Lighting Technical Director

Job Description

Description

Position at Industrial Light & Magic

Lighting Technical Directors are responsible for producing high-quality CG lighting and rendering for complex shots for high-end photo-realistic visual effects.

What you'll do:
• Scrutinise the colours and directions of all light sources in the real-world scene and replicate them in CG.
• Design and create the lighting and the look of computer-generated objects and scenes.
• Responsible for the final CG scene assembly, lighting and rendering of very complex shots.
• Works closely with Lighting Supervisors and CG Supervisors to determine the best approach to solving CG challenges and developing the final look.
• Creates lighting setups and/or works within current setups.
• Creates efficient rendering setups in order to optimise render farm usage.
• Stays on schedule and meets set deadlines while maintaining the highest level of work quality.
• Ensures there is ongoing communication with Production and Leads regarding schedules and deadlines.
• Helps mentor Junior Artists within the Lighting/Look Dev team

What we're looking for:
• Experience in Computer Graphics.
• Experience in real-world lighting and photography.
• Demonstrable advanced Lighting and Rendering experience within a VFX environment.
• Previous experience performing shot Look Dev tasks
• Exhibits excellent listening and communication skills, able to receive direction and criticism.
• Demonstrates an excellent aesthetic eye, anticipates potential problems and uses knowledge of how to use the tools to achieve the desired look.
• Demonstrates the ability to help and teach more junior-level artists.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritise tasks and provide Production / Lead with accurate time estimates on task completion.
• Demonstrates excellent presentation/communication skills in dailies/shot review by clearly and briefly outlining what has been accomplished and what should be addressed next in a shot.
• Demonstrates the ability to work within a team environment with minimal supervision to complete a shot.
• Can write plug-ins, set-up sequences, debug simulations and write set up and Renderman surface shaders with proficiency.
• Solid compositing ability, can wrangle blue-screen extractions, working knowledge of Nuke.
• Demonstrates the ability to work with minimal supervision to complete a shot.
• A thorough understanding of the VFX pipeline from modelling through animation, texturing, rendering and compositing.
• Ability to pick up new techniques and the ability to learn new software quickly and easily
• Knowledge of Katana is essential, Maya an advantage and Zeno beneficial.
• Knowledge of Python and/or MEL scripting is essential.
• Shader writing ability is essential.
• Good knowledge of Nuke or similar compositing package, including how to use layers and passes to tweak a shot after it has been rendered.
• A strong understanding of Linux based operating systems.
• Basic knowledge of physically plausible shading techniques.
• Strong knowledge of lighting techniques and a good understanding of colour-space.
• Excellent pipeline scripting ability.
• Excellent knowledge of Renderman and other unbiased rendering systems.
• Good knowledge of other disciplines within VFX including simulation, modelling and UV mapping, texturing and camera tracking

**FOR US BASED NEW HIRES ONLY:** We are taking a responsible approach to creating environments that allow us to do what we do best - entertain and inform millions around the world. As part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccines are required for current US salaried and non-union hourly employees, as well as all newly hired US employees.
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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gmzbj2-3-16-51-3-42 in your application.