[GAMBIT-UROPS-summon] Maya IAP class: response needed ASAP

[Becky Shepardson]

This is advance notice that the GAMBIT game lab and the Comparative  
Media Studies program at MIT will be offering a Maya animation class  
during IAP 2011. There are only 10 spaces available and we expect them  
to fill up quickly, so if you'd like to attend, please let me know ASAP.

This is intended to be an intro class, so no experience is necessary,  
but it is also designed to be useful to those who took the IAP class  
last year. Ideally those who sign up will be able to attend all nine  
class sessions, and priority will be given to these students, but if  
there is a small percentage of the class you'll need to miss, let me  
know and we can discuss whether it still makes sense for you to sign up.

I plan to offer any open slots to the wider MIT community early next  
week, so please let me know ASAP if you're interested.

Becky Shepardson
Comparative Media Studies
====

More info:
Maya Animation Class
Mon-Fri, Jan 10-21, 2011 (with Jan 17 off)
1-6pm
GAMBIT Game Lab, NE25, 3rd floor

Course Description:
Autodesk's Maya animation software is the industry standard for  
creating computer animation for film, television, games, commercials,  
and scientific visualizations. In this intensive Computer Animation  
workshop, students will be introduced to the basics of Maya: its  
interface, modeling, deformations and rigging, animation, lighting,  
texturing, shading and rendering. Emphasis will be placed on how these  
components are generally applied in the collaborative and inter- 
dependent context of a production pipeline, giving the students  
insights and techniques that will help them create effective and  
reliable assets which cleanly and efficiently integrate with the work  
of others.

  This course will meet, 1-6 pm, Monday thru Friday, Jan 10-21(except  
1/17; MLK day). There are 6 lecture classes and 3 supervised lab  
sessions. During lecture, students will be expected to follow along in  
Maya and will be guided in short in-class exercises, and during  
supervised lab time, they will be encouraged to try things out, ask  
questions and play.

Goal:
To give students a solid introduction to Autodesk’s Maya and provide a  
good foundation on which to build a deeper understanding of the  
software. Students who complete this workshop should be able to open  
up Maya and feel comfortable working in its basic modules.

Structure:
Much of the course will be devoted to a demonstration, overview and  
walkthrough led by the instructor, followed by in-class exercises.  
Homework will be based around concepts covered during class with an  
emphasis on preparing students for the collaborative aspects of the  
production pipeline.

Supplies:
Thumb drive (4G minimum)

About your instructor:

Forbes Hill has a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and has  
worked as a Digital Artist in Los Angeles, CA for 10+ years.