This week, Chris goes behind the scenes at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Founded in 1997, this Hollywood-based establishment has grown to a thriving and crucial part of the effects industry, with over 400 students picking up the skills which will land them hot jobs on games and movies.
In this podcast, Chris is joined by Eric Miller, the school’s Chief Technology Officer. His job is to ensure Gnomon is always ahead of industry trends in both hardware and software, managing a vast array of technology and 135 different software packages. Eric also talks about some of the teaching methods Gnomon employs to get students ready for the tough world of visual effects or games, and he offers some great advice on how to prepare for a course at Gnomon.
'%3e %3cpath id='path4163_1_' class='st2' fill='%231A1F71' d='M-258.6-402.3l-4.8,22.5h-5.8l4.8-22.5H-258.6z M-234.1-387.9l3.1-8.4l1.7,8.4H-234.1z M-227.6-379.9h5.3l-4.6-22.5h-5c-1.2,0-2.1,0.7-2.4,1.7l-8.7,20.9h6.2l1.2-3.4h7.5C-228.5-383.3-227.6-379.9-227.6-379.9z M-242.9-387.3c0-6-8.2-6.3-8.2-8.9c0-0.9,0.9-1.7,2.4-1.9c0.9-0.2,3.1-0.2,5.7,1l1-4.8c-1.4-0.5-3.3-1-5.5-1 c-5.8,0-9.8,3.1-9.8,7.4c0,3.3,2.9,5,5.1,6.2c2.2,1,3.1,1.9,3.1,2.7c0,1.5-1.9,2.2-3.4,2.2c-2.9,0-4.6-0.9-6-1.4l-1,5 c1.4,0.7,3.9,1.2,6.5,1.2C-247-379.5-242.9-382.6-242.9-387.3 M-267-402.3l-9.4,22.5h-6.2l-4.6-18c-0.3-1-0.5-1.5-1.4-2.1 c-1.4-0.7-3.8-1.5-5.7-1.9l0.2-0.7h9.9c1.2,0,2.4,0.9,2.7,2.2l2.4,13l6-15.3h6V-402.3z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st3%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_);fill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st4%7bfilter:url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_);%7d .st5%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_);fill:%23006FCF;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_60_'%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_58_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' points='0,0 0,60 60,60 60,32.7 60,0 '/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_61_' transform='translate(0 16.675)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6' id='bluebox-55x54-b_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_39_' class='st1' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-a_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='0,1.9 0,26.5 60,26.5 60,1.9 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_89_' class='st3' fill='%23FFFFFF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_)' d='M52.6,12.4h4.5V1.9h-4.8v1.7l-1.1-1.7h-4.2v2.1l-0.9-2.1h-6.9c-0.3,0-0.7,0-1,0.1 c-0.3,0-0.5,0.1-0.8,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.1-0.6,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.2-0.6,0.3V2.4V1.9H13.6L13,3.8l-0.6-1.8H7.1v2.1L6.2,1.9H1.9 L0,6.4v5.1v0.9h3l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h23.4v-1.5l1.2,1.5h6.5v-0.3v-0.4c0.2,0.1,0.3,0.2,0.5,0.3c0.2,0.1,0.4,0.2,0.5,0.2 c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.2c0.4,0.1,0.7,0.1,1.1,0.1H43l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h6.5v-1.6L52.6,12.4z M60,25.9V16h-0.5H22.8l-0.9,1.3 L20.9,16H10.2v10.5h10.7l0.9-1.4l1,1.4h6.7v-2.3h-0.1c0.8,0,1.6-0.1,2.3-0.4v2.7h4.7V25l1.2,1.5h20.2c0.6,0,1.1-0.1,1.6-0.3 C59.5,26.1,59.8,26,60,25.9z'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_74_' transform='translate(10.3 14.223)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1' id='bluebox-55x54-d_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_20_' class='st4' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_)'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-c_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='49.7,10.6 49.7,3.5 1.5,3.5 1.5,10.6 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_77_' class='st5' fill='%23006FCF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_)' d='M47.3,9.2h-3.6v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7H49l0.6-1.4H46c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 C47.7,7.8,48,8,48,8.4C48,8.9,47.7,9.2,47.3,9.2z M40.6,9.2H37v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7h3.1l0.6-1.4h-3.6c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 c0.4,0,0.7,0.3,0.7,0.7C41.3,8.9,41,9.2,40.6,9.2z M36,4.9V3.5h-5.7v7.1H36V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H32V4.9H36z M26.5,5 c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5H26.5z M24.5,8h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L27.2,8c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2 c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8z M20.2,5.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5h2C19.9,5,20.2,5.4,20.2,5.9z M15.5,3.5v7.1h1.7 V8.2h2.1c1.5,0,2.5-1,2.5-2.4c0-1.4-0.9-2.4-2.4-2.4H15.5z M13.1,10.6h2.1L12.3,7l2.8-3.5h-2.1l-1.7,2.2L9.6,3.5H7.5L10.3,7 l-2.8,3.5h2.1l1.7-2.3L13.1,10.6z M7.2,4.9V3.5H1.5v7.1h5.7V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H3.2V4.9H7.2z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_62_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' d='M50.3,6.5l0-0.6l0.4,0.6l2.7,4.2h2V3.6h-1.7v4.1l0,0.5l-0.3-0.5l-2.6-4.1h-2.1v7.1h1.7V6.5z M43.5,6.3L44,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6h-2.3L43.5,6.3z M46.3,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H43l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L46.3,10.7z M38.9,10.7 L38.9,10.7l0.8-1.5h-0.5c-1.2,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-2V7.1c0-1.1,0.6-2,1.8-2H41V3.6h-2c-2.2,0-3.4,1.5-3.4,3.5v0.1 C35.7,9.3,36.9,10.7,38.9,10.7z M32.9,10.7h1.7V7.6v-4h-1.7v3.9V10.7z M29.3,5.1c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9s-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5.1 H29.3z M27.3,8.2h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L30,8.1c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8.2z M24.4,5.1V3.6h-5.7 v7.1h5.7V9.3h-4V7.9h3.9V6.4h-3.9V5.1H24.4z M10.3,5.9l0-1.9l2,6.7h1.5l2-6.7l0,1.9v4.8h1.6V3.6h-3l-1.3,5l-1.4-5h-3v7.1h1.6V5.9z M3.6,6.3L4.1,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6H3L3.6,6.3z M6.4,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H3l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L6.4,10.7z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_2_);%7d .st3%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_3_);%7d .st4%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_4_);%7d .st5%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_5_);%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg%3e %3cpath class='st0' d='M77.9,47.9c0,6.7-5.4,12.1-12.1,12.1H0V12.1C0,5.4,5.4,0,12.1,0h65.8V47.9z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_1_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-360.2888' y1='252.2589' x2='-359.4065' y2='252.2589' gradientTransform='matrix(24.2543 0 0 -15.022 8790.7773 3822.7673)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st1' d='M56.5,35.6h5c0.1,0,0.5,0,0.6,0c1-0.2,1.8-1,1.8-2.2c0-1.1-0.8-2-1.8-2.2c-0.1,0-0.4,0-0.6,0h-5V35.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_2_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-366.4783' y1='259.7305' x2='-366.174' y2='259.7305' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.7188 25800.6914 44370.9141)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M60.9,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v9h12.2c0.3,0,0.6,0,0.9,0c2.8,0.1,4.8,1.6,4.8,4c0,2-1.4,3.6-4,4v0.1 c2.8,0.2,5,1.8,5,4.2c0,2.6-2.4,4.3-5.5,4.3H52.2V56h12.7c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H60.9L60.9,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-359.3954' y1='250.3555' x2='-358.4323' y2='250.3555' gradientTransform='matrix(22.22 0 0 -13.7702 8038.0117 3473.8174)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st3' d='M63.2,26.4c0-1.1-0.8-1.9-1.8-2c-0.1,0-0.3,0-0.5,0h-4.5v4.2H61c0.1,0,0.4,0,0.5,0 C62.4,28.3,63.2,27.5,63.2,26.4L63.2,26.4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-364.9196' y1='259.7295' x2='-364.6103' y2='259.7295' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.5623 25643.2734 44330.0742)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%231F286F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.4751' style='stop-color:%23004E94'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8261' style='stop-color:%230066B1'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23006FBC'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st4' d='M13,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v21.4c2.4,1.2,5,2,7.5,2c3,0,4.6-1.8,4.6-4.3V21.7h7.4v10c0,3.9-2.4,7.1-10.7,7.1 c-5,0-8.9-1.1-8.9-1.1V56H17c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H13L13,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_5_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-365.7028' y1='259.7315' x2='-365.4024' y2='259.7315' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.8753 25722.1387 44411.7539)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%236C2C2F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.1735' style='stop-color:%23882730'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5731' style='stop-color:%23BE1833'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8585' style='stop-color:%23DC0436'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23E60039'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st5' d='M37,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7V24c2.2-1.9,6-3,12.1-2.8c3.3,0.1,6.8,1,6.8,1V26c-1.8-0.9-3.9-1.7-6.6-1.9 c-4.7-0.3-7.5,2-7.5,6c0,4,2.8,6.3,7.5,6c2.7-0.2,4.8-1,6.6-1.9v3.7c0,0-3.5,0.9-6.8,1c-6.1,0.3-10-0.9-12.1-2.8v20H41 c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H37L37,4z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st4%7bopacity:0.65;fill:url(%23XMLID_4_);enable-background:new ;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_432_'%3e %3c/g%3e %3cg%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_428_' class='st0' points='0.3,0.4 93.4,0.4 93.4,59.7 0.3,59.7 '/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_427_' class='st1' d='M93.1,33.3c0,0-25.4,17.9-72,26h72V33.3z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_2_' class='st2' d='M93.4,0H0v60h93.8V0L93.4,0L93.4,0z M93.1,0.7c0,0.7,0,58,0,58.6c-0.7,0-91.8,0-92.4,0 c0-0.7,0-58,0-58.6C1.4,0.7,92.4,0.7,93.1,0.7z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M8.2,18.4H4.3v13.6h3.9c2,0,3.5-0.5,4.8-1.6c1.6-1.3,2.5-3.2,2.5-5.2C15.5,21.2,12.5,18.4,8.2,18.4z M11.3,28.6c-0.8,0.7-1.9,1.1-3.6,1.1H7v-9h0.7c1.7,0,2.7,0.3,3.6,1.1c0.9,0.8,1.5,2.1,1.5,3.4C12.8,26.5,12.2,27.8,11.3,28.6z'/%3e %3crect id='XMLID_422_' x='16.7' y='18.4' class='st2' width='2.6' height='13.6'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_421_' class='st2' d='M25.8,23.6c-1.6-0.6-2-1-2-1.7c0-0.9,0.8-1.5,2-1.5c0.8,0,1.5,0.3,2.1,1.1l1.4-1.8 c-1.1-1-2.5-1.5-4-1.5c-2.4,0-4.2,1.7-4.2,3.9c0,1.9,0.9,2.8,3.3,3.7c1,0.4,1.6,0.6,1.8,0.8c0.5,0.3,0.8,0.8,0.8,1.4 c0,1.1-0.9,1.9-2,1.9c-1.3,0-2.3-0.6-2.9-1.8l-1.7,1.7c1.2,1.8,2.7,2.6,4.7,2.6c2.7,0,4.7-1.8,4.7-4.5 C29.7,25.7,28.8,24.7,25.8,23.6z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_420_' class='st2' d='M30.6,25.2c0,4,3.1,7.1,7.2,7.1c1.1,0,2.1-0.2,3.3-0.8v-3.1c-1.1,1.1-2,1.5-3.2,1.5 c-2.7,0-4.6-1.9-4.6-4.7c0-2.6,1.9-4.7,4.4-4.7c1.3,0,2.2,0.4,3.3,1.5v-3.1c-1.2-0.6-2.1-0.8-3.3-0.8 C33.8,18.1,30.6,21.2,30.6,25.2z'/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_419_' class='st2' points='62,27.5 58.4,18.4 55.5,18.4 61.3,32.3 62.7,32.3 68.6,18.4 65.7,18.4 '/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_418_' class='st2' points='69.8,31.9 77.3,31.9 77.3,29.6 72.4,29.6 72.4,26 77.1,26 77.1,23.7 72.4,23.7 72.4,20.7 77.3,20.7 77.3,18.4 69.8,18.4 '/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M87.8,22.4c0-2.5-1.8-4-4.8-4H79V32h2.6v-5.5H82l3.7,5.5h3.3l-4.3-5.7C86.7,25.8,87.8,24.5,87.8,22.4z M82.4,24.6h-0.8v-4.1h0.8c1.7,0,2.5,0.7,2.5,2C85,23.9,84.1,24.6,82.4,24.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.8364' y1='-8.0135' x2='47.8375' y2='-15.8403' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F89F20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2502' style='stop-color:%23F79A20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5331' style='stop-color:%23F68D20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.6196' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7232' style='stop-color:%23F48120'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23F37521'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_415_' class='st3' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.0472' y1='-8.1188' x2='44.7411' y2='-22.3989' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.3587' style='stop-color:%23E16F27'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.703' style='stop-color:%23D4602C'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.9816' style='stop-color:%23D05B2E'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_414_' class='st4' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_436_'%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89.4,18.9c0-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.4h-0.4v1.2h0.3v-0.5l0.3,0.5h0.3l-0.4-0.5C89.3,19.2,89.4,19.1,89.4,18.9z M89,19.1L89,19.1l0-0.3h0c0.1,0,0.2,0,0.2,0.1C89.2,19,89.1,19.1,89,19.1z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89,18.1c-0.6,0-1,0.5-1,1s0.5,1,1,1c0.6,0,1-0.5,1-1S89.6,18.1,89,18.1z M89,20c-0.4,0-0.8-0.4-0.8-0.9 c0-0.5,0.4-0.9,0.8-0.9c0.4,0,0.8,0.4,0.8,0.9C89.9,19.6,89.5,20,89,20z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
