Re:Ah yes, Film School at USC (Score 1)

I think I need to weigh in here, being the only person to work on both "Writer's Block" and "Eliza" and also serve as the president of SCFX (along with Eric, I was one of the other guys working on the Quantel Domino). Yes, both "Writer's Block" and "Eliza" had massive amounts of effects, and both of them were too big to handle by one person alone . . . that's why SCFX exists, so that filmmakers don't have to do everything on their own.

SCFX was actually founded sometime in the 1980's (former members include John Knoll, Gray Marshall, and Scott Souter). It was founded and has been maintained by students who are interested in visual effects, and one of its main purposes has been to provide free visual effects for USC student films, while providing the instruction for those interested in learning. Last year SCFX provided FX for approximately 20 student films, not just the two highlighted in the original /. post. SCFX has no control over the content of those films, but chooses to assist as many students as they can (seeing as most film students cannot afford to get FX done by ILM, DD, R&H, SPI, etc.).

Unfortunately, the USC School of Cinema-Television has only recently begun to teach visual effects (only one class has been running for just over three years now), and previous to that, had only one special effects class for about ten years (involving miniatures, in-camera, and practical effects). Both of these classes were started in response to massive lobbying by SCFX members, and they are still trying to get additional curriculum today. Their goal has never been to have visual effects supersede good storytelling, but instead be able to supplement their classmates' work.

It's too bad that the /. post was slightly misinterpreted by everyone . . . the unique thing about SCFX is that it's the only student group of its kind that provides visual effects for fellow students, teaches people interested in learning, and helps prepare them for the industry when they graduate. It's also the only type of place to learn ALL about effects . . . not just CG, but how to be a visual effects supervisor in pre-production and on set, how to properly shoot weather effects, how animation and miniatures work together, etc. In the words of the SCFX slogan, "Better Films Through Trickery and Deceit."