FX artists (Houdini, Realflow, Krakatoa, Fume, etc)

Luma Pictures is looking for Effects TDs

LUMA PICTURES is an artist-run feature film VFX studio located a few blocks from the beach off of Abbot Kinney in Venice, California. We maintain a unique culture with an amazingly talented staff that consistently cranks out top notch work. We are currently searching for Talented FX TD’s to fill a few choice spots on an upcoming, high profile productions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
– Light and render FX passes for specific shots using developed FX rigs
– Develop rigs/techniques to implement and optimize approved looks
– Produce look tests based on provided reference materials
– Creation of tools and scripts to facilitate workflow

QUALIFICATIONS:
– Artist should be familiar with more than one of the following applications:
– Houdini
– Realflow
– Krakatoa
– Fume
– Python scripting experience is a plus
– Understanding multi pass 3D compositing is a plus
– Artists must be able to take direction and work in a team focused environment, good communication skills are a must
– Strong time management skills and extremely organized.
– Solid work ethic and a positive attitude in the face of challenging situations.
– Los Angeles Residents or willingness to relocate preferred • Relocation assistance may be available subject to negotiation

SUBMISSIONS:
If you think you fit the bill and want a quick response, email your resume, a link to your online reel/portfolio and a shot breakdown to jobs10@luma-pictures.com Please make the email subject "ATTN: Recruiting – FX TD". Do not attach images or movie files to your email because they will get filtered out. If you prefer to send hard copies, you can submit them to:

Attention: Recruiting – FX TD
Luma Pictures
248 Westminster Ave
Venice, CA 90291

Submitted materials will not be returned and no phone calls please.
www.luma-pictures.com

Lali Puna – That Day

A mysteriously fascinating music video from SSSR’s Yu Sato for a track of Lali Puna. Watch That Day.

Automatic Stereoscopic Conversion plugin…

I’m trying to decide if I should continue development on this plugin I’ve been messing around with. Now, I don’t really like the whole idea of studios rushing 3d conversions at the last minute to get on the 3D bandwagaon (Clash). but at the same time, I can’t help but think there are lots of people out there that would want to use this tool.

I attacehd some test renders of the quality. Keep in mind these were generated automatically. No roto, or manual positioning of layers in Z space. Do you guys think there’s a demand for this? Curious to hear people’s opinion about it. Thanks

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VFX402 (WIP) – AlexSlocker

So here goes the basic structure of my scene and things the way I thought them. For me, the scene should be working as a little story, so it’s all about storytelling. A scene that tells something. The good thing is that ‘Alice in Wonderland’ it’s well known by all the people and I can assume that if I omit some stuff, or just I show specific stuff, the general knowledge would do the rest. Besides, this help me getting rid of some work and focus on specific things.

With this idea in mind I decided to change the point of view and show the scene from the Queen’s side. She’ll not be at home, actually, but I’ll show the way she lives and through the space try to catch how eccentric the Queen is. I thought that I’ve to update some years the general aesthetic around Wonderland. This is because in the supplied footage given there’re two woman dress like doing some gym, and would be just weird to have a middle age (¿?) renaiccanse (¿?) aesthetic. So I start wondering how the Queen should look if she would be living this days, and I thought in this granny, always inside home, with the house FULL of staff, pictures everywhere, little boxes near to the table where the phone is, this little crochet tableclothes in any place, flower vases, and that kind of stuff.

That’s how it’s going to be shown in image, just by the POV of the Queen’s nowadays castle! This is a storyboard of the general structure that it’s going to have.

First of all we’re going to see the house hall fully stuffed. Pictures everywhere, vases with flowers, carpets, etc. I thought about doing the pictures actual cards, like 8 of hearts, for example, as if he was one of her sons; the big picture might be the King but drawn as if Bacon done it, didn’t decided yet, anyway. There’s going to be a general shot and some closeups to the pictures, but we end aiming the camera to the top of the stairs.

Next, the corridor where the stairs end -again fully stuffed-, and in the very far side, probably some wide lens (18-24mm), an almost closed door by which the sunlight is filtering. Then a shadow or a glimpse of light, or whatever comes out from the door while the camera close up to it.

Then we’ll see the interior of that room, which is spheric, fully stuffed again; we’re going to see a table where all the jewlery is not just the crown but some other stuff. In one side it’s going to be the mirror and coming out of it the character. Then a cut to a closeup to the table where the crown is and a 3D arm taking it (not sure about this anyway).

The shot it’s going to stay that way, we hear some steps through the floor a very bright glimpse of light and then, after a while, the same arm putting the crown in the very same table. Back to a general shot but now the space it’s going to change to a much modern looking. Flat colors, walls painted in different tones, and perhaps (yet to be decided as well) a cradle with the name ‘Alice’ and a copy of “Alice in Wonderland” in the floor.

That’s the general idea, now I have to put it in images!

Rigging TD reel

Hello,
I am ensembling my rigging reel and I would like to receive some tips on how to ensemble it.

Currently I am finishing a toon character rig with controls like bendy arms and legs, ik/fk switch, 2-level control points, and so on.. this will be the first piece on the reel..

The next videos will be these:

– Creature rigging: T-rex rigging with muscle setup, ik/fk, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG3U3nRQ3vo

– Scripting: I have this car rig, with collision detection of the floor, and other http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1a3qITmlxk

– Face setup with morphs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHyKBjjZd7E

Plus I have a small plugin I have created for retargeting and I will put this at the end of the reel, with other small shots.

It will be hard to stay in 4 minutes, probably I have to speed up more everything and do lot of cuts.

Before wasting my time, do you think is that enough for a good reel? Is there something ‘special’ that agencies looks for in a rigging td reel?

Thank you for your time

MPC Digital seeks Graphics Programmer

MPC Digital seeks Graphics Programmer

MPC’s Digital Department is dedicated to the creation of stunning content for broadcast across multiple platforms whether it be web based, interactive, in-store, tube screen or handheld. MPC Digital seeks a C/C++ Graphics Programmer to fuse together the creative talent and technology that is shaping the future of creative media.

The successful applicant would be working with an established team, developing interactive applications, software solutions and interfaces. Development on Windows platform and C/C++ is essential with a good working knowledge of OpenGL and 3D graphics in general. Some web knowledge would be preferential, as would iPhone development. Applicants should be creative problem solvers who enjoy working in a team with good communication skills and works well with others with diverse skill sets.

Salary: Competitive remuneration package
Location: London
Start date: immediate

This is an exciting opportunity to work in the dynamic world of visual effects. If you are interested please click on the following link and apply online.http://www.moving-picture.com/index….rcials&loc=ldn

Shader needed for MPC London

Shader Writer

MPC currently requires a Shader Writer to join our Features Division.

Primary responsibilities:
Design and write RenderMan shaders and DSO’s to create a photorealistic
look for film.
Apply procedural shading and scripting techniques.
Develop rendering tools for creatures, environments, props, and visual
Effects.
Write surface, light, displacement and volume shaders.
Use lighting and rendering techniques, including HDRI and Global
Illumination.
Work in conjunction with lighting TD’s and R&D Programmers to ensure
shots can be delivered to the very highest standard.
Translate artistic ability into technical applications.
Provide shader support to the lighting team throughout production.

Experience and skills:
-Proven experience in feature film/broadcast visual effects production
-Excellent understanding of RenderMan’s Shading Language and RAT Slim’s templates.
-Thorough understanding of techniques and technologies relating to shading, lighting and rendering, with a showreel to back this up.
-Previous experience shading cloth, fur, feathers, water, FX (fire, smoke, dust, …) and hard surfaces in a photorealistic fashion is a plus.
-Experience with HDRI and Global Illumination.
-Good understanding of the entire visual effects process, from shooting to modelling to texturing, animation and lighting and rendering.
-Good computer skills, particularly with UNIX/Linux command line interface.
-RAT Alfred scripting/mental ray shader programming/ MEL programming a plus
-Maya API and generic C++ programming is also beneficial.

Salary: Competitive remuneration package
Location: Vancouver
Application Closing Date: Ongoing recruitment

This is an exciting opportunity to work in the dynamic world of visual effects. If you are interested please apply online here: http://www.moving-picture.com/index….nology&loc=ldn

NEW SIGNAL NOISE

Check out the updated SignalNoise, Digital home of James White. And while you’re at it, stay tuned for Jame’s upcoming exhibition at Resistor Gallery later this month.

Nintendo DS screen replacement: how?

I’m supposed to work on a nintendo ds game commercial and I’m wondering how to act to set up the screen replacement.

The real problem is the user interaction. My actor will have to interact with the game footage on screen, but we are looking to find a way to shot the console, adding the game footage later in post.

– We will have to track the screen since it will not be a lock shot.
– We need to keep the reflections on the screen
– We need to have the hand of the actor interacting with the game.

I have a couple of different solutions in mind, but I would like to ask if some of you has already done something like this to have some advice.

Thanks 🙂

Idiot Land: Shohei Otomo (aka Hakuchi)

Jaw Dropping ball-point pen illustrations and Manga from Shohei Otomo ~ aka Hakuchi.