Our mission is to continually enhance the artistic and technical growth of our ever-expanding team of creative professionals at Reel FX Creative Studios. RFXU is the dedicated training program for the Reel FX community. The Apprentice Program is RFXU’s new and exciting vehicle for discovering and equipping new talent.
In spring of 2007, RFXU launched a groundbreaking apprentice program designed to give the next generation of artists the training and experience they need to launch their professional careers. The Apprentice Program can act as a fast pass to the professional world, but it is not intended to be a substitute for traditional education. Each term, a limited number of apprentices are selected to participate in RFXU, based exclusively on their demonstrated potential for excellence. Under the guidance of the director of RFXU, appointed mentors, and project supervisors, those selected for the program are rigorously trained in the classroom and on actual productions.
While the apprentices receive instruction and experience in all aspects of production, we also customize training to their targeted specialties. They dig deeply into their intended areas of expertise and apply what they learn to the actual productions on which they are assigned. They work closely with the project’s supervisors and their progress is guided by a mentor.
Classroom courses are taught by members of our production crew on topics that cover the entire spectrum of the studio experience: from cinematic use of color to advanced crowd simulation, from storyboarding to MEL scripting, from life drawing to Linux. We draw upon all the tools and experience that Reel FX has accumulated from fourteen years of creating commercials, game cinematics, live-action effects, and character animation for both TV and feature films, working with some of the biggest names in each industry.
Through RFXU, apprentices are exposed to both the theory and practice of generating top quality CG content.
The development of each apprentice is planned by Reel FX's director-level leaders. Course selections, mentor assignments, and project casting are customized to accelerate the learning process.
As a group, the apprentices meet with the director of RFXU each morning to share news and status updates, to ask questions, and to plan that day's training schedule. Apprentices then go back to work on their assigned productions. Throughout the term and on each project, apprentices collaborate with each other and with a wide variety of production specialists. The apprentice’s day might include a class during or after regular hours, lunch-time brown bag lectures and presentations, life drawing classes, animation screenings, or progress reviews. The atmosphere is casual, but the work is challenging.
Apprentices are paid while they attend RFXU, regardless of whether they are in training or contributing to productions. This allows them to focus their efforts on professional development with a minimum of distractions. Most choose to spend extensive additional time working on a group or personal project, practicing what they learned during their normal hours. The rate of an apprentice's progress is often closely tied to the amount of effort they put into their studies.
By the time their term is over, apprentices can lay claim to a wide array of achievements, including:
| Program Size: | currently capped at 12 apprentices, though less may be accepted |
| Duration: | About six months |
| Rate / Hours: | $12.50 per hour |
| Requirements: | Must be legally able to work in the United States Able to be onsite during studio hours (9 AM – 6 PM) Demonstrate strong career potential Attend all RFXU training sessions |
Accepting Applications now through 9am CST Monday June 01, 2009
- Phone interviews to be conducted 06/07/09 through 06/18/09
- Candidates notified of status by 06/19/09
- Apprentice session begins 06/29/09
- All dates subject to change based on our production schedule and needs.
Please visit www.reelfx.com/jobs. Create an account. Verify your account
through the verification email you will receive. Update your personal
information to include your work history, skills, resume, link to your
web page, etc. Finally, click on the Apprentice job posting, and click
on "Apply for this position." You can update your personal information
at any time.
To learn about the current round of apprentices and see the work they had created prior to joining the program, visit the Biographies page and follow the links to their individual websites. Note that most of their RFXU work is either still in progress or has not yet been released for publication, though you can read some of their blogs to find out more about what they have experienced since they started.
If you have questions feel free to contact us at apprenticeship@reelfx.com.