Posts Tagged workshops
Going to the CUE Conference & Training with my MacBook Air!
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 2nd, 2009 by Philip Harding
Written by Jaime Walden of the John Lennon Bus
Hello Blog,
Today is a wonderful day. Thanks to the Digital Media Academy, I will now be traveling in style with my new MacBook Air. Or, as Brian calls it, “Our first MBA!” MACGyver and myself will be taking our first trip together to Palm Springs, CA for CUE 2009 March 5-7. Over the course of our days there, we’ll be conducting a high school recording session and video premiere, giving tours, and holding “Ask the Expert” video production, web design, iLife, and special effects demos with the Digital Media Academy at our booth. Stop by and say hello, MACGyver and I will be the two smallest ones there.
On Mama’s Jukebox: Elliott Smith – “Ballad of Big Nothing”
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President Obama Inspires Higher Education — Digital Media Academy Offers Large Discounts to Military and Veterans
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 27th, 2009 by Philip Harding
Inspired by President Obama’s speech on the Congressional floor, Digital Media Academy would like to support our troops and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan by offering a 50% discount to their summer consolidated courses taught on a number of college and university campuses across the country, including Stanford, University of Chicago, Harvard, Brown, University of Texas, Austin, Johns Hopkins in Maryland, George Washington University in Washington D.C. and more. Both residential and non-residential programs are available. A full list is available on the website, www.digitalmediaacademy.org.
With jobs decreasing steadily in the mainstream, DMA would like to help refuel the economy by encouraging teens and adults to learn new skills in the world of digital media, one field that continues to thrive. DMA course offerings include web design, video game creation, 3D animation, digital photography, robotics and music and video production (a course created in conjunction with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus project). As an Apple Certified Training center, DMA also offers industry certification in Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, helping open doors to those entering or re-entering the work force.
All that will be required to be awarded this special offer is proof of service status in the U.S. military. For more information, those interested can call 866-656-3342.
Z-Brush "The Lastest craze in Game Design"
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 27th, 2009 by Instructor
Thinking about becoming the next big game designer? DMA’s Advanced Video Game Creation class is a must for anyone serious about learning the advanced techniques that major studios are using. Don’t just take my word for it – check out this interview with Epic Games talking about the new Gears of War 2. They Explain how they used Z-Brush in their production pipeline to create the incredible detail you see in the games.
Epic Games Interview – Gears of War 2
___________________________________________________________________________________
Next-generation game production tools and techniques
This advanced video game production class integrates the big three applications of next-generation gaming technology. Topics covered include digital sculpting with Pixologic’s ZBrush and advanced digital painting and texture mapping with Adobe Photoshop. You’ll learn essential techniques for creating architecture, characters, creatures, vehicles and pick-up items. We’ll also teach you industry techniques for normal mapping, grunge-color maps and specularity maps are also emphasized.
The course features in-depth discussions on unifying game designs using fine art principals such as color theory, layout compositional design, form and structure, as well as other techniques to expand your understanding of the art of game design. We’ll study game play and level flow techniques, with each student continually testing and refining their creation in a group setting. On the last day of class, we’ll spend a game day play-testing and critiquing our designs.
How to Make a Music Video : Learn the skills at a DMA Course
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 26th, 2009 by Philip Harding
Have you ever wanted to know how to make a music video like professionals in the music industry?
Digital Media Academy is offering a week-long Music Video Production training course at many prestigious universities across the U.S. Get involved with the multi-billion dollar music industry. Get a jump start in your career! Mix beats, record samples, and create a sweet video production in just one week. This 5 day class will teach you the techniques of making music and making videos – then mixing the two skills together.
Learn the skills to make music videos like you’ll see on MTV and VH1. Work on the latest computer equipment, video equipment, audio recording equipment, production software and cameras. The only limit is your creativity at DMA summer camps!
Check out the Music and Video Production Course.
Digital Media Academy offers teen film camp experiences, film camps for kids, and professional level video production and digital filmmaking courses for adults.
Computer Camp for Teens
Computer Camp for Kids
Using Training Courses for Art, Web, Film, Print, Marketing : Improving my business!
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 26th, 2009 by Philip Harding
Written by Artist / Designer Robert S. Lindsey : DMA Alumnus
WOW! I had an amazing and intense learning experience at DMA! From the moment that I stepped onto the Stanford campus I new that this event would change my life forever. Digital Media Academy gave me the ability to create my own website (www.bettermurals.com) and portfolio. After returning for multiple years I have been able to design all my new art on my iMac that I bought through DMA for an amazing discounted price.I don’t wast any time or supplies when I am working on my art due to my expertise with Photoshop and Flash.
Last summer I spent a week invested in learning Final Cut Pro and mastering my HD camera so that I can introduce streaming video onto my site with time-laps promos of my murals. This video technique has been a feature that my clients love. Clients can now see how I work, and my company has the professional, impressive edge that I need in this economy.
I actually spend most of my time in front of my Mac. If I am not designing… I am designing. I am also a partner in the very successful marketing and design firm : www.redefinedesign.com. We specialize in building and maintaing company identities and ongoing branding through various medias: web, print, interactive, promo, etc… Our ground breaking relationship plan is specifically designed and tailored to each client. I am signed up for After Effects courses this summer and we are sending a few of our designers to get some training with DMA’s Pro courses.
Extreme Sports Filmmaking Courses : Film Camps
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 26th, 2009 by Travis
There are a couple reasons why one of my first blogs is about DMA’s Action Sports & Media Combination Courses (Skate Boarding & Filmmaking / Surfing & Filmmaking). The first reason is that this is where I got my start with filmmaking. Upon Graduating from the UCSC film school, my first completed film was a 30 min snowboard and skateboarding film. I traveled to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado to premiere the film. It was such an incredible feeling to have my work up on the big screen and evaluated by my peers. The second reason why I write about these courses is because that is what I am working on right now. In fact I my house is covered with snow and I have been getting some amazing footage.
The idea came up for these courses when Dave Livingston – DMA’s Director of Instruction – asked me if there were any filmmaking courses that I wish I could have taken in college that weren’t available. Immediately, I thought it would be so cool to have taken a video production class with curriculum that taught actions sports cinematography and editing techniques. The classes were born and they have been a huge success. In these classes we teach students how to plan, shoot, edit, and produce their own action sports videos. At the end of each course the students even get the chance to premiere their film on the “big screen”, in front of classmates, family, and friends. It is really just awesome what they accomplish in 5 days while having so much fun!
Check out a couple of videos that one talented student Evan created while taking one of our DMA’s Action Sports & Media Combination Courses.
Until next time,
Travis Schlafmann
DMA Instructor/ Cinematographer & Editor
Tips from DMA Pros: TextEdit Creative Tricks in Apple OS X
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 26th, 2009 by Ben
In this movie, I’ll be showing you some features in TextEdit that can increase your productivity.
Here’s a recap of the keyboard shortcuts I cover in this movie.
Cmd-T: Fonts Window
Cmd-Shift-W: Wrap to Page
Cmd-Shift-T: Toggle Plain/Rich Text
Cmd-R: Toggle Ruler Bar
Hold Option to Select Rectangular Blocks of Text
Tips from DMA Pros: Navigation in OS X
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 26th, 2009 by Ben
In this movie, I’ll be showing you some navigation shortcuts in OS X that can increase your productivity.
Here’s a recap of the keyboard shortcuts I cover in this movie.
Exposé:
F9: Display All Open Windows
F10: Display Windows From the Current Application
F11: Show the Desktop
The SwitchBar:
Cmd-Tab: Change Applications
Cmd-tilde (above Tab): Change Windows Within Current Application
Hold Shift to slow down Exposé animations.
Apple, Can You Give my new iMac a Battery Pack?
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 20th, 2009 by Philip Harding
I love the new black and aluminum Apple iMac. It looks great, and it works great. Awesome design. At Digital Media Academy our courses are always taught with the latest technology (software and hardware – Mac or PC). We used a hundreds of the latest Intel iMacs in our summer courses this year. We ran a lot of Macs as PC’s running Bootcamp in many of our Video Game Design courses across the country.
I am amazed whenever I see an older, white G5 iMac. The old iMacs look gigantic compared to the new, sleek model. The new iMac is small enough that I have actually taken it with me across the country on plane flights and road trips, to coffee shops and hotels. Yes, I love my 15″ Apple MacBook Pro, but sometimes the iMac becomes my mobile computer of choice. I have been stopped by airport security and stared at by fellow Starbucks drinkers.
The iMac has become so sleek that it fits into this odd category. It’s not really a full desktop computer (as we’ve known them) size, and it’s a little too big to be considered laptop size… but it’s getting close! Sometimes I just have to take it with me. Until I can get my 8″ iPhone… (cough, cough Mr. Steve Jobs) I guess I just have one request…
Can someone make a battery pack for my iMac?
No, this isn’t my black iMac. This is the birthday cake my wife Rachelle made for my party last year. She made an iPhone cake this year. Oh yes. Stay tuned for that!
Apple Motion Special Effects Tip with Instructor Mark Spencer
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 19th, 2009 by Philip Harding
Mark teaches Motion Training Courses (FCS 101) at Digital Media Academy, is a Bay Area editor, and has written several books on Motion. Mark has also taught the Final Cut Studio Integration course at DMA. Mark’s website is an amazing resource for tips and inspiration in using Final Cut Studio.
Mark Spencer gave us a Motion tip at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco where DMA teamed up with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus to offer hands-on computer workshops. This video was shot on the bus. Check it out!
