Lead Crowd Technical Director

Job Overview

The Lead Crowd TD is responsible for executing the creative and technical direction of a show, ensuring the vision of the VFX Supervisor is met with high-quality, efficient solutions. You will support, mentor and guide artists and solve production roadblocks, and collaborate with the Crowd Supervisor to evolve crowd tools and workflows while leading a sequence or a show.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of crowd artists, providing technical and artistic direction and creative feedback at shot and sequence level.
• Lead the direction and development of shot templates and tools.
• Collaborate with other crowd artists to implement efficient solutions that enable the smooth running of the show.
• Gather, edit and maintain the show motion library to meet artistic and technical requirements, and assist with the planning and direction of motion capture shoots.
• Manage crowd agent setups, collaborating with upstream departments to troubleshoot issues, and set up and maintain agent variation logic to balance diversity and performance.
• Manage show setup for small to medium shows.
• Mentor crowd artists on Houdini workflows, proprietary pipeline tools and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.
• Work with Production and artists to understand and assign tasks, meet show deadlines and provide shot/sequence feedback.
• Identify, troubleshoot and problem solve complex issues throughout the crowd pipeline.
• Collaborate and communicate with R&D and Pipeline Engineers to implement efficient and effective solutions.
• Attend relevant meetings on shots, sequences, and production.
• Support recruitment and staffing of the crowd team.

Qualifications

• Proven strong experience working on high-end VFX or animated feature film productions.
• Previous experience in a leadership or mentoring role.
• Expert knowledge of Houdini for Crowds.
• Extensive understanding of crowd behaviour, including human crowds, swarming insects, combat choreography, and animal behaviours.
• Strong knowledge of cinematography and composition with a passion for storytelling.
• Highly proficient at VEX and Python.
• Proficiency with Linux, including shell scripting.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to address technical and artistic obstacles.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with motion capture retargeting, motion editing, creature simulation including cloth and groom.
• Working familiarity with C/C++.

Company: ILM (UK) Ltd.

ILM (UK) Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity.

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