Re: apple shake work possibilities and prospects?

Hmm....... Matte Painting is not a pre-requisite to compositing. The two areas (compositing and matte painting) do compliment each other but are actually two different positions in a vfx pipeline.

An entry level job in compositing is generally Roto. Competition for these positions is fierce and totally dependent on a combination of talent (what you can show in your showreel) and luck (applying to the right person at the right time. Shake is still an industry standard compositing package therefore as a route into the compositing world and as a way of establishing compositing skills and understanding shake is an ideal package to start with.

Do not however assume that because you have done a course you will be guaranteed a job. You really have to knuckle down, get some good examples of roto, keying and basic colour correction on a reel and use that as a starting point when applying for positions. Also, try to make your reel different from what other people on the course may be producing so you stand out from the crowd.

All the best and good luck in your career,