So I've started learning After Effects

...yes, I've edited on Premiere for 5+ years and have never even touched After Effects. I signed up for a two part class at the college and they got all of us CS3 Masters which was very nice of them. Apparently the school got a huge check a short time ago as they are getting so many students this year. We also upgraded from Avid Xpress 4.5 to Media Composer and upgraded the old CRTs to dual LCD and got new quad core desktops.

The editing room was in need of a large update...the computers would crash on us way too often. Now they need more ProTools stations.

Anyways, back onto the topic of After Effects. It seems like a very nice program. I hope to use it to create abstract backdrops for the green screen as well as some great titles. The program isn't that hard to work on but it's nice to have someone who knows the program to teach you what everything does.

I'll be happy when I am done with the class and know everything about the program.
I've already started getting some ideas together for some tutorials for the program

Learning this piece of software also should help me get a job. Everyone wants you to know this program...along with others such as Combustion, DVD Authoring (Encore)...
I am learning MAYA at this time too to do some true 3D compositions.

I started to play with Maya back about 4 years ago. I figured out very fast that I was never going to understand and use it well enought to get a job at Pixar. So I stopped tryiny to learn how to use it.

I have always used different tools as a software dev, so I like the idea of a suite of programs. However, I am not sure Adobe is the best place to focus on. Of course that all depends on what your final goal is after college. By that I mean, what are you doing today to get you where you want to be 3, 5 or even 10 years down the road. I know that might sound silly, but I did not work at Microsoft by mistake. I had a goal and worked toward it.

I am sure there are a few production houses out there that use Adobe, but the industry of broadcast is heavy standardized on Avid. Not saying it is a better product, Just saying, THATS WHAT THEY USE.

I made the mistake early on in Film school taking a 16mm Production I class and a 35mm Production II Class. Working with film was amazing. I have worked with 25k cameras that just don't give you that organic remarkable film look and feel. I just do not have the cash to shot everything I want on film.

Back to After Effects, I tested FXHome and really liked it. I have heard that AE is mush more indepth and does so much more. I just do not like complicated tools with large learning curves. I would love to see your honest review after you have cut your teeth. What I want to hear about is the amount of time you had to spend to learning the tool compared to the productive time getting a project done. Also. is it a tool that can me used 1 or 2 times a month and not spend the first 30 mins relearning the tool.

Thanks and I wish you the best in your class.

David

I am "Avid Certified" which is a nice thing to have when getting a job as an editor. I know the standard is Avid but I dont really like the interface and its slow to work with. I also know for a fact that FCP is being used more and more these days on productions. I'm sure its most likely due to the quicker interface and such...

For tutorials on AE check out 3DBuzz.com as well as www.videocopilot.net/basic/
The 3DBuzz site also has some great free videos going over Maya and their DVDs which my brother owns go way more into depth when it comes to making projects.

I've noticed more and more television programs are getting edited in FCP. Channel 4, a tv company in the uk uses FCP a lot.