Job Description
The Senior Lighting Technical Director can independently light, render, and do moderate-level compositing of very complex shots, needing only initial direction and guidance from their supervisors. Designs and implements direct and reflected lighting and shadows for assigned shots that meet art and tone direction. Ensures that assigned shots fit the continuity of the sequence and able to create sequence-based lighting setups that can be completed by less experienced Lighting TDs. Develops solutions and techniques that meet art/technical direction. Trouble-shoots asset and pipeline technical issues and optimizes rendering setups. Participates in team review of work under development. Able to navigate and use previous setups for at least a dozen shots, insertion of shot specialization, managing multiple assets and lighting setups. Also able to take in implicit surface and volumetric datasets, light using varying shadowing strategies, imitate distributed light sources. Management of volumetric light setups, including shadowing and cucoloris development. Also able to light, material assign and render for actors using CG hair and scattering skin materials.
What You'll Do
Set up and light very complex/multiple creatures (hairy or furry) and elements
Excellent pipeline scripting ability
Solid compositing ability, can wrangle bluescreen extractions, working understanding of Nuke
Can write plugins, set up sequences, debug simulations and write set up and rman surface shaders with proficiency
Can write/hack rman procedural and volumetric shaders, as well as procedural and surface shaders with proficiency
Can animate moderate objects with proficiency
Excellent understanding of Renderman and other unviased rendering systems. Needs to know one or more major 3D applications, including Katana, Maya, or Zeno
Can pick up new techniques quickly and easily and can debug just about anything
Responsible for setting a standard for all TDs in continually raising the bar for speed, quality of work, and adaptability
Proven ability to quickly pick up new proprietary pipelines
Designs and creates lighting and the look of computer generated objects and scenes
Responsible for creating images, effects, and programs for digitally composited sequences
Responsible for compiling the various elements of a shot and seeing it through to completion
Demonstrates good listening and communication skills by openly receiving direction and criticism by asking good questions to confirm clear understanding of the directions and how to approach what needs to be done; once clear, implements the requested changes immediately and raises flags right away if a solution is not quickly found or if there are any delays, making sure the Supervisors and Production are kept in the loop and are up-to-date on the status of one's shot work
Demonstrates solid presentation/communication skills in dailies/shot review by clearly and briefly outlining what has been accomplished and what next should be addressed in the shot
Demonstrates solid problem solving skills
Demonstrates the ability to prioritize tasks managing time very well, providing everyone with accurate time estimates on shot task completion
What We're Looking For
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or computer graphics or equivalent
Experience with either Katana, 3DS Max, Maya, Houdini or other software.
3-5+ years production experience or feature film experience
Linux and scripting ability
Nice to have:
Renderman/Vray experience
Nuke experience
Experience in Python and/or Lua
JoinILM
The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $127,100 to $158,900 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g62230-52-55-19-189-42 in your application.