Full Sail News

Full Sail Celebrates 30th Anniversary; Opens Hall of Fame

Students, faculty, alumni, and special guests gathered together on April 20 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Full Sail University and the inaugural induction ceremony for the Full Sail University Hall of Fame, during which six graduates were recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments in the entertainment industry.

The celebration commenced on Full Sail�s Film Backlot, as audience members sat before a full stage and two adjacent video screens put together by members of the Show Production & Touring, Film, and Recording Arts programs.

�It�s been 30 years of meeting people in the highways and the byways, in the high schools and in the middle of their lives,� Full Sail President Garry Jones said to the gathered crowd. �You�ve heard their passionate stories. You helped them get to here. I�ve experienced the grace, pleasure, and blessing of watching thousands upon thousands walk out the door and fulfill their dream of working in entertainment. Thank you all for helping them get there. Happy 30th!�

The six Full Sail Hall of Fame graduates were then inducted through a series of videos and speeches from the likes of President of Career Colleges Association Harris Miller, recording artist Anthony Hamilton, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences President Neil Portnow, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and Full Sail co-chairmen Ed Haddock, Bill Heavener, and Jon Phelps.

The 2009 Full Sail University Hall of Fame inductees included 1991 Recording Arts graduate Sebastian Krys (producer/engineer, four-time GRAMMY� Award winner, seven-time Latin Grammy Award winner); 1993 Film graduate Cordy Rierson (development director for Double Helix Games of Foundation 9 Entertainment); 1993 Recording Arts graduate Gary Rizzo (sound re-recording mixer and two-time Oscar nominee for Best Achievement in Sound); 1992 Film graduate Steve Switaj (motion control camera operator); 1990 Recording Arts graduate Phil Tan (mix engineer and three-time Grammy Award winner); and 1999 Recording Arts/Film/Digital Arts graduate Jayson Whitmore (creative director/principal, Royale).

The school also welcomed Mayor of Winter Park Kenneth Bradley, who took the stage during the ceremony to congratulate the six alumni, as well as declare April 20, 2009 �Full Sail University Day� in the city of Winter Park. Following their acceptance speeches the inductees were also awarded certificates of Congressional Recognition by U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson, before making their way to the unveiling of the Hall of Fame facility.

Housed in the Entertainment Business Center, the Alumni Hall of Fame is comprised of a number of installations celebrating the accomplishments of these inductees, with the centerpiece being a 60-foot, mixed-media wall featuring video, sound, pictures, and industry credits.

The site also includes various artifacts and memorabilia from projects the honorees have worked on, with such highlights as Phil Tan�s 2006 GRAMMY� award for his mixing work on the Ludacris�s Release Therapy, Garry Rizzo�s congratulations letter from George Lucas for his Oscar nomination for The Incredibles, and a video screen showing off Jayson Whitmore�s impressive motion graphics work for the likes of Apple and Madonna.

Later that evening the honorees came together for a VIP dinner party and private concert in Full Sail Live, the school�s on-campus performing arts venue. The space was transformed into an intimate club, with candlelit tables, catered dinner, and open bar. Guests and their families were also treated to live performances from the Jacob Jeffries band (2008 Florida Grammy Showcase winner), as well as GRAMMY�-winning R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, who Phil Tan introduced as �one of my very favorite artists I�ve worked with in my recording career.�

The following day, the Hall of Fame inductees spent some time with current Full Sail students by participating in on-campus workshops, and sharing their skills and insight within their respective fields. Rierson, Krys, Whitmore, and Switaj all met with students for Q&A sessions, while Tan demonstrated his session mixing techniques in Full Sail�s Studio B and Rizzo offered advice to student film projects screened at the Dubbing Stage.

�The innovation, motivation, and determination they have exhibited is truly inspiring,� Garry Jones said about this year�s inductees. �Through the Full Sail University Hall of Fame, we honor these extraordinary graduates that have paved the way for many more to follow in their footsteps.�

Full Sail Announces 30th Anniversary Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1979, Full Sail has grown alongside the entertainment industry for the past 30 years. Over that time, our commitment to providing students with the education they need for successful careers in entertainment media has only gotten stronger, and as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, one of the ways we're building on that commitment is by establishing the Full Sail 30th Anniversary Scholarship Fund.

The Scholarship Fund provides awards of up to $8000 to eligible campus degree students who start on May 27 or July 7, 2009, and who meet specific criteria based on financial need.

The Full Sail 30th Anniversary Scholarship is just one of several scholarship opportunities currently available to prospective students. Some of our other scholarships include:

� The Full Sail Merit Scholarship, based on academic performance in your previous schooling

� The Full Sail Star Scholarship, available for students enrolling in Full Sail University's online degrees*

� The Full Sail Entertainment & Media Industry Scholarship for Women, available to any female Full Sail campus degree applicant 18 years of age or older

� The Full Sail Education Media Scholarship for Teachers, a $12,000 scholarship for eligible K-12 teachers to use toward the online Education Media Design & Technology Master's Degree

To determine initial eligibility, all applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and review their Federal Student Aid Report with a Full Sail Financial Aid Advisor. For more details regarding the Full Sail 30th Anniversary Scholarship, please contact an Admissions Representative at 800.226.7625.

- All scholarships subject to eligibility requirements and funding availability.

*Web Design & Development Bachelor's Degree ineligible for the Full Sail Star Scholarship

Jimmy Nichols of Black River Music: Indie-Minded Country Music

Full Sail University recently welcomed Jimmy Nichols, President of Black River Music Group, to campus to talk to students about his career and the music industry at large. Based out of Nashville, Black River Music is a record label whose primary goal is to find new and progressive means to promote their artists and distribute their music.

Throughout the course of his 36-year career, Nichols has worked with numerous recording artists, including Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Elton John, and Jessica Simpson. He also served as the musical director for Faith Hill and TimMcGraw's Soul 2 Soul Tour for two years before hopping onboard with the recently launched Black River Music Group.

Coming from a musical family, Nichols started his career off as a self-taught session piano player and eventually worked his way up in the music industry through country music scene. True to his label�s philosophy, one of Nichols� big messages during his lecture was the need to adapt to the times in which we operate.

�Now, more than ever, we as an industry need to start thinking outside of the box,� Nichols told a classroom full of students. �Things have changed so much, even from the day that I started in this business. It used to be that if you were an independent label, you were kind of avant-garde and no one really took you all that seriously. But right now, I don�t think there�s any better time than to be operating independently. Today, many major labels simply aren�t able to work as fast as they need to in order to accomplish some tasks � the whole infrastructure that they have is just unnecessary.�

Black River Music began with the idea that there were other methods that could be used to push artists to the public. Nichols was particularly excited about a new artist on the label, Sarah Darling. After discovering the local talent in Nashville and signing her to a record contract, the label is currently traveling around the country to shoot multiple music videos at various universities and schools throughout the US. Full Sail students would join acclaimed director Ryan Smith on campus a few days later to shoot a video for Darling�s �I Never Do What I Should.�

Nichols also fielded questions from students about what it�s like to work on an independent scale, and he was very vocal about the opportunities that technology has afforded those looking to break into the industry.

�The power of the Internet just increases the speed and the ability to interact and stream audio and video in high definition,� he said. �The things that we can do now would have been impossible even just five years ago. We�ve basically set out to set up a one-stop shop based on the Internet to cater to all the needs of a recording artist.�

Full Sail Hosts Screening, Q&A With Jon Voight at Florida Film Festival - Full Sail University News

On Sunday, April 5, Full Sail University was proud to join the 18th Annual Florida Film Festival in hosting a screening of the film Midnight Cowboy at the Enzian Theater. The screening was followed by a discussion with Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, moderated by Full Sail University President Garry Jones. This year marks Full Sail University�s fifth year as the Florida Film Festival's primary sponsor and twelfth year with the Festival.

Known for creating some of the most memorable characters in cinema, Voight has starred in a diverse range of films including Deliverance, Ali, Mission: Impossible, Transformers, Coming Home, and, of course, his legendary turn as Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy, which was his first starring role.

After the film screening, Jones introduced Voight and then opened the discussion to the audience, giving the capacity crowd an opportunity to engage in a conversational back-and-forth with the actor. Voight not only gave insight into his enduring career and his unique perspective on film history, but also weighed in with his current opinions on the entertainment field today. This event was the conclusion of the star-studded ten-day festival, which also hosted celebrity guests like Cat Cora (Iron Chef), Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction), and director Ken Russell (Crimes of Passion, Altered States, Women In Love).

"Full Sail is honored to have an onscreen legend such as Jon Voight share his time and his talents with the Florida Film Festival,� said Jones. �It was a pleasure to be a part of the evening celebrating such a gifted artist who continues to relate to audiences through his timeless career and his passion for film.�

Full Sail Hosts Recruiting Visit from Bunim/Murray Productions

Bunim/Murray Productions is one of the pioneers of reality television, having created MTV�s The Real World in the early '90s, as well producing other hits like The Simple Life and Project Runway. The studio is currently prepping new seasons of these shows and more, and recently visited Full Sail to hold a recruiting session with upcoming graduates.

This was the company�s third trip to campus, and our Career Development department was pleased to welcome Human Resources Director Lisa Nicholson, and Mark Roudonis, Vice President of Post Production, who spoke with students about their family of shows, and the number of different internship opportunities available.

�If you can�t be on one of our shows, maybe you can work for us,� Nicholson joked.

The pair started the event by showing off their latest demo reel, which was cut together by Full Sail Film graduate Kelly Moore, who works as an editor at Bunim/Murray�s California studio. The clips showcased the most recent seasons of series like The Bad Girl�s Club and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which the company is currently producing simultaneously along with four other series.

�Reality is what we do best, and so we do lots of it,� Nicholson said. �At any given time we�ll have about six to eight shows going at once, so we definitely rely on a big team to get all this content edited and aired.�

Roudonis went on to explain more about their internship opportunities, with the company looking for office and crew assistants for three to four month blocks. Typical intern positions include Logger, the person responsible for digitizing and documenting the footage for each show � no small task when a typical season of a reality series is cut together from upwards of 130 hours of tape.

�The internship is great because you get to work in each different department � audio, video, editing, everything,� he said. �We also get to see what your work ethic is like and where you�ll fit best, which helps us place you in a full-time position if there�s an opening at the end of your run.�

The visit from Bunim/Murray also allowed students to get some one-on-one time with Nicholson and Roudonis, who stayed on for nearly an hour after the event, exchanging business cards and speaking about the industry. Student questions ranged from what editing software they should know to be competitive in the industry, to why the company keeps coming back to campus to recruit.

�The audio mixing stage you have here is nicer than a lot of places I�ve seen in Hollywood,� Nicholson said. �We�ve had really good success with editors that we�ve gotten from here � for you guys it seems as natural as breathing.�

Miguel Palmero: From Full Sail to Disney to Daddy Yankee - Full Sail Graduate News

Since graduating from Full Sail�s Recording Arts degree program and relocating to Puerto Rico to begin his career in the recording industry, Miguel Palmero has found himself assuming a variety of studio positions (engineer, mixer, producer, and sound designer) for a wide range of different projects. One of the most recent was the Latin GRAMMY�-winning El Heredero by Miguelito, who, at ten years old, is the youngest rapper to ever win the prestigious award.

�Working with Miguelito was a very interesting experience,� Miguel says. �In the beginning, he was a little scared of being in the studio, being that he was so young. He had a person who writes all of his songs with him, but he seemed kind of lost. But we just finished his follow-up record and now he�s like a pro � he put his ideas out there, and just has a total confidence in the studio. It�s very impressive.�

Miguel started his career with an internship at Disney Creative in Orlando, before landing a job in Puerto Rico�s music industry at reggaeton icon Daddy Yankee�s recording studio. �He had started to build his own studio and I was there to help him out. One day he needed an engineer, and I was there,� he says. �It led me to a lot of work, including working on his movie, Talento De Barrio. That was a huge project � I was Sound Designer, Dialogue Editor, ADR, and Foley. That also connected me with a lot of people in the scene here.�

Miguel is quick to point out that connecting with the right people has been an important part of maintaining his career. �The way things are right now, clients really want to have one person who can handle everything for them, rather than have one person mix, one person record, and so on. It�s easier for them to communicate ideas when they�re only dealing with one person,� he says. �Plus, with people pirating albums on the Internet so frequently, they don�t really trust any engineer who doesn�t work within their camp. So it�s really important to put yourself out there and build a rapport with them. I have a lot of clients and I work everyday because I have a lot of people that trust me.

[[inline1 right]]�When I started at Full Sail, I was kind of lost; I didn�t know what to focus on. When I started working in the real world, I realized that you have to be able to do everything,� he continues. �I do a lot of sound design here in Puerto Rico for TV commercials, introductions for concerts, mixing records, engineering, and so forth. Full Sail really helped gain an understanding and appreciation for the process that goes behind all of those tasks. It was definitely one of the best experiences that I�ve had.�

Better than having the Miguelito record get recognized at the Latin GRAMMY�s? �That was definitely a big moment,� he says. �It was like a dream come true. But honestly, I�ve been working so hard every day that I don�t have the time to appreciate what�s happening to me right now. I have to keep on going.�

Full Sail Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

The entertainment industry has experienced huge advancements over last 30 years, from MTV and MP3s to the personal computer and high definition video game consoles. Founded in 1979, Full Sail has grown alongside the industry, by continuing to deliver on our commitment to providing students with the education they need for successful careers in entertainment media.

This spring will mark the 30th anniversary of Full Sail�s first classes, and we�re excited to celebrate our three-decade history with a number of campus events that look back on the growth of our school and the achievements of our graduates.

In addition to student events and staff gatherings, one of the highlights of our anniversary will be the unveiling of the Full Sail University Hall of Fame on April 20. This installation has been built in the center of our campus, and will feature a 60-foot mixed-media wall featuring video, sound, pictures, and industry credits of select graduates. In addition, the site will include artifacts and memorabilia of Hall of Fame inductees, with plenty of room for additional alumni and other Full Sail notables to be added in the future.

The inaugural induction ceremony will feature Recording Arts grads Sebastian Krys, Gary Rizzo, and Phil Tan; Film grads Cordy Rierson and Steve Switaj; and Recording Arts, Film, and Digital Media grad Jayson Whitmore. These artists represent a diverse set of careers in the audio, film, and graphic design industries, and feature award-winning credits that include The Dark Knight, Madonna, Apple, The Incredibles, Mariah Carey, and the Discovery Channel. These artists represent a small sampling of the achievements of over 31,000 Full Sail University alumni, it�s been those many successes that continue to inspire us as an institution.

We�ve come a long way in the three decades since our modest debut as an audio production school. Today, between our 190-acre campus and our innovative online educational platform, Full Sail University offers 17 Master�s, Bachelor�s, and Associate�s degree programs that span the media industry. Looking to our next three decades, our staff is excited about what the future holds as we continue to evolve our curriculum and facilities as the industry offers new opportunities for creative careers.

�I have been privileged to be a part of Full Sail from the time of its inception until today,� said Garry Jones, President of Full Sail University. �The vision of this institution has always been to provide world-class education to students who aspire for careers in the entertainment and media industry. As I look back on all this university has become, I eagerly look forward to the next 30 years.�

Music Video Director Ryan Smith Speaks With Students

A sample viewing of the entries in Ryan Smith�s reel reveals that the music video director has the eye of a perfectionist. With a cinematic aesthetic and a photographic style that focuses heavily on light, color, and texture, Smith has worked on nearly 100 music videos in the past decade, lending his talent to videos for multi-platinum artists like Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, Shinedown, Eminem, and American Idol finalist Bo Bice.

Full Sail recently welcomed Smith to campus to speak to students from the Film, Recording Arts, and Entertainment Business degree programs about the beginning stages of his career and to describe what has inspired his award-winning work.

According to Smith, much of his artistic ambition stemmed from a less than stellar childhood. �I was beat up a lot, and after school I actually trained to be a Navy SEAL,� he told students. �I think I did it because I was trying to figure out who I was. But everything I learned during that process turned out to be extremely helpful to what it is that I do now.�

He eventually switched gears and focused his vision on getting into film and the medium of music videos, looking to his idol Kevin Kerslake (director of music videos from Nirvana, Green Day, and Filter) as inspiration for his budding career. Smith told students of the many trials and tribulations he faced while positioning himself into the industry, including flunking out of film school, clashing with employers, and living homeless in Los Angeles for a period of time.

But Smith found his persistence and hustle to aid him in his path. A chance encounter with one of the members of Good Charlotte on the Warped Tour would act as a shot of adrenaline in his career. �I randomly ran into (Good Charlotte vocalist) Benji Madden in the bathroom, and just started striking up conversation with him. They were looking for a really slick, polished look for their video for their song �The Anthem,� kind of like Dr. Dre�s �Nuthin� But a "G" Thang� video, and I was able to convince them to let me do it,� Smith said. �That turned out to be one of the top videos on MTV�s Total Request Live that year, and also marked the beginning of the era where pop-punk music became very popular. And I was really able to ride that wave. I had 16 number-one videos on TRL after that.�

Smith also screened some of his videos for students, and answered questions from the audience, offering advice about being able to reach such a level of success in such a competitive industry.

�I�m a perfectionist, and I refuse to fail. Nothing is going to prevent me from continuing to move forward. And the truth is that a lot of you in this room are going to enter this industry and try to take my job,� he told students. �And to that, I say: try and catch me.

�If you�re one step behind me, I�m going to jump ahead three steps. And that�s not me trying to come off as threatening,� he said, smiling. �I welcome the challenge.�

Avid Introduces New Media Composer 3.5 Software at Full Sail - Full Sail University News

Full Sail University recently welcomed production company Avid back to campus to introduce Media Composer 3.5, their latest film and video editing software product.

Since the company�s inception in 1987, Avid has become a world leader in media creation tools for film, video, audio, and broadcast professionals, as well as for home video and home audio enthusiasts. In addition to their products� inclusion in the vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials, and op music hits, the company has also received three Emmys, a Grammy, two Oscars, and two Scientific and Technical Awards.

�I wanted to thank you all for being here and Full Sail for allowing us to host this event,� said Michael Phillips, Solutions Manager/Designer/Film Editor for Avid, addressing the auditorium full of students and outside professionals. �It�s a lot of fun to see how much this campus has changed � it was just two buildings when I first came here! You�re all very lucky to have such an amazing campus at your disposal.�

Phillips then dove into explaining the new features that Avid offers with Media Composer 3.5. The software now offers stereoscopic 3D editing, Avid Media Access (which allows for native end-to-end support for XDCAM), support for Pro Tools 8 Video Satellite, animatable color correction, and support for Mac OS X Leopard, among others. One of the hot topics of the evening was the announcement that Media Composer 3.5 no longer requires an external dongle to activate the program.

Phillips was also able to walk the audience through the various facets of the software, often utilizing video footage to demonstrate some of the specific functions of the program. He also fielded specific technical questions from audience members and spoke with students about other advantages that Avid offers in the film editing process.

�Avid as a company is always learning, both from our experiences and from our users as well,� he said. �You�ve invested your time in this company, and we want to make sure that we�re able to return that investment in you. We�re constantly growing, and with Media Composer 3.5 we�re able to see the fruits or our labor. We�re really looking forward to continue our progress as a company.�

Full Sail Announces New Scholarship for Online Degrees

Your education is the single most important investment you can make in your future, and Full Sail University is pleased to announce an opportunity to help make your education more affordable.

A new scholarship is now available for students who enroll and start any of our online degree programs this May, June or July. By taking advantage of this special scholarship, students can save thousands on their education, and be able to capitalize on the convenience of Full Sail University's innovative online education platform.

Now is the time to get the preparation you need to be ready to launch your career. Whether you're still making decisions about your college plans or are considering accelerating your career with an advanced degree, the time couldn't be better to enroll for a degree at Full Sail University.

For more details about the eligibility and scholarship amounts, please call Admissions at 888.993.7338, or Click Here to begin the enrollment process today.

Team of Full Sail Instructors Takes Home Steampunk Award

Animation instructors are bringing prestige to Full Sail by teaming up for competitions on industry-respected sites like CG Society.org. A team, led by Ricardo Tobon, recently won an award for their Steampunk-themed Flight of Icarus. The 15-member team joined a prestigious list of winners from all over the world for their work in the CG Society�s Steampunk Myths and Legends competition, which ran from Nov. 10 to Feb. 3.

Contestants were charged with creating a Steampunk-themed animation based on a myth or legend. Steampunk is a fantasy genre that incorporates elaborate Victorian-era design elements (think Jules Verne) with steam engine technological elements or even anachronistic technology elements (think H.G. Wells).

Team Full Sail won for the category of best sculpture, for their digital 3D visual produced using the techniques of motion capture and projection mapping. The image of a girl attempting flight with a jet pack also includes painted elements and a digitally enhanced version of a prop jet pack, built and painted by David Wolgemuth (Compositing Lead, Physical Prop Creation, Editing).

�It was a great achievement for all of us to actually be able to pull [this] off among thousands and thousands of other users and studios,� says Ricardo Tobon, who served as the project�s director and worked on the motion capture portion of the piece.

�The most impressive thing about this is that the forum is not one or two artists, it�s thousands of artists and the studios are professional studios,� he added.

For the animation, the team used motion capture to give their digital sculpture movement �so it moves like the physical person,� says Tobon. The projection mapping technique is for the final look � for the colors, lighting and textures, he explained. This technique lends photorealism to the animation by projecting the actor�s face and body onto the model, where it can then be manipulated and made to do things (like fly through the air) that are too complicated or expensive to recreate in other ways.

Tobon says that participating in competitions like this is extremely valuable to the staff members who are stretching their skills and to students, who benefit from the knowledge gained by their instructors. The work of instructors on another animation, called the ARA Project, was featured on the CG Society forum, as well as the Alias Web site, and it appeared on the Alias demo reel shown at Siggraph.

Instructors (including Tobon, Flores and Wolgemuth) were also voted onto the front page of CG Society.org for their entry in VFX Wars, �to see who could come up with the best concept art,� said Wolgemuth.

See "Flight of Icarus" at the CG Society website..

Barry Landis Speaks With Students About the Faith-Based Music Scene

Full Sail University recently welcomed Barry Landis, Chairman and CEO of Landis Entertainment & Media Partners. A boutique entertainment consulting group/creative agency, Landis EMP�s clients include Sony/BMG, Wrigley, AT&T Mobility, EMI, Miramax, and NASCAR.

Landis has also had a considerable amount of accomplishments credited to him within the world of Christian, Gospel and Country music. He�s been involved in the careers of some of the biggest names in those genres, including triple-platinum selling P.O.D. and Plus One while he was General Manager at Atlantic Records. More recently, his latest group the Myriad was featured as MTV�s New Artist of the Week.

A big part of Landis�s lecture was spent shedding light on the workings of the faith-based marketplace. �The Christian market knows right where their demographic is every Sunday morning � they�re at church,� he said. �That�s about 130 million people that we�re talking about here. This marketplace is very active when it comes to buying media such as records and magazines.�

According to Landis, by utilizing avenues such as Christian schools and music festivals, book publishing, retail, and churches, businesses can reach a large group of consumers � the very same group that has contributed to Landis�s success over the years .

Along with running through the details of his 20-plus year career, Landis fielded questions from students curious about the state of the record business and how recent changes may affect the job market.

�We hear a lot of how the record business is in trouble right now, but the music business is doing great,� he told students. �I hope you take that away today. There are opportunities in the music business that are emerging and expanding like never before. It�s just that the record business as we used to know it is transforming. Things were really great for these record companies for a long time, but their sales have been dropping recently.

�If you�re just one-dimensional, I think you�ve got to find the right thing to match up with that skill or interest,� he continued. �But there are opportunities everywhere in music if you are a generalist and you know a lot of things, which is what you�re getting here at Full Sail. It�s definitely an exciting time for the industry as a whole.�

'Doom' Creator John Romero Speaks at Full Sail - Full Sail University News

As co-creator of games like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D, John Romero is one of the most influential video game designers of his generation. These classic franchises helped define the first-person shooter genre, so our Game Development staff was excited to welcome Romero back to campus recently to speak with students about his two-decade career in the industry.

Romero has had a long association with Full Sail, previously hiring graduates at former companies like Monkeystone Games, as well as his latest venture, Gazillion Entertainment. During his latest visit, he spent the day touring our facilities, checking out class projects, and, finally, hosting an open lecture for students � where he covered everything from making games in his bedroom growing up to what they need to know when prepping for their own careers.

�Your first resume should include a list of the tools you know, any code or assets you�ve created, and all the positions you�ve held,� he said. �It lets everyone at a company look at your skill set quickly and figure out where you�ll work best, because the game industry has become very specialized and they�re often hiring for a specific need. Those are actually our best interviews because you can see exactly what these people have done before.�

Romero also held an hour-long Q+A session with students following the presentation, where he fielded more specific questions on how programmers, artists, and designers could stand out from the competition in their field when applying for a job.

�Having a website is really important these days because it saves us the hassle of loading up a CD,� he said. �When you have a stack of resumes with discs attached to them, being able to just click on a link and check out your stuff is something that will make you stand out no matter what position you�re applying for.�

It�s not often you�re able to get career advice from one of the innovators of your industry, and John Romero�s recent visit to campus was a rare opportunity for our students. He even stayed for nearly an hour after the event, talking one-on-one about everything from how to beat certain stages in classic games like Commander Keen and Dangerous Dave, to what he thought of the student projects he played during this latest trip.

�The stuff that�s coming out of the Final Project class here is really promising to me,� he said. �We really need new blood in the gaming industry right now, and it�s really important to get new ideas out there. What I see you guys doing is really encouraging to me.�

Brett Novak: Visual Effects at Bandito Brothers - Full Sail University Grad News

Bandito Brothers has made a name for itself as one of the premiere production and post-production houses in Los Angeles, creating slick visuals for film, television, and the web. The company's post-production department is headed by Jacob Rosenberg, a former skateboarding video director, whose work in the 1990s so inspired Full Sail Digital Arts & Design graduate Brett Novak, that when the opportunity to work at Bandito Brothers came up, Novak didn't have to think twice.

�Jacob used to shoot all these amazing skating videos; he did all the legendary Plan B and Rodney Mullen stuff,� Brett says. �Any of the old videos you see, that was Jacob filming � and he was just my idol. So I shot him a MySpace message after I was done at Full Sail, and he wrote me back, and it kind of went from there.�

After doing some freelance work on a Ford Focus commercial that Bandito Brothers had shot, Brett met with Jacob and the rest of the Bandito staff and landed a job as Lead Visual Effects Artist at the company. The role has seen him use his Digital Arts skills to create graphics and effects for a number of high profile clients, including BMW, Mountain Dew, the U.S. Navy, and more.

�I�m like a digital jack of all trades here,� he says. �I handle most anything design-wise, and anything visual goes by me at least once. Bandito is incredibly chill, and they make it easy for you to do your best work. It�s an artist�s dream.�

A typical week for Brett has him collaborating with Bandito�s production team before each film and television shoot, brainstorming ideas on the best ways to stage a scene with special effects in mind. After filming he�ll take their footage and add any digital graphics work that needs to be done � whether it�s major compositing, or something as routine as removing an unwanted person walking in the background.

�Most people have no idea what goes into this stuff because it can be so subtle and non-flashy,� he says. �You really wouldn�t imagine a lot of the stuff we do would have digital effects in it in the first place. It�s gotten so that it�s not just about creating those gigantic explosions and crazy effects shots, it�s more things like deleting people in reflections, or creating more clouds in an outdoor scene.�

Heading into his second year at Bandito, Brett�s projects continue to inspire him in new ways, and his latest assignment is also the one he feels closest to � a feature-length documentary on pro skateboarder Danny Way. Way is one of the legends of the sport, and the shoot has seen Brett�s career come full circle � going from a skateboarder himself, to helping create a documentary on one of his heroes.

�The Danny Way stuff is what I�ve been most excited about so far, and I�m really looking forward to being able to talk about it in the future,� he says. �Danny is so important to the sport, and I�m heavily influenced by skating.

�If I don�t enjoy where I�m working, it�s hard for me to be motivated, and this is the first time I haven�t had that in a job. I�ve also got a really good mentor with Jacob as my boss. It�s not like having a boss really, it�s like having a friend reaffirming that what�s in your head is going to look good on screen, and it�s everything you want to have as an artist.�

**To see some of Brett's work, head to BrettNovak.com.

Full Sail Launches New Online Web Design & Development Degree - Full Sail University News

Full Sail University is expanding the availability of our Web Design & Development Bachelor of Science Degree Program into a new online degree offering. Set to launch in May 2009, this fully-featured online degree program is designed to give students a holistic vision of web design and development, where design and aesthetic techniques are taught in balance with programming and coding. With the Internet�s cultural prominence at an all-time high, there is an increasing need for individuals who are capable of building the websites where the world comes together, and this program prepares students to enter that exciting field, combined with the convenience and flexibility of online education.

�The online program draws upon many of the principles covered in our on-campus program�s curriculum,� says Web Design & Development Program Director Bill Bain. �We�re focusing more on allowing students to become adept at front-end usability and design. And by offering the degree online, students will be able to study these concepts and develop these skills no matter where they�re located or what their schedules are like � they�re getting an accelerated education that they can go through at their own pace.�

The Web Design & Development Bachelor of Science Degree Online Program offers the same real world education that Full Sail University has made a staple of their curriculum for the past 30 years. This unique program focuses on industry-standard concepts such as human computer-interaction, front-end design, client-side scripting development, and Web Standards deployment. By creating their own web projects, students will put these concepts into practice within the various courses of the degree.

Students will sharpen their design skills as they create dynamic, user-friendly websites. They�ll also become fluent in Flash design and development � including advanced ActionScript 3.0 concepts � to add further interactivity and deployments to their creations. To increase their sites� functionality and ease-of-use, they�ll also learn about the Web Standards that ensure sites are usable on multiple platforms and in multiple browsers.

�The combination of front-end design and development techniques makes this online degree one of the most ambitious online web offerings out there,� says Bain. �Students are getting a well-rounded skill set in one program.�

President of Solid State Logic Visits Full Sail

As the world�s leading manufacturer of analog and digital audio consoles, Solid State Logic has been a provider of creative tools for film, audio, video, and broadcast professionals for four decades. SSL President Phil Wagner recently visited the Full Sail University campus to share his 25-plus years experience in the studio and pro audio industries.

�Full Sail is actually one of our best customers,� Wagner told the classroom full of students who attended the lecture. �This is something that I don�t do every day, but I do like to make visits from time to time. I really appreciate that you invited me to come down.�

SSL consoles are a fixture in most major recording studios across the world, and Wagner�s role as the company�s president has taken him everywhere from London to Maui, inside the production facilities of every North American television network, and in every Hollywood film studio's sound department.

Wagner began his career in sound during his teenage years by working in live production at a resort hotel in the Catskills. Although his career path after college found him working as a recording engineer/producer for artists such as Joe Cocker and Chaka Khan, his focus soon shifted towards another facet of the industry.

�I worked in studios for two years, and came to a fork in the road. I realized that even if you got to a certain point of success in your career as an engineer/producer, it wasn�t regular,� Wagner told students. �I really wanted something where the hours were more regular so I could have more control over my life.�

A visit to the National Association of Music Merchants trade show led Wager to a job with audio company Soundworks, where in 1983 he helped install one of the first SSL consoles in the United States. Eventually joining SSL in the early 90s, his experience working with sound and sales allowed him to work his way up the company to his current title.

After running through the history of the company and taking a look at the different consoles that SSL has made throughout the years, Wagner fielded questions from students regarding the company�s philosophy and the state of the recording industry.

�What I really love about our business is being able to work with so many different kinds of people. And I get to go around to a lot of different places and hear what some people are saying � �studios are over, the record business is over.� That�s just not true,� he said. �There are more opportunities out there today. Technology has opened a lot of doors in this industry, and because you guys are all young, you�re able to take advantage of those opportunities.�

Martin Atkins Gives DIY Tips To Students

Drummer Martin Atkins got his start with post-punk legends Public Image Ltd., and has collaborated with such artists as Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, and Ministry in his decades as a musician. However, when Atkins arrived on the Full Sail campus this February to speak with students, he wasn't here to impart tips on cymbal placement and drum tuning.

Atkins' lecture to a packed house of Recording Arts and Show Production & Touring students focused on chapters from his recent book Tour: Smart, which he describes as �the first real book about the business of touring,� and has quickly become a valuable resource for artists wanting to break into the live music industry.

Atkins passed on guidance and information by relating stories from his 30 years on the road. This included everything from advice on what to do when you find yourself getting spit on by a crowd while performing alongside punk icon John Lydon, to more practical tips on booking venues, creating merchandise, and advertising your shows.

�You�ve got to put your DNA in this stuff,� he said. �No matter what it is � music, film, art � if this business is important to you use everything at your disposal to reach your fans and get noticed.�

Atkins fielded a number of questions from students throughout the presentation, many of whom asked his advice for cutting costs while on the road. He suggested making incremental investments when first starting out � explaining such steps as not �spending the money on printing posters for a tour until you can confirm at least 10 dates,� and �making 20 band shirts, selling those, then making another 20.�

He also stressed more personal strategies for success, even noting the benefit of working at a pizza place on weekends, and knowing how to balance the pH levels in aquariums. Yes � a friend of his was actually hired at a studio over five other candidates because he was the only one who could not only engineer a recording session, but also take care of their saltwater aquarium.

�Pour gasoline where you see a spark,� he said. �Because you need to grab a hold of your situation and do as much as you can with what�s available to you.�

Through his personal recollections and honest take on the music industry, Atkins was an incredibly colorful and informative guest, and many students in attendance remained afterward, as Atkins signed copies of his book and CDs, and offered a student one final piece of advice � maybe something for all aspiring artists to keep in mind.

�You need to figure out what success means to you,� he said �For some people success is having a top 10 album, and for others it�s just having the opportunity to play music with your friends on the weekend. They�re both great in their own way, and it�s about going after what makes you happy.�

Film Grad Taking Original Series to History Channel - Full Sail Graduate News

People often have stories about their ancestors that have been passed down through the generations, but Full Sail Film graduate Jay Hix Jones is taking a slice of his family history and using it to pitch a new documentary TV series.

This 2002 grad has spent the past two years developing The Laffite Project, an original series where he hopes to unravel a 200-year old mystery surrounding his family's connection to Jean Lafitte � a legendary 19th century privateer who legally pillaged ships throughout the Gulf of Mexico during the War of 1812.

�I was having a writing session at my house, brainstorming ideas that we could produce as documentaries, and my wife said �Why don�t you do a documentary on your family member who�s a famous pirate,�� Jay explains. �My writing partner Tyler Townsend loved it, and from there we dove into all the history surrounding it.�

Jones' family story claims that Jean Lafitte was actually just an alias his ancestor created in order to protect his family. The show will document the journey of fulfilling a promise that was attached to the handed down stories; the promise to one day go on a journey to search out the legend of the family connections and try to prove the handed down tales once and for all. "So far all of the connections our research is producing is absolutely amazing."

Jay has had plenty of experience with investigative television, having previously worked on The Bone Detectives for the Discovery Channel � and is taking what he learned into the field on The Laffite Project. A real family affair, he�s enlisted the talent of his first cousins, brothers Chuck and Cody Hix (a college professor and a scuba instructor), who will host the show as they travel the globe in search of clues behind Lafitte�s identity.

"They're going to go on this crazy adventure retracing his life, trying to prove our family's historic connections every step of the way," Jay says. "They'll start with his birth in France, then go to Madagascar, and to the Yucatan, the Dominican Republic, and so on. I think the Hix brothers trying to fulfill the family promise is really what it's about. No matter what they uncover, finally putting these stories to rest is what is going to draw viewers in."

[[inline1 left]]The crew has already traveled throughout Galveston and the backwaters of the Louisiana bayou, collecting hundreds of hours of footage for the show. The results have revealed some unexpected discoveries, and drawn the attention of a number of historical societies across the South.

"We've actually uncovered a 180-year old sunken ship under twenty feet of mud in Lake Miller 50 miles south of Houston,Texas. Most experts believe it was Lafitte's prize ship that he used to flee from the U.S. when chased off of Galveston Island for good. The legend says he scuttled the ship in Lake Miller, faked his death and lived out the rest of his life under other assumed names. That was the last that anybody ever knew of him." Jay says. "The ship is said to have four bearskins of gold on it, and a thousand-page manuscript written by Laffite. Our next step is to ofically survey the land with the help of The Texas Historical Commission. The excavation of the ship itself on the show is going to be pretty historic."

The culmination of both his personal and professional goals, Jay is currently in final negotiations with an approved network executive Producer to secure a development deal with the History channel, and if all goes well the real adventure is only just beginning. More than just an opportunity to further his career in television, he's most proud to be working with his family to finally answer questions that have been lingering over them for two centuries.

"I remember as a kid hearing these stories that my ancestor was a pirate, and I was always outside exploring and looking for gold, so it makes sense to be doing this show now," he says. "Where I'm at is a blessing, and the most rewarding thing is just doing the research and digging up all these clues. When I created this project and sat down with my mom, she told me, 'This is now going to be a part of you for the rest of your life.' And she's right, I think this is the project of a lifetime."

Full Sail Grads and This Year's Oscar-Winners

Oscar night never fails to bring a sense of excitement and achievement around Full Sail University, and this year�s 81st annual Academy Awards were no different. 15 graduates worked on four Oscar-winning films this year.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which took home Oscars for Achievement in Visual Effects, Makeup, and Art Direction, was worked on by six graduates from three different degree programs. Computer Animation grad Joe Harkins served as Character Supervisor on the film, while Film grads Joseph Paolucci Jr. and Patrick Redmond worked as Rigging Electric and Crane Operator, respectively. Three Recording Arts grads (Sound Mix Technician Jurgen Scharpf, ADR Recordist Krissopher Chevannes, and Digital Effects Artist Rusty Ippolito) also contributed to Button�s success.

The latest gritty installment in the Batman film series, The Dark Knight, nabbed an award for Achievement in Sound Editing as well as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the late Heath Ledger�s captivating performance as the Joker. Six Full Sail grads contributed to Dark Knight, including CA grad Alessandro Bonora (Lead Creature Modeler), Film grads/Production Assistants Jonathan Jamison, Thomas Haring, and Valerie Walbrandt, and RA grads Pamela J. Sollie (Score Coordinator) and Gary Rizzo (Sound Re-Recording Mixer). Rizzo was also nominated for his own individual Oscar for Best Sound Mixing.

Pixar�s WALL�E took home the award for Best Animated Feature Film, thanks in no small part to Digital Arts grad Kristifir Klein (Set Modeling Lead) and RA grad Juan Peralta (Foley Editor). Man on Wire, chronicling Phillippe Pettit�s 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York�s World Trade Center, won Best Documentary Feature and was worked on by Film grad Aaron Randall (Key Grip).

In total, 34 Full Sail graduates were credited on 15 Oscar-nominated motion pictures this year, in categories including Best Picture, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role, and more.

�Every year it�s exciting to celebrate the collection of Full Sail graduates working on Oscar-nominated projects,� says Dave Franko, Full Sail�s Program Director Film. �The entire Full Sail family is proud to see how each of our graduates have taken their passion and turned it into great success within the industry.�

Eric Doggett: Game Artist for Nintendo DS, Playstation Portable - Full Sail University Graduate Feature

The handheld video game market has been booming since the launch of the Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable. As a Game Artist 2 at Aspyr Media, Inc, Full Sail Game Development graduate Eric Dogget has spent the past four years helping push the limits of what these pocket-sized systems are able to offer.

�They�ve really made gaming more accessible for a wider audience,� Eric says about the format. �You have a lot of kids' games, as well as stuff for the classic gamers like me, but then also you have something like our title futureU, where you can actually use them for education. So the market is just wide open for handhelds.�

As a Game Artist 2 Eric works with the company�s Art Director to create solutions for providing sharp-looking visuals on these tiny handheld screens. This means optimizing the way in which they model, texture, and rig characters in 3D to stay within the memory limitations of the systems � whose processors offer much less horsepower than home consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

�People assume that it�s simple but it�s not,� he explains. �You�re put under a lot of constraints when you�re working on a handheld title. You have to build a character out of only 200 polygons, which is not a lot to work with. And consumers still expect high quality, so you have to figure out how to deliver that.

�Since my specialty is engine work, I�m all about advancing what you can do within the restraints. Just tweaking [a game engine] and really figuring out how to push those extra polygons and get the quality in there. I have enough knowledge of programming and design and art to pull it all together, figure out where the problem is, and fix it. For me, that�s been the most rewarding part of my job.�

Having previously worked on games for a variety of other platforms while at Aspyr � including Stubbs the Zombie for the Xbox, as well as the recently released Guitar Hero: World Tour for the PC � the speed of production on handheld titles has made the format his favorite since getting into the industry.

This has only been highlighted by his recent work for the iPhone (on titles like Buggled and VooDude), where the platform�s unique operating system has allowed the team to cut the production time of a game by an astounding margin.

�We just recently released three iPhone games,� he begins. �Those had about a month development cycle each because it was our first time doing them for the format, but we�re getting much quicker. We�re actually trying to get down to a week-long development cycle. We�ll have one programmer, one artist, and just get it out there to consumers right away. And I actually much prefer that quick turnaround because it keeps things interesting and you don�t get bogged down.�

Working at Aspyr Media has made Eric proud to be able to help innovate the way people enjoy gaming outside their home. Looking back on how far he�s come since his days as just a gamer himself, Eric knows he�s been fortunate to pursue a career in the field where he�s able to blend his talent and passion.

�It�s always been my goal, even since a young age,� he shares. �I was always drawing and doodling, and I remember a teacher of mine telling me I�d get nowhere doing art for video games. And I actually called that teacher last year and told them I was making a great living doing just that!

�I can go into a game store and pick out eight or nine titles that I�ve worked on, and you sort of feel like a movie star for gamers. So whatever you do, don�t give up, keep on working on your demo reel, keep on making contacts, and don�t let anyone tell you that you can�t get a job in games.�