How to Become a Special Effects Person
Working in special effects in Hollywood is virtually impossible without some kind of experience under your belt. You need to provide something that the studio does not already have and that is rare. People are constantly being turned away by studios because there are just too many people out there all seeking to work in the film industry in one field or another. The best advice is to do what you love to do, make special effects and gather experience from that, take pictures, take video and get really good at what you are doing. Then and only then should you give Hollywood a try.
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Instructions
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Get experience at special effects artistry by doing effects on your own, without any expert influence. Learn how to solve problems in your own way to bring your own insight to the table. Most film studios rely on small special effects studios to supply their effects for them, and the only way into these shops is to apply as you would for any job, which means that you must have experience that you gather on your own. Special effects studios do not have the time and resources to train people to do their jobs.
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Experiment on your own with different types of special effects; whether it's lighting effects, makeup or digital animation, make sure you photograph everything you try that works and keep those photos or videos on hand when you visit effects shops looking for work. The employers will want to ask you questions about how you've done things and what steps you've taken along the way to improve your work. You will need to take classes to know what is currently being done in the ever-changing world of special effects.
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Get experience in doing the things that filmmakers want to see. Make monsters, build plaster face casts and make foam latex molds.
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Buy movie magazines and read up on how different effects are done. This is the best form of education that you will find on how to do special effects. Another good resource is the movies themselves, which quite often provide a how-to video segment on the making of the movie. This type of education is extremely valuable for the type of work you want to learn to do. There are not a lot of classes that you can take to do this type of work, so these resources are your best hope.
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Learn the technical aspects of special effects art. Learn the methods used by the pros, find the materials you need and use them to make new projects on your own. If you apply for a job with a professional special effects shop, take a few of your best projects with you to show to the person in charge. Chances are he or she will be very interested in how you built it, and how it solves particular problems.
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Gather valuable experience by working on special effects locally where you live. Work on haunted houses at Halloween time, and ask the high school drama director if you can work on the next play that is performed. Put together a student film if possible, and gain the experience you need to succeed in this business. Take photos of each of your projects and keep them in a portfolio to show off later when you do seek out a Hollywood job. You will probably also need a VHS tape or DVD of the work you have done so far.
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Do what you feel is your given talent. Successful special effects artists must have a talent for this work. They must have an imagination and an artistic eye. If you do not have some artistic talent you are liable to find yourself languishing in this career. It is better to choose work that fits your talents better as you will be more successful and more happy as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't overrate your own talent and ability. Don't think of yourself as better than the rest of the artists out there. Always believe that you can do better and you soon will. If you think you are the best there is nowhere to go but down.
There are dangers involved in using molds, latex and the plaster sculptures that will be needed in your new career. Wear gloves while working with chemicals and be careful with sculpting tools.
