Virtual Production Supervisor

Job Description

Position at Industrial Light & Magic

This posting is an opportunity to submit your resume for future consideration; this is not a role that is open at this time. We anticipate this role may be open in the future, but we are not actively hiring for the position. If you would like to be considered for this potential role, please submit your resume. If the role becomes available, you may receive an email or call from a recruiter.

Position Summary
The Virtual Production Supervisor is responsible for west coast oversight and integration of all physical acquisition and virtual production stage technology within the Lucasfilm Companies.

Primary Responsibilities
• Design an approach plan and/or recommendations for virtual production requests ranging from basic body mocap to complex on-set capture and visualization, working in tandem with the engineering team, show Virtual Production Supervisor, and/or VFX/Anim Supervisors.
• Work closely with Virtual Production Engineering to stay aware of all relevant active development within ILM, Lucasfilm, and Disney. Communicate clearly as a product owner/stakeholder to identify the priorities for the stage team in San Francisco.
• Work with the Virtual Production Producers and/or show Virtual Production Supervisor to generate an accurate estimate of the stage or on-set labor based on a thorough approach plan; advise on casting/sourcing talent to effectively incorporate performance capture into our prospective projects.
• Supervise the onsite stage team in assisting the virtual production needs for both ILM and Lucasfilm.
• Partners with the Virtual Production Engineering teams in planning and execution of technology development projects, ensuring that priorities are in line with show/project needs.
• Supervises demonstrations and preshow/greenlight tests to prove capabilities and potential of performance capture/virtual production.
• Advise directors on character casting and assist directors in crafting a desired performance when needed.
• Oversee Virtual Production Stage crew by providing training, mentoring, and guidance on running shoots and projects independently.
• Plans and manages the local virtual production budget and plans spending for the following fiscal year.
• Evaluate and maintain virtual production needs and standards for potential and ongoing projects, and ensure that documentation of these standards and approach plans are maintained according to ILM Best Practices.
• Train the location crew in ILM Best Practices for on-set virtual production, including body and facial capture as needed, including advising on professional photography equipment & techniques for location use.
• Create and maintain capture vendor & service bureau relationships; stay up to date on the stage capture equipment and software.
• Responsible for the delivery of good captured data that plugs into the ILM CG pipeline; work closely with show leadership to ensure that captured data integrates successfully into the ILM CG pipeline.
• Supervise motion retargeting, editing, and delivery of data shot internally or externally.
• Supervise preparation for all virtual production shoots, including scene assembly and asset preparation.
• Ensure asset and delivery pipelines are properly configured for each virtual production show. Work closely with the Virtual Production Engineering team to improve the pipeline.
• Maintain the stage technology infrastructure, including mocap systems & video acquisition and distribution; plan and supervise stage infrastructure improvement projects.
• Partners with Virtual Production Producers on space, staffing, equipment, and budgetary needs for the following fiscal year.
• Attend trade shows and travel to vendors for tech evaluations, etc.
• Supervise in-house bluescreen element shoots as needed.
• Supervises and directs facial Medusa captures on and offsite.
• Occasional travel to set and/or client meetings.

Education/Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Film, Engineering, Computer Science, or relevant area
• 10+ years of experience with Motion Capture technology, VFX, and Physical Production.
• On-set client interaction and key creative collaboration.
• Track record of successfully delivering high-quality data in a rapidly changing environment

Required Skills/Competencies
• Advanced knowledge of on-set digital acquisition hardware.
• Advanced knowledge of all motion capture & facial capture hardware techniques, an on-set pipelines.
• Must be able to execute technically difficult work and maintain a productive attitude under the pressure of live action production.
• Proven track record in leadership and mentorship of virtual production stage crews.
• Knowledge of game engine and game-related technologies.
• Experience in a visual effects asset and shot production pipeline.
• Experience using digital content creating software such a Maya.
• Advanced knowledge of still photography, film, and video production.
• Advanced knowledge of movie lighting and stage rigging skills preferred.
• Experience with video hardware and signals, video engineering experience preferred.
• Must be highly computer literate with Linux. MAC and Windows also preferred.
• Must be an excellent troubleshooter to diagnose and solve issues in complex integrated systems of computers, video recording systems, software, and other sensor-driven systems.
• Ability to develop and debug scripts in Python preferred but not required.
• Strong comprehension of the concepts, practices, and procedures used in visual effects and film production.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and diplomacy skills.
• Must be detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to handle a variety of tasks in an efficient manner.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g6w89r-3-141-47-221-42 in your application.