10 Steps to Getting Your Dream Job in Film Special Effects

We all want that Hollywood blockbuster career, but there is one major problem: practical skills like animation and makeup can be difficult to tackle on your own. Luckily, a few films have already paved the way with tutorials on topics like wigs and prosthetics.

In order to get your dream job in special effects you'll have to learn everything from constructing sets to applying makeup. If you're interested in learning more about getting started I put together this list of 10 steps designed for beginners who don't know where to begin.

Step 1: Get a Grading License

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

If you want to be a special effects artist, you'll need to get your hands on a "G" classification of special effects diploma. This can be tricky because many schools require their students to enroll in the school's program before receiving their G-Classification. Once enrolled, you will complete various courses that cover everything from rigging to rapid prototyping.

The good news is that there are plenty of other ways for aspiring special effect technicians to obtain a G-Classification without going through the school's program. For one, you can simply buy a lot of books and do as much research as you can. Also, there are plenty of online courses that teach SAE courses on your own.

Step 2: Build a Budget

Once you have your G-Classification it's time to start building a budget. Any aspiring special effects artist worth their salt starts out with an extremely small budget because most of the tools and materials will have to be purchased from vendors themselves (unless you're the lucky one who has access to film equipment). However, if you stick with me I'll show you how to quickly build a budget from scratch even if you don't have any previous experience.

Start by setting a general budget. This is known as "the board" in the industry and includes all the materials you will need such as helmets, hair appliances and clothes.

Once you have your basic budget, start getting out your calculator and making yourself a list of how much that specific item costs. For example, if you want to build a big rig for your character it might cost $150 for an electrician to wire it up and $30 for a rental company to set it up. The price of materials to become cyborgs will vary depending on the type of effect that you are trying to achieve (robot eyes or wires).

Step 3: Locate Potential Vendors

Once you have figured out how much everything costs (thanks to my handy-dandy list) it's time for the fun part, finding vendors. You may be able to buy some parts and get it from a friend, but if you want to save yourself some time here are a couple of places to look:

If you're just starting to build your budget try looking into eBay and ebay.com. For example, if you're looking for a helmet cost $60. If it's an adjustable one and in need of modifications, that price can go up to $170 (depending on the size). Also, be sure to check out craigslist.com and local trading sites as well. For example, if you're looking for an old motorcycle helmet, try www.motorcycle-superstore.com

Step 4: Research the Materials

Ah yes, this is the part where a lot of people get stuck. Once you have all your materials in hand it's time to find out more about the task at hand. This can be really confusing especially if you don't have experience with special effects or have never seen a makeup product in action before hand. If that's the case, then I recommend looking into a book on SAE or visit websites that cover special effects like www.fxguide.com .

Step 5: Figure Out What You Can't Do

The key to becoming successful in special effects is learning what you can't do. This way you know about all the things that will have to be practiced and avoided, allowing you to learn as much as possible without any confusion. If you're new at this it may seem hard because there seems to be too many things you can do, but once figure out what you can and cannot do it becomes easier to get your dream job.

For example, if your boss wants a cyborg with realistic wires in them then the more wires you put into them the more likely they are to draw attention. If you have an idea, then write it down and move on. If a friend has a helmet that's the same size as your character's head, borrow it. If you don't have the time to practice something then leave it out of your budget. With a bit of trial and error you'll be able to figure out what materials are easiest to work with and which ones are dangerous to practice on.

Step 6: Read as Much as You Can

You don't want to get stuck because you're not sure how something works or where you've seen other people do something similar before. This is why I recommend you read as much as possible. Books can get really expensive and sometimes you have to buy several at once but it will be worth it if you want to learn how to become a special effects artist.

Step 7: Practice, Practice, Practice

Makeup school is not the only place where you can practice. The best place to get experience is by doing research on the internet. This will allow you to find people who are already well-versed in certain areas or who might want to help you out or perhaps even teach you how they do something valuable. If your school doesn't allow their students to use the internet then head over to www.fxguide.com and start reading.

Step 8: Take SAE Exams

The best way to keep yourself updated is by taking a Special Effects Exam here in the United States:

Anatomy and Physiology . This will allow you to give yourself a reference for how other professionals do their work. In addition, you'll learn about the various muscles groups of your body (e.g., eye muscles, jaw muscles, facial muscle group), which could be helpful if you need to practice something later on.

For graphics and theory, I recommend " Anatomy for Crafting Special Effects " by William J. Raymaker Jr. as it's a great reference book for studying tricks with statistics and coding in FX programs such as Max or Maya.

For practical exams, I recommend " Practical Special Effects: The Art of the Trade " by Vince Gilligan. It's an excellent reference book on special effects and shows you how the industry works from day to day.

Step 9: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

After you've finished all your education, practice and research it's time to get yourself started on a project. But wait! You'll find out that it's more difficult than you thought…That's because most people tend to set their sights too high which makes them lose focus while they are working on something.

Conclusion

It's important to remember that you are never too good for anyone. Even if you've been working in the industry for years, there is still a lot to learn and it's important that you keep that in mind at all times. Learning is part of the creative process and will allow you to prepare yourself for anything your boss wants.

Once again, I would like to thank my friend Franz Makeup Artist / Instructor who provided me with valuable information on how to become a special effects artist. I hope this article helps those who are looking into becoming an SFX artist as well as those who are curious about what it takes to get started on their career.