Lead Crowd Technical Director
Framestore
Montreal, QC
Directeur(trice) technique des effets de foule / Crowd Technical Director
A multi Oscar-winning creative studio, we have worked with some of the greatest storytellers in film today. Collaborating with directors and producers across the complete filmmaking process to help design, plan and create beautiful images, we focus on finding innovative creative solutions to support their vision and set new standards for visual effects in cinema.
Crowd Technical Directors are responsible for creating the motion of crowds, including the animating and simulating of tens of thousands of characters for high end visual effects films.
Who we are:
Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to everything we create, whether in film, TV, advertising or immersive experiences. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.
Responsibilities:
• Creating simulations of crowd characters as briefed by the Visual Effects/CG Supervisor or Lead
• Developing locomotion, motion and triggering behaviors to ensure a variety of looks can be achieved
• Utilizing crowd software (both proprietary and off-the-shelf) to deliver to the highest possible standards
• Liaising with other departments involved in the crowd pipeline including Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Motion Capture and Lighting
• Involvement in developing crowd tools and techniques
• Staying on schedule and meeting set deadlines while maintaining the highest levels of quality
• Ongoing communication with Production and Leads regarding schedules and deadlines
Essential Skills:
• A thorough knowledge of Houdini - especially Houdini Crowds, Houdini Agent Definition, Maya is a plus
• Creative problem solving skills
• An appreciation of both the aesthetic and technical requirements of the role
• A good understanding of animation and an eye for motion
• A strong work ethic and a willingness to be involved in both development and shot execution
• The ability to work as part of a team in a challenging, changeable and deadline oriented environment
• Excellent organization, communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise across departments
• A good understanding of the entire visual effects process
• A familiarity with pipeline and workflow issues, especially working between multiple packages
• Adaptability and the willingness to learn new processes, software and technical skills
• Experience of working under a Unix/Linux systems environment
Desirable Skills:
• Previous experience in a similar role
• Programming/scripting experience (e.g. Vex, Python and/or C++)
• A good understanding of particle systems
• Experience of developing tools, scripts and plug-ins to help streamline workflow
• Previous experience working with motion capture data
Our Commitment:
Application Process
To apply, please complete the linked application form or submit your resume and portfolio to recruiters@framestore.com with the subject line: [Job Title - City].
Framestore is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d95xvm-3-145-164-188-42 in your application.