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Exceptional Minds Autism Vocational School Learns from Pros at Stargate Studios
Education Nov 13, 2014
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Students training to become visual effects artists at Exceptional Minds vocational school for young adults on the spectrum learn a few practical tips from Stargate Studios’ Vice President of Creative Services Al Lopez during Monday’s seminar on greenscreen compositing.
Experience is the best teacher. That was among the many lessons learned Monday at the Exceptional Minds vocational school for young adults on the autism spectrum, where the pros from Stargate Studios held a seminar on greenscreen compositing for the students here training to become visual effects artists.
The Sherman Oaks specialized vocational school is known for its close working relationship with the visual effects industry. Stargate Studios, a fast-paced post-production studio that has worked on features and television series such as Heroes, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Walking Dead, has provided both mentorship and on-the-job training for Exceptional Minds students.
In June, Stargate Studios hired a young professional (Kevin Titcher) on the spectrum from Exceptional Minds’ first graduating class.
More than 750,000 young adults with autism are expected to reach adulthood in the next decade with few job prospects and even fewer vocational training programs to prepare them for meaningful careers.
About Exceptional Minds (http://www.exceptionalmindsstudio.org): Exceptional Minds is a non-profit vocational center and working production studio for young adults on the autism spectrum. It was chartered in 2011 to provide the training necessary for creatively gifted individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who may not otherwise be able to make the transition from high school to careers. Exceptional Minds offers technical proficiency and work readiness training that prepares students for careers in graphic arts, animation, web design, visual effects and rotoscoping. Located in Sherman Oaks, California, Exceptional Minds is both an instructional learning facility and a working studio with hands-on student involvement in production projects, many for the film industry.
