Visual Effects Career Outlook

Broad Horizons in a Growing Industry

As one of the fastest growing employers in the US, with an estimated growth of between 14%  and 17% by the year 2014, the outlook on  special and visual effects industry is quite  lucrative. From this it would appear that there is a secure career outlook for not just  technically but also artistic and business minded individuals.  Depending on job title, experience and location a videographer, for instance can expect to earn in the region of around $50,000

There are numerous routes available  to someone who is drawn to taking a up a  visual effects career.  Opportunities abound not just in cinematography and it is not something that is necessarily confined to those of a technical outlook either.  In considering a visual effects career  like any other career – it is worth thoroughly researching the relevant  schools and college programs – especially those which specialise in the artistic, business, and technical aspects of the special and visual effects industry

Here are  some of the various options to the would-be student when considering a special or visual effects career.  Perhaps  this article might be insightful for someone who hadn’t considered this career path but might just  have the right talent and outlook to bring to the special and visual effects industry.

Engineering and electronics is one route and without a doubt, this is one of the few industries with the outlook to combine the technical with the artistic to mutual benefit.  Someone needed to have the technical ability to create the beings from ‘Transformers’ and it is widely known amongst Star Trek fans that the Star Ship Enterprise manual is a highly technical creation and in theory, once teletransportation is a reality then there is no reason why we should not be travelling in time and space in the future!  This may seem a  bizarre example but someone exploring the possibility of a visual effects career would need an open-minded outlook since by its’ very nature, the visual effects industry appeals to those of an open mind.

Multi-media artists and animators work on film and video computer applications and these can be lucratively employed in not just cinematography for the film industry but also many marketing companies employ academics with a visual effects education course.
Camera operators, musicians and sound engineers work together with technical operators and editors to produce the finished product – all part of the special and visual effects of a film or video.  Sound mixers, cameras, lighting and  synthesizers all need to be brought together to create the overall special and visual effects.  Here are other areas of where the special and visual effects industry presents a huge scope and outlook.

It is not  just the operation of equipment that will present opportunities for careers in visual effects. As a rapidly growing market unfolds there is more and more competition so there are also opportunities in the world of  research and development for both computer  software and lighting and equipment hardware.

Make up artists also  come under the banner of creating  visual effects – this career area can be extremely rewarding both creating a financially secure outlook and job satisfaction . And of course, someone had to know how to make tornado in Twister or the outreaching flames chasing Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.  Explosions and tidal waves don’t happen all by themselves.