Welcome to the exciting world of computer graphics and visual effects. In recent years, computing technology has allowed artists and anyone passionate about the media arts to produce visually stunning graphics for games, television, social media, and create eye-catching 3D CG graphics for a wide variety of digital media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. 2D graphic designers can easily incorporate 3D CG graphics into their artworks, fashion designers can visualise their fabric and fashion designs on a 3D CG model, creatives can prototype their prototypes in 3D virtual reality, students can easily produce CG projects in school, and teachers can use CG technology to engage with their students.

Professor Gabriel Teo has designed this fun and engaging CG cinematography training course for anyone new to the exciting world of 3D CG computer graphics - artists, designers, students, teachers, and hobbyists. He is passionate in sharing his CG production knowledge to his global students, focusing more on creative storytelling as a key driving force for CG production work. Gabriel has worked at world class studios such as Weta productions and Disney Channel, taught and led digital media programmes at top universities such as Savannah College of Art and Design, and New York Institute of Technology. He carries 20 years of CG production and teaching experience - and he is very excited to design and produce this exclusive CG cinematography course for students and anyone new to the world of CG and visual effects. Welcome onboard.

Students will learn key creative factors in creating appealing CG characters. The class will combine visual arts aesthetics, and CG surfacing and lighting techniques to achieve appealing renders for school and professional design work. The class will focus on both realistic and stylistic design and rendering techniques for CG characters. Students will learn character styling and design, adjusting skin textures and surfaces to achieve the desired look. The class will cover the close relationship between texturing, surfacing, and lighting. Students will learn to create a 360 spherical HDRI lighting map from a CG environment.

Students will learn filmic composition and layout techniques to craft a CG scene. Placement of cameras and lens adjustments have an enormous impact on final shot aesthetics. Working in a 3D space, students will learn to analyse 3D spatial relationships and camerawork to enhance the shot to tell a story. The class will cover the importance of frame compositing and layout techniques with inspirations from masters in fine arts - Théodore Géricault, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Students will learn important fundamentals in frame composition - rhythm, balance, emphasis, gradation, harmony, variety, movement and proportion.

Students will learn to use motion capture data to animate their CG characters realistically with Adobe Mixamo. This class will enable students to understand the speed and efficiency in using motion capture technology for CG character animation, and understand Mocap technology in film and games. The class will cover character facial expressions and posing techniques. Using Daz3D’s rigged CG characters, students can easily understand the fundamental concept of character rigging and animation.

Mixamo

Students will learn creative cinematic techniques in creating stylistic mood lighting with an array of creative lighting techniques. The class will focus on emotive lighting techniques for CG design work, using camerawork to enhance the shot and story. The class will cover important factors in choosing CG cameras and lenses - compositing and styling the final look of the design and visual shot through creative colour grading techniques. Students will learn to study as a cinematographer and photographer.

Students will learn to present their work in for university projects, and produce visually appealing portfolios for clients. Working professionals will benefit from the key techniques in producing mock-up designs for their clients and create a body of professional CG portfolio on social media, websites, and public presentations. The class will cover design fundamentals with imagery and typography. Students will learn key techniques in creating desired and personal colour aesthetic and mock-up designs to suit and complement a variety of style and visual design.

MARK MCNICHOLL
CG SUPERVISOR
AT WETA DIGITAL

Gabriel was one the most influential lecturer's I had while studying at Lifeway College. His ability to impart his passion for art and storytelling through film is second to none. His practical knowledge of cameras, lighting, colour and composition, is invaluable. Gabe gave me a lot of motivation while in the midst of my studies.He has a kind heart and great sense of humour, I would work with Gabe again in a heartbeat! 

WETA DIGITAL

PIOTR FOX WYSOCKI
DEVELOPMENT and manufacturing lead
AT WETA DIGITAL

Gabe. uff.. :D this guy is a walking, talking legend. with the particular attention to the small things, really small things ;) I would call him a Napoleon of work. Every week it’s a new battle what he has to plan on the meetings, diagrams, numbers, intense internet research, finally it looks like a blueprint of spaceship :) but somehow everything is simple and it works. Here at Huhu Studios, he was a soul of the company. There was no one who didn’t like him. He is always looking for his people, and he is a really good friend.

WETA DIGITAL

HANNAH MOYERS
UX RESEARCH LEAD
AT IBM CLOUD

I took Gabriel's Digital Design Aesthetics class (ITGM 130) at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), the Hong Kong campus, in the Fall of 2013. I walked into the class expecting to learn the basics in Maya and ZBrush for use in digital art, because that's what I heard most professors did for this course. However, I walked out with a strong foundation for modeling and texturing in Zbrush, and rendering the final images in Maya. I never planned to learn so much about either of the softwares, but Gabe's positive attitude and engaging teaching style took my work to another level. He was clear and concise in his tutorials, and very well-organized with his presentations. Having never created concept art with ZBrush or Maya, none of us in the class knew what the process was. But Gabe guided us all through the project, giving us an overview of what we would be doing on the first day, and coaching us through the details as the quarter went on. All in all, at the end of 10 weeks in Gabe's class, I was able to return back to SCAD's Savannah campus and obtain a position tutoring not only Sophomores, but Juniors who had have taken classes at higher levels than ITGM 130, because Gabe prepared us all for much more than just "a basic understanding of Maya and ZBrush." Instead, he taught us three major things. First, in-depth skills with ZBrush. Second, a moderate understanding of Maya, focusing on: lighting, materials, and rendering. Third, how to appropriately execute a project for Visual Effects. Essentially, his performance shows that Gabe is an exceptional leader and teacher, and I'm sure that extends far beyond just the classroom.

IBM CLOUD

CHRISTOPHE DESSE
LEAD TECHNICAL ARTIST
AT NAUGHTYDOG SANTA MONICA

I got the pleasure to work with Gabriel on different project as he was the vfx supervisor at BlankCreative LLC | Disney Channel ME he was very efficient and determined to get the best result out of his team of artist his personality and skills are hardly matched in our industry.

NAUGHTYDOG

SHEM DAWSON
SENIOR 3D ARTIST
AT BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT

I had the privilege of being taught by Gabriel while studying at Lifeway Advanced Animation College. His creative in-sites into composition, colour, and film production were an invaluable asset to my learning and his challenging, out of the box way of thinking has inspired my work and helped push it to the next level. I would not hesitate to recommend Gabriel to anyone wanting a professional, highly talented artist in his fields of expertise.

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT

TAPANI HEIKKINEN
SENIOR TECHNICAL ARTIST
AT NEXT GAMES

Gabriel Teo has been one of the most influential persons ever to have affected and guided me with my work and studies. His mentoring abilities have been able to help me grow as an artist and greatly improved my eye for a professional level of work. One of his most distinctive characteristics, besides his easy going friendly and fun nature, is by far his passion for the industry he works in. This passion was able to re-lit my own passion for the same industry, and his vast knowledge of the area has never left me without the answers I’ve been looking for. His excellent quality of work and all his other personal traits will make him a great asset for any company. I am personally looking forward to work with him again in the future.

NEXT GAMES

JASON BROWN
LEARNING LEAD | EFFECTS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
AT TECHNICOLOR

Gabe is quite possibly the best supervisor you could ever wish to have, he's awesome to work with and far, keeps things clear and is willing to go to war for his team. He's also one of the best compositors I have ever worked with. Highly recommend him.

TECHNICOLOR

MATT GUINIBERT
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT - DIGITAL MEDIA
AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Gabriel Has been an excellent influence on my life. He helped me greatly when he was a lead at Huhus and I first started in teaching. He always had time to sit down and share his extensive knowledge. He is a natural leader and inspires his peers to take great pride in their work. He has the unique ability to inspire people, so naturally has been a valuable asset in teaching. Everyone always looked up to Gabe and hold him in high esteem.

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

fabiano petroni
lead motion RESEARCH DEVELOPER technical DIRECTOR
AT weta digital

Gabriel is a dedicated and very talented guy that I have worked with in nearly a year, he gets the job done quickly, efficiently; he knows exactly what he is doing, an outstanding professional I am very pleased to work with him.

WETA DIGITAL

BEN YANG
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER
AT VHQ GROUP

Gabriel is a true professional in film & visual effects industry. I am impressed with his rich experience in film post production area, especially with his composting knowledge and excellent pipeline planning skill. Gabriel is also a very easy going team member, I enjoy working with him, and looking forward to working together again in the future!

VHQ GROUP