can access all workstations and software at all times in the DMII 24-hour Flex Lab. The DMII also offers a 1600-square-foot studio, complete with an industry standard green screen with a curved cyclorama wall and professional lighting equipment that ensure the best results for the students projects. The DMII studio also features a 16 camera dual actor motion capture stage featuring body and face capture. The studio also has virtual camera capture and pre-visualization capability Students at DMII do not need to purchase hardware or software, all needed equipment is provided. Students are issued a set of peripherals when they begin the program, including a portable hard drive, and Wacom graphics tablet. Students must choose to enroll in either the day or night session; students cannot enroll in both. Students can only attend as fulltime students, not part time.
faculty
JOHN MIRALLES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John is an experienced compositor and has worked on many films including Nim s Island, Shoot Em Up, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hot Rod and Silent Hill. Some of the major companies he s worked for are Viacom, A & E Television Networks, CORE Feature Animation, IMAX Corporation and Moonbot Studios. He founded LSU-Shreveport s Animation, Visual Effects and Interactive program and served as director for five years. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
GREG NELSON INSTRUCTOR AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR Greg has a strong background as a visual effects artist and served as the studio visual effects supervisor at Worldwide FX for films such as Expendables, the Mechanic, Drive Angry, Conan the Barbarian and Playing the Field. Before moving to Louisiana he worked as an animator, compositor and onset supervisor at Threshold Digital working on Highlander: Endgame, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, and Star Trek 3D Borg Invasion. He also started and managed a few digital media studios in Southern California that produced content for clients such as Warner Bros, Dimension Films, New Line and BRC Imagination Arts. THOM JOHNSON INSTRUCTOR Thom is a fine artist, sculptor and designer. He was classically trained under renowned artist Bill Cumming and gained a strong reputation in the Seattle art scene. He s the owner and art director at Studio Highland in Shreveport and began his teaching career in Digital Media at LSUS in 2012. His magnetic personality and ability to relate to students makes him a favorite among the staff and students at DMII. This course is gradually growing my limited knowledge of 3D and its components. I am very excited to see where I will be at its conclusion. DMII Student
POTENTIAL CAREERS AFTER GRADUATION Skills obtained at the DMII can apply to a variety of fields. Some students at the DMII are searching for a new career, like working in a studio. Others are looking to enhance their skills to be more versatile in their current roles, and some may want to start their own businesses doing pre- and post- production work. A few career examples are: 3D modeler 3D texture artist rotoscope artist scene layout artist 2D compositing artist SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS The DMII hosts the Animation and Visual Effects Academy, a summer program held in June for high school students that offers training in computer animation and filmmaking. Students learn skills in desktop graphics, filmmaking theory, film shooting and editing. Students also create a short film from idea to completion. Students can apply at dmi-intertech.org/avea/ 2031 Kings Highway Shreveport, LA 71103 dmi-intertech.org