Some interesting news posted on CartoonBrew.com. Apparently John Textor, CEO of Digital Domain, said some things about not only using students to help make their films, but actually having them pay DD for their work. So the students would be paying DD to work there.
Article here: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cgi/digital-domains-john-textor-brags-to-investors-about-exploiting-animation-student-labor.html
I actually did know about Digital Domain's education program. Considering that I have been applying to get a job there for months, I've been receiving e-mails about the Digital Domain Institute for about just as long, and even got invited to an Open House. There was such a large response to the RSVP that they had to turn people away. However, when I read more into the programs offered, it had a stench of a money making scheme on it. Especially with the 10-week courses offered. You pay over a years worth of tuition for a certificate, which, if you don't already have a college degree, is not worth much in the industry.
The news that you'd be working on their films, and not just building your own portfolio is the shocking part. This means that you won't even be able to use the work completed at the studio until the movie was released, and if you had permission and access to the footage after the fact.
John Textor claims that this is a way to help the animation industry in America, and give students experience to compete in the world, but it might add to the problem. First off, the certificate and 3 year programs take no financial aid from the state, which means unless you have cash money, or take a direct loan from the school (if that's even possible) there is no way that somebody without a well paying job or well off parents will be able to take these classes. This reserves this for the rich, and not necessarily the talented.
Secondly, the program doesn't guarantee employment after you've taken their classes. Not even with them. That said, this structure will only help IF other companies bring jobs back to America so that the students don't waste their time and money getting a degree, and saturate the market with easily replaceable artists.
This is a problem not only with Digital Domain, but with all for-profit schools that add majors just to get students enrolled.
All I can say is I hope that Orlando's Creative Village takes hold and brings in all the companies they're hoping for.
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