2012 Bill Bergen: VIMEO

KC: What are the most important skills to focus on in our mograph/video curriculum?

BB: Versatility, initiative, and flexibly. Employer love applicants that are well versed and don't need to have their hand held. These are the types of skills that will never go out of style, but they are very hard to teach I suppose. Most of that stuff you learn and become better with through experience.

KC: What are the best software applications?

BB: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Cinema 4D

KC: What features of After Effects should we focus on?

BB: Detail oriented keyframe animations. Original high end typography animation. Video enhancement, compositing.

KC: What are the most important elements of graphic design to include?

BB: Color and typography.

KC: What 3d program best serves the mograph designer?

BB: Cinema 4D

KC: When and how should 3d be introduced into the curriculum?

BB: After After Effects, introduce it as a tool to make better motion graphic designs and animations. Maybe making a 30 second commercial that has some nicely designed and animated 3d text or a 3d object that compliments a piece and is not the main course.

KC: What elements of video, both shooting and editing, should we focus on? (I'm investing in DSLRs and setting up stop-motion and green-screen studios on 7th floor.)

BB: Knowing how to use a camera inside and out. Knowing the differences and how lens can affect a shot. You could do exercises in linear and non linear editing. Something I have to do often is creating a "story" in post. I will get random clips from an event and I will have to make them look like they were shot together and with a purpose.

Students tend to do a lot of "over editing." That has always bothered me. I used to do it too. A talented film making can tell a story with a few shots and controlled edits.

Students should also be using professional script writing programs like Celtx. I think I'm just rambling now.

KC: What role does FLASH play in this focus?

BB: People use flash for frame by frame animation. I see it a lot with text, and people making 3D strokes and then later retracing them in flash to get a unique look. But over all it is a very small piece of the puzzle.

KC: What elements of Interactive Design benefit this student?

BB: If someone has a knack for that, that is awesome. Lots of jobs doing that kind of thing. It is something I wish I had a passion for. It would open up many doors.

KC: Same with Sound?

BB: I think sound is very important. You should know how to mic an interview or use a boom correctly. Also how to clean up voice to make it sound the best it can. Because for the most part, you are the one expected to do all that stuff. Students should also be pros at finding royalty free music that don't sound generic. As well as understanding how adding professional sound effects to a project will help take it to another level.

KC: How do we market this curriculum (through the admissions department) to high school students?

BB: What I like about motion design is that can include all forms of media. Live action, 3D, 2D, traditional animation, stop motion, directing, editing, and special effects. When you are in that field, you never really have to specialize and commit yourself to one aspect. The best part of my job is the variety. Motion design has gave me tons of experience in each of those fields and if I wanted to market myself as anyone of them specifically, I could very easily. I guess I'm saying it can make you very marketable. I mean, I started at vimeo as an editor and I have never really considered myself that. But I was able to do it well because of my background in motion graphics.