CG Generalist – Santa Monica

A VFX house (small boutique type) in Santa Monica is looking for a CG Generalist for our ongoing projects.

Ideal candidate mush be able to do modeling, texture-mapping, rigging, animation.
Applicants mush be highly proficient using 3DCG software such as 3dsMax, Maya.

Location – Santa Monica
Position – CG artist
Status – On-site, full time, freelance
Estimated Duration – Early 2011 to mid 2012

Please send resume and a link to your work samples to info@nicedayinc.com
Please reply with your rate.

Nice Day, Inc.

MPC Vancouver: Matchmove Artist

Position Summary:

MPC Vancouver is looking for an experienced Matchmove Artist to join our team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Supervise the tracking of CG elements, both camera and objects to match live-action footage in a 3D environment and to maintain consistent shot quality
  • Work with production to create matchmove schedules and project targets
  • Define any specific matchmove tools required for the show and identify any additions or modifications to our existing toolset required to realise this pipeline
  • Set up and participate in matchmove dailies and desk rounds
  • Monitor daily progress to ensure targets are being met, adjusting the pipeline and schedules as necessary
  • Conform any Lidar scans, Survey Data or matchmove specific geometry prior to starting a sequence
  • Report on the progress of the matchmove work on the show to production and Supervisors

Requirements:

  • Must have thorough knowledge of software based object tracking and 3D rotoscoping of a digital model to a live action background
  • Proven Matchmove experience in a large feature-film VFX production environment
  • Must be proficient in: 3D Equalizer, Maya and Boujou
  • Knowlege of Shake and tracking in Shake an advantage. Experience with other tracking software (eg Matchmover) taken into account
  • Must be able to model and manipulate geometry for scene reconstruction and to aid tracking
  • Candidates should demonstrate a good eye for detail and precision with strong problem-solving skills
  • Must have a solid understanding of camera moves and filming techniques
  • Excellent communication skills
  • General understanding of linux/unix-based operating systems
  • On set experience an advantage

Details:

  • Start Date: Immediate to early 2011
  • Duration: Project based
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada

If this role sounds of interest then please get in touch, sending a copy of your reel and resume to: vancouver-jobs@moving-picture.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

MPC Vancouver: VFX Producer

Position Summary:

MPC Vancouver is looking to recruit an experienced VFX Producer to work on an exciting feature film project due to begin in the coming months.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • The Producer role carries significant responsibilities both internal and external to the facility. From the bidding process through to driving a production schedule and managing a budget, being effective in this role is crucial to a well organised project
  • Forming a partnership with the VFX Supervisor to carefully manage both the client relationship and internal team priorities while always ensuring the best standard of work is being produced at all times
  • Representing MPC as the key client liaison on the project, handling this responsibility and relationship with diplomacy and professionalism
  • Working closely with the Production Manager to create and drive a schedule of deliverables and accurate resource requirements over the project duration
  • Managing show budget and finances

Requirements:

  • The ideal candidate will have proven experience as a Producer on feature film projects in an established VFX facility
  • Proven ability to manage and cater for client expectations is essential
  • Business acumen and an ability to balance financial responsibilities and negotiations in what is at times a very demanding environment
  • Thorough understanding of CG production pipelines and post production in general is essential
  • Outstanding organisational skills and attention to detail coupled with exceptional people skills and the ability to work within a team environment
  • Strong skills in communication – both written and verbal
  • Good understanding of Filemaker Pro and Excel

Details:

  • Start Date: Immediate to early 2011
  • Duration: Project based
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada

If this role sounds of interest the pleae get in touch, sending a copy of your resume to: vancouver-jobs@moving-picture.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

One more question – Best mnouse type for macbook pro

Okay so I know there is no "Best" but I mean out of these two:

A. Apples Magic Track Pad – This really intrigues me, seem easy, quick, and more efficient than a mouse (Obviously will be used for VFX)
B. Apples Magic Mouse – This mouse seems kinda cool for what it is.

Im looking for something that will be efficient with my laptop, and easy to use. I hate a laptops trackpad. Too small and annoying.

Id prefer input from anyone whose ever tried them, but wouldnt mind others’ aswell.

MPC Vancouver: Rigging TD

Position Summary:

MPC Vancouver is looking for an experienced Rigging TD to join the team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Uses an array of commercial and proprietary tools to create character rigs
  • Design control mechanism’s that are simple and intuitive
  • Work in conjunction with the modelling department and animation department to create photorealistic characters
  • Integration of characters and rigs into the production pipeline
  • Create User Interfaces and tools that assist animators
  • Works in partnership with R&D programmers, Animators, Lighting TD’s to ensure shots are delivered to the very highest standard
  • Provide support to character rigs throughout production
  • Write scripts that automate character production

Requirements:

  • Thorough understanding of techniques and technologies relating to character rigging and animation
  • Understanding of puppet and control philosophy
  • Excellent understanding of anatomy, volumes and masses, dynamics and character motion
  • 3+ years proven experience in feature film/broadcast visual effects production
  • Good understanding of the entire visual effects process, from shooting to modelling to texturing, animation and rendering
  • Good computer skills, particularly with UNIX/Linux command line interface
  • MEL programming essential
  • Maya API C++ programming also a plus

Details:

  • Start Date: Immediate to early 2011
  • Duration: Contract
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada

If this role sounds of interest then please get in touch, sending a copy of your reel and resume to: vancouver-jobs@moving-picture.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

MPC Vancouver: FX TD

Position Summary:

MPC Vancouver is looking for experienced FX TDs to join our team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Uses an array of commercial and proprietary software tools to produce photorealistic simulations of real-world phenomena while developing innovative solutions to complex problems
  • Produces test and often final renders of FX elements for a shot
  • Creates working test composites for review by the supervision team
  • Works in partnership with lighters & compositors to ensure shots are delivered to the very highest standard

Requirements:

  • Proven experience in feature, commercials or broadcast visual effects production
  • Experience in live action FX work preferred
  • Good understanding of the entire visual effects process
  • An eye for details, good sense of timing, and through understanding of techniques and technologies relating to physical simulation in computer graphics
  • The ability to think clearly and creatively under pressure
  • Good proficiency with Autodesk Maya, strong scripting skills in MEL, with Python, C/C++ programming and shell scripting a plus
  • Knowledge of Pixar’s PRMan renderer preferred
  • Familiarity with at least one node based compositing application (Shake and/or Nuke preferred), and a solid understanding of the compositing process
  • Good computer skills, particularly with the UNIX/Linux command line

Details:

  • Start Date: Immediate to early 2011
  • Duration: Various
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada

If this role sounds of interest then please get in touch, sending a copy of your reel and resume to: vancouver-jobs@moving-picture.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

MPC Vancouver: Lighting TD

Position Summary:

MPC Vancouver is looking for Senior Lighting/Look Dev artists to join our team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Using an array of commercial and proprietary lighting tools to match CG lighting to on-set lighting
  • Producing test and final renders of all CG elements
  • Creating working comps for review by the supervision team
  • Assisting and developing the look of a shot or sequence with the supervision team
  • Helping establish suitable work techniques for other team members
  • Working with the producer and co-ordinator, lighting supervisor and CG Supervisor to establish schedules and technical requirements
  • Working in partnership with compositors to ensure shots are delivered to the very highest standard

Requirements:

  • Proven production lighting experience
  • Thorough understanding of techniques and technologies related to CG rendering and compositing
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Proven technical and creative ability in a large feature-film VFX production environment
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Very good understanding of shading, lighting and rendering terminology
  • Very good understanding of production pipelines
  • Very good knowledge of a production renderer
  • Very good knowledge of node-based compositing software
  • General understanding of linux/unix-based operating systems
  • Python and MEL scripting experience an advantage

Details:

  • Start Date: Immediate to early 2011
  • Duration: Various
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada

If this role sounds of interest then please get in touch, sending a copy of your reel and resume to: vancouver-jobs@moving-picture.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Psyop drops an instant classic for LG


Psyop’s latest for LG brings a living room to life with a whimsy few others can rival.

It has become too easy to blindly praise the powerhouse that is Psyop. Their talent and resources consistently put them out in front of the competition and they have continued to set the bar for the better part of five years.

Let’s stop for a moment and dissect what it is that really makes them great. For me, it’s that extra percent from concept to delivery. It’s that hyper-attention to movement and timing, details in design and an overall way of noticing moments of beauty in the mundane that push this spot – like many others – into the realm of greatness. Immerse and enjoy.

Agency: Young & Rubicam NY
Executive Creative Director: Scott Vitrone
Executive Creative Director: Ian Reichenthal
Global Creative Director: Stuart Harricks
Global Creative Director: Andrew McKechnie
VP, Creative Director / Art Director: Gabriel Hoskins
Creative Director / Writer: Cheryl Chapman
Executive Director of Content Production: Lora Schulson
Executive Director of Content Production: Nathy Aviram
Senior Content Producer: Tennille Teague
Executive Music Producer: Eric David Johnson
Assistant Content Producer: Luiza Naritomi

Production Company: Psyop / Smuggler
Director: Psyop
Psyop Creative Directors: Marie Hyon, Marco Spier
Executive Producers (Psyop): Lucia Grillo, Justin Booth-Clibborn, Lydia Holness
Producers (Psyop): Michael Neithardt, Sean Sullivan
Executive Producer/Partner (Smuggler): Patrick Milling Smith
Executive Producer/Partner (Smuggler): Brian Carmody
Executive Producer/COO (Smuggler): Lisa Rich
Executive Producer (Smuggler): Allison Kunzman
Head of Production (Smuggler): Laura Thoel
Live Action Producer (Smuggler): Erin Wile
Director of Photography: Fred Elmes
Animation: Psyop
Lead 3D Artist: Christian Bach
3D Artists: Todd Akita , Alvin Bae, Jonah Friedman, David Barosin, Miguel Salek, Xuan Siefert, Jimmy Gass, Pat Porter, Kitty Lin, Keith Kim
3D Animator: Jae Ham
Lead 2D Artist: Nick Tanner
2D Artists: Adam Flynn, Dan Short
Designers: Anh Vu, Jonathan Saunders
Editor: Cass Vanini
Storyboard Artist: Ben Chan
Tracking: Joerg Liebold
Design Interns: Sam Ballardini, Hung Liao

Music and Sound Design: Q Department

Posted on Motionographer

Rotopaint: Missing input channel

Hi
hope this question isn’t too stupid. I’ve been following this tutorial (http://magazine.creativecow.net/arti…-effects-users) about nuke and tried to add a mask to my scanline render (trying to add a mask to my 3d object flying around a corner for 3 days now. here is his setup)

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

Macbook Pro – PC Question

One more thing. Ive never used a mac before so i need some help with this answer.

If i have after effects, maya, etc on my macbook, and then have an editing studio at home (likely end up being that the pc is not quite as fast as the macbook but can handle it very well and is more comfortable) Will the save project files form a mac work on my pc and vice versa?

I ask cuz my macbook pro im thinkin about buying is going to have a solid state hardrive so its fast as all hell, but it will be small, and not be able to hold alot, however i have a 1.5 TB hardrive in my desktop now, and want to use it as storage, and for small edits in between.

Compatible?

Much obliged!