Senior Crowd TD

Summary

Join Zoic Studios, a Visual Effects company specializing in high-end visual effects, as a Senior Crowd TD based in Vancouver, BC. This role focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the crowd production pipeline, creating crowd layouts and performances, and publishing crowds using Houdini. You will collaborate with animators, technical directors, and other disciplines to ensure seamless integration. The position requires 5+ years of high-end production experience and proficiency in Houdini and other relevant software. While remote work is currently an option, candidates residing in BC are prioritized. The hourly pay range is $50-$65.

Requirements

• 5+ years of high-end production experience in television or feature films as a Lead Crowd Artists, Crowd Artist and/or TD
• Experience in producing crowd simulations
• Proficiency with particle simulations in controlling the motion and look of crowds
• Knowledge of applicable software and platforms; Houdini 18.0 (or higher) experience, required
• Experience in Houdini Crowd setup and simulation
• Working knowledge of Mantra rendering, Nuke compositing and Maya
• Strong communication skills to perform in a collaborative work environment

Responsibilities

• Create layouts and performances of crowds in scenes and shots on style of the animation performances of the film and follow the narrative look of the film
• Publish crowds using Houdini to specifications needed by layout for downstream consumption
• Receiver of the crowd launches in sequences, scenes and shots. Take crowd specific creative input and translate to crowd behavior through performances and overall movement and timing through rules and simulations
• Work with animation to get supporting animation performances that can be used effectively in crowd simulations
• In conjunction with technical directors enhance capabilities and workflow
• Perform technical work in support of shot production using various production tools and help troubleshoot and develop creative solutions to complex tasks
• Troubleshoot creative and technical issues; find elegant solutions to complex tasks
• Partner with other disciplines to support each department’s integration requirements
• Assist with mentoring, training and development of talent

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Renderman and Katana for lighting effects, a plus
• Understanding rigging approaches, a plus

Benefits

• Employees Pay Range: $50 - $65 / hour
• At the moment this is a remote (work from home) position with the option of working within our studio