Overview

Stop scrolling thumbs in their tracks by using visual effects to create out of the ordinary video content. Emonee LaRussa’s experience as a motion graphics artist and director began as a teenager when she started making amateur music videos with her friends. Access to a laptop and design apps like Adobe Effects helped bring Emonee and her passion for video effects to places she never imagined possible. Now a two time Emmy-award winning artist, Emonee’s trippy creative style has helped her gain over 200K followers and given her the opportunity to work with artists like Lil Nas X, Ty Dolla $ign, and Megan Thee Stallion as well as Saturday Night Live, The Grammys, and Rolling Stone. If you’re curious about visual effects, an art form which flawlessly integrates computer-generated imagery with live-action video footage, jump into Emonee’s first ever full-length class where she’ll walk you through her exact workflow to help you to take your video content to the next level. Throughout this course you’ll learn to: - Brainstorm your concept - Prep and plan your shoot - Discover the art of the green screen - Organize your digital workspace and composite your scene - Finalize your piece by creating a mask, blending, and adding your final details before editing it into a loop Plus, you’ll get a behind the scenes look into Emonee’s own work and how she goes about pre-production, production and post-production for a project as a full-time motion graphics designer. Whether you’re looking to unleash your inner motion designer for the first time or improve on the video editing skills you already have, joining Emonee will help you create video content that will have everyone asking how you did it. No previous motion design or video editing skills are required for this class. To follow along with Emonee, you’ll need a computer, access to Adobe After Effects, a green screen, and a camera phone or DSLR camera. You can also use extra lighting and lenses if you think it will work well for your project. Instructor bio: Emonee LaRussa is a Motion Graphics Artist working with Lil Nas x, Meg thee Stallion, The Grammy’s, Saturday Night Live and more. Along the way, Emonee has won 2 Emmys during her time working at CBS. She has created a non-profit JumpStart Designers focused on getting digital art to lower-income kids. Emonee is looking to continue her path on building a better future for all.

Syllabus

Concept & Creative Planning

Kick off your VFX journey by building a strong creative foundation. In this module, you’ll find inspiration, develop a unique video concept, and plan your shoot with intention. You’ll learn how to outline a pre-production checklist and translate your ideas into a realistic production plan that supports post-production success.

Gear & Shooting Essentials

Learn how to capture high-quality footage designed for seamless VFX integration. This module covers essential equipment, best practices for filming with green screens, and techniques for capturing clean background plates. You’ll leave with the confidence to shoot content that aligns with your VFX goals.

Pre-Editing & Project Setup

Before you dive into editing, it’s time to get organized. This module guides you through testing your VFX idea, structuring your After Effects project, and preparing your media files. You’ll learn how to set up your workspace for a smoother, more efficient editing process.

Compositing Fundamentals

In this hands-on module, you’ll bring your live-action footage and visual effects together. Learn how to key out green screen backgrounds, composite multiple elements into a single scene, and align VFX with your footage for realistic results. These are the core skills behind compelling VFX storytelling.

Polish & Export

It’s time to add the finishing touches. This module focuses on enhancing your scene with color grading, shadows, blending, and stylistic effects. You’ll also learn how to format and export your video for looping playback on social media—giving your final piece a professional, polished finish ready to share with the world.