Flame trainer needed

[zen75]

I am looking for Flame artist in Los Angeles with access to a flame for private training. I realize this will be expensive but am very serious.

[shannones riders]

You may learn the technical aspects of the software within few months, but the real and valuable working knowledge comes only with experience.

I think you had better to find a mentor and work for him as a Flame assistant/Flint op for longer time.

[Jaron]

Very nice answer!

[Anonymous]

I am open to that as well. I know much of the basics in Flame as well as tape machines. I would pay $3000 for this opportunity in LA.

[shannones riders]

I really don’t want to offend you and I wish you to find a flame mentor, but your offer is nonsense. If I didn’t live on the other side of the world, I would take your money and keep my opinion, but you’re lucky. 🙂

Let’s imagine, we can agree. I give you lessions for 3000USD for 3, no rather for 6 months, because I’m generous. Don’t forget, that you can practice only in the nighttime and weekends, because flames are used in the day. At the end of my day I show you what to practice and leave you alone with the machine, because I need to sleep. Sometimes I stay a little longer, because you payed me and I would like to show you my helpfulness. Whenever I work alone (no clients in the room), you can come in and see how I solve certain problems.

After 6 months you could do most of the tracking/keying/rotoing tasks. Maybe you have some basic experience with 3d comping and other advanced techniques. But you’re definitely not ready to work with clients and solve complex problems alone! Not to mention your vision, which can’t be “force trained”.

After 6 months our deal is over. My company doesn’t need any assistant, so we can’t hire you. You have some skills, but believe me, you won’t find any flame job, because you have no working experience. So you’ve spent long nights and 3000USD for learning something useless.

BUT if my company needs flame assistants, I would hire you as a trainee for free. If you are a good workforce, it can easily turn to an assistant position. You will have to do all the repetitive/technical tasks, but you will learn a lot and you will have WORKING EXPERIENCE!

Hope this will help you to save 3000USD.:) Anyway is it really so hard to find a trainee position in L.A.? In the capital of filmmaking?

pH.

[Ramazan]

alot of people in the past have responded to simliar requests in here, so have a search, there is plenty of advice about this subject.

in a nutshell, I think the most useful and common response is that you should learn nuke/shake/fusion, which is easier to do at home (esp nuke with the PLE) and then get a job at a facility using this software who also have IFF, you have a better chance of then making a transition.

It sounds like you have had some time on the system so if you just need some accelerated learning, i’m sure there are a few courses around. I would contact autodesk, they can get freelancers to train people up, but it will be pretty expensive.

cheers

paul

[claudio antonelli]

I remember years ago when I decided I wanted to learn flame, I was in a similar situation.

I wanted to take the discreet class that they offer(d?) in Santa Monica. It cost $3k even.

What ended up happening instead was I got a job as a flame archivist at night for very little money (I actually offered to work for free). After three months of backing up the systems and learning flame if a machine was free, I got staffed properly and was on my way to being a flame artist.

[Anonymous]

It isn’t easy to find an assistant job in LA (the capitol of film making). So what’s wrong with throwing my savings at the problem. I’m a great candidate for this type of position and don’t want to wait years to find it. I’m willing to show my dedication by paying for it. Does this make me a bad person? Or stupid based on your opinion. I’m just trying to make my dreams happen buddy.

[Błażej]

Zen, they are not suggesting your a bad person or stupid.
They are just pointing out there are different ways then trowing your money at it to get a position as a flame artist/ assistant.
I dont work in the LA area so I dont know the dynamics there but what pixelHussar and the others are suggesting makes perfect sense to me.
It might be hard to find an assistant position but so is finding most jobs atm, I would keep trying..
Gl

sven

[Ramazan]

Hi Zen

there is nothing wrong with what you wish to ultimately achieve! I think pixelhussar could have been more diplomatic 🙂 , but essentially the advice he gave is on the right track. Remember you don’t have to wait years to get an assistant job, just get into a company which has the systems, even as a runner and then use their downtime as much as you can to get on the machine, if your enthusiasm and ability show then you will get a chance.

anyway check your pm.

cheers

[Michael Angelo]

Hello,
Just thought I would drop a note to tell you about the training options available to learn Autodesk® Flame®, Autodesk® Smoke® or Autodesk® Lustre®.
FREE video tutorials:
http://www.autodesk.com/flame-tutorials
http://www.autodesk.com/smoke-tutorials
http://www.autodesk.com/lustre-tutorials

In your area, classroom training is offered at the Autodesk Venice office. These highly effective introductory-level courses are built around the Autodesk Media & Entertainment visual effects & finishing solutions. For complete class schedule and pre-registration form please visit:
http://www.autodesk.com/IFFclassroom
http://www.autodesk.com/FSclassroom
http://www.autodesk.com/lustreclassroom
For training outside of North America please browse the list of authorized Effects and Finishing Training Centers at: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=8988156

Custom training can also be scheduled at client facilities or as private sessions at our Montréal, New York or Venice offices.
For pricing and more information on our training services, do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected]

Regards

[William Judy]

I did my Smoke training in 2005 with Sibille at the Venice facility, and it was fantastic. But, my company paid for me to go, and bought a Smoke for me to work on, so I don’t think that helps in your situation.
I remember at the time, there was a guy in my class who was just taking the class to learn the Smoke. He didn’t have a job at the time, and was hoping learning the Smoke would land him a job… I wonder how things went for him….
Anyways, good luck. If you have the drive and the talent things will work out in the end. Just be humble and be willing to take any job that will get your foot in the door, so you can show them how hard you are wiling to work.

[Anonymous]

I did contact Autodesk at the [email protected] several weeks ago and have not heard back from you guys.

I appreciate all the feedback from everyone. It’s clear to me that I need to find an assistant position, I’ve been looking and will continue to look. I’m still going to pursue some sort of training so when that position comes a long I will be ready. Also, if there’s an artist out there that wants to put some money in your pocket for giving a guy an opportunity as an assistant, let me know.

[William Judy]

I don’t think my current assistant would appreciate me finding someone to do her job… :p

[Martin Furness]

Another opinion here. I can only tell you that right now the way the industry is going or is right now, you will find it hard pressed to find anything regarding Flame, in LA. Most companies are on hiring freezes, pay reductions and are down to half the staff they normally acquire. Right now im not so sure if you could even find a “staff” Flame artist position right now, companies cant afford high paid guys/gals sitting around. If they have a job they will bring in freelance(no insurance, no workmans comp, no liability, no taxes etc) Not to say that it wont pick up towards the 4th. quarter and there after, but right now its tough. I have on an average 3-6 flame artist calling me a month who will work for “FREE” just to get on the box to maintain their skills. Not that we would not pay someone, but just letting you know that these Flame artist that were once extremely busy are now fighting just to get on a box! If your truly interested in learning Flame and you have 3K to throw around, you should look into Autodesk training facility. I also believe or at least when I went many years ago they also rented Flames by the hour. That way you could maintain your skills. The likelihood of going into a large facility other than an “intern” chances are, it wont happen. Too corporate and too much of a liability to have someone sitting in and learning with another artist. The artist in larger facilities are there to perform, not sit around and teach outsiders. You may have a better chance in a smaller shop where the owner also runs Flame and is willing to take your cash. I have taught many people Flame throughout the years and never charged them a dime, I actually get satisfaction from teaching others. Depending on how much you actually know and what specifically you want to learn, I wouldn’t mind helping you out. But keep in mind that even though you may think you know Flame, doesn’t mean you will be able to run out and get a job!! Flame is just a tool to help elaborate your creativity, your vision and your artistic ability. Dealing and understanding clients is also an art in itself. Keep doing what your doing and be persistent, good things will come.

P.S. Drop me a line and we can talk. I can also give you some insight on where most of the industry is posting for work, interns, assistants etc.

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