People interested in a career in animation for film, television or the video gaming industry have a place to prepare without leaving this area.

The Institute is located at InterTech, a division of the Biomedical Research Foundation, at the corner of Kings Highway and Mansfield Road in Shreveport. DMII’s mission, according to its website, is to deliver training and education for careers in the digital media.

Elizabeth Simons is the marketing and communication liaison for the institute, and she described the opportunity it provides.

“We offer an accelerated, one-year program in animation and visual effects,” she said. “What’s unique about this program is the intensive model and how it allows students to get the training they need to enter directly into the workforce.”

Simons said the model for the new operation was piloted in a continuing education program previously offered at LSU in Shreveport. At the university, more than 30 students completed the coursework, and the process fine-tuned the curriculum now offered at the institute.

“We originally thought [students] would want to go directly to work for a studio.”

But, Simons said, the students were seeking employment at the big animation studios, but a significant number had other goals. “Probably a third of them already had jobs, and they were in the program for skill enhancement. Another third of the students wanted to become entrepreneurs and start their own business,” Simons said.

The coursework at the institute is similar to the offerings that were tested at LSUS, she said. The school has recently upgraded its camera equipment and built a new studio in which students will learn. Simons said a number of people who expressed interest in the program but were unable to enroll while it was housed at the local university have found their way to the institute’s new location. She also said they have received interest from prospective students from all over the country.

Most of the enrollees are local, she said, and classes can hold up to 32 students.

A new session will start as early as the end of this month. What students study are the techniques and processes of 3-D animation and 2-D compositing. Simons explained the difference. “3-D animation would be actually creating the characters for film, television and gaming. The compositing portion is actually the editing part.”

Simons said students must be serious about the work and be prepared to work under pressure. “They are going to be in class for about 30 hours a week, so it is very intense, and a student should be prepared for that,” she said.

The benefits of this teaching model accrue to the student, she said. “This is the quickest path available for students to get the training they need to enter right into the workforce,” she said.

The instructing staff also came from LSUS’ pilot program. John Miralles is the executive director of the institute and is a 15-year veteran of the feature animation and visual effects field. He founded the LSU animation, visual effects and interactive program and served as its director for five years. His professional experiences include work for Viacom, A&E Television Networks and Moonbot Studios, among others.

Greg Nelson is the institute’s program coordinator. He also has 15 years of industry experience. He headed Worldwide FX, the in-house visual effects studio at Shreveport Millennium Studio. He’s worked on more than 20 feature films.

Simons described Thom Johnson as the resident artist for the institute.

Johnson was classically trained and built a reputation in the Seattle area as a fine artist, sculptor and designer before coming to the institute this year.

Simons said tuition for the classes is comparable to other programs like this around the country. She said the institute does offer student payment plans and scholarship opportunities are being planned.

For more information by call 213-0788 or go to www.dmi-intertech.org.