The Gnomon School of Visual Effects was launched on the premise that those who are actively working in the special effects industry would be in the best position to train others working in the industry, and a classroom setting where pros teach other pros would be the best way to bring about a grand sharing of techniques and ideas. Soon after the school opened for admission, however, it turned out that most of the applications were from folks who wanted to get into the industry—not people who were already in the business and looking to learn new skills. Furthermore, many students entered wanting to work in the world of video games, rather than television or movies. But if you'd like to do any of these things, there are few places better suited to build your skills and find a job.

I was invited to tour the school during my time in Los Angeles for E3, and I jumped at the chance to check out where the people who make games are trained. My tour guide was Alex Alvarez, the Gnomon's founder and director. I said that I could give up a few hours early in the morning before E3 began, and the PR rep seemed a little taken aback. "Alex is an artist," I was told. "He's not going to like getting up that early." Alvarez met me at Gnomon at 8:30 in the morning, bleary eyed, holding a cup of coffee as if it were a life preserver.

The school's stats are impressive: 350 students, and a 98 percent placement rate. The instructors are all working professionals from studios, so they know how the industry is now, not what it was like before they left it to begin teaching. "Every night they're driving in from Sony or Blizzard or Activision," Alvarez tells me. "Dreamworks, Digital Domain..." This is something that is constantly stressed: you are being taught by people in the industry.

Let's take a look at what makes Gnomon School of Visual Effects so special.

Gnomon has stayed in the same facility since it began, and art is everywhere you see.

While the students were on break during my visit, all the areas appeared lived-in. Video games filled the halls. You could see where people relaxed, watched movies, and talked about their work. This is the reception area.

In the store you can buy these Gnomon-made instructional DVDs, which are also available online. You are given techniques and tricks directly from some of the biggest names in all the areas of special effects design and art.