Jobs in SFX will more than double by 2012, says Nasscom

Over the past few years Bollywood industry has undergone a sea change. Gone are the days when actors fought with toy pistols and harmless swords. They now use sleek devicesblowing up helicopters and houses with the click of a remote. Movies such as Om Shanti Om bring back the actors of yesteryears to act with todays actresses where late Sunil Dutt can be seen dancing with Deepika Padukone. Seeing such scenes one wonders how such feats are accomplished. The answer lies in the power of Special Effects (SFX).

Today, SFX has become an intrinsic part of almost all films. No films post production is considered complete without adding SFX effects. There are 2 kinds of special effects widely used in films and animationoptical and physical. Optical special effects use technology to turn photographic images into spectacular effects while physical special effects are accomplished with props during live-action shooting.

The process of incorporating SFX begins with the studio where computers play a key role. Software such as 3D Studio MAX, Autodesk Maya, etc are used to achieve the effects while taking reference from the storyboards sent along with the script from the studios. Photography also is an important element in SFX. With the emergence of digital film-making tools, a greater distinction between special effects and visual effects has been recognized, with visual effects referring to digital post-production and special effects referring to on-set mechanical effects and in-camera optical effects.

With the advancements in technology taking place at a leaping pace, the field of SFX is also growing tremendously. SFX is being used everywhere, be it in movies, TV shows, commercials, and websites. Multimedia artists, such as video game designers and animation technicians use computer special effects to make images look realistic. According to the latest Nasscom report, the SFX industry is expected to grow from the current $67 mn to $173 mn in the next 3 years and the number of jobs created will increase from 14,700 as of now to 29,500 by 2012.

A Lucrative Career

There are many options today for those who want to pursue a career in the field of SFX. Most special effects professionals choose a specialty area, such as stunts, animation, modeling or specialty photography. While some big studios create their own special effects for movies and television, most of the work is typically done in smaller special effects studios that specialize in certain effects. A SFX technician must know how to construct objects, buildings, and other structures. They must have appropriate technical knowledge of the proper tools and know how to repair and maintain their construction. Frequently, their creations are destroyed or damaged as the movie is filmed. There is also a special effects make-up artist, who works with live models or structures, applying make-up and/or prosthetics for a theatrical effect.

One could become a rotoscope artiste, match move artiste, VFX artiste, a compositor, etc. As a SFX technician, one can use computer applications to create special effects in visual media like video games, films, and websites. These SFX can make actors turn into creatures, or create stunts that are too dangerous for people to perform. It is very essential for a student to undertake a formal education program that includes special effects training to acquire the necessary technical skills. One can pursue a bachelors degree or a diploma certificate in animation, computer graphics or computer science from reputed institutes that offers a plethora of career programs, diploma and short term courses in 3D animation and VFX. After completing the course one could expect to earn about `40,000-80, 000 a month which could steadily go up depending on your skills. There are various job avenues for young aspirants looking at pursuing a career in SFX such as in advertising agencies, studios, game companies, television channels, and film and television production houses.

There is a huge potential for all the young aspirants in the burgeoning SFX industry. So, if you want a career that lets you enjoy your passion for movies while also utilizing your creativity and artistic talent, then this career is just for you.

Ram Warrior
The author is business head, MAAC
maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in