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Senior Look Development Technical Director
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) – Vancouver, Canada
Job Summary
This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2-3 days onsite at a company-designated location and occasionally from home.
We are looking for a Senior Look Development Technical Director (TD) who reflects the innovative spirit, creative talent, production excellence, collaborative mindset, and passion for great filmmaking that defines ILM. As a Senior Look Development TD, you will be responsible for producing high-quality look development and shading for our CG assets, needing only initial direction and guidance from your Supervisor.
At ILM, we believe a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it comes from! Do you thrive in a creative environment? Do you enjoy sharing knowledge and learning from others? If you love art, technology, and movies, then this might be the role you’re looking for!
ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and the Look Development (Look Dev) team embraces promising individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Key Responsibilities
- Work closely with Lighting Supervisors, Lookdev Supervisors, and CG Supervisors to determine the best approach to solving CG challenges and developing the final look
- Create efficient rendering setups to optimize render farm usage
- Stay on schedule and meet set deadlines while maintaining the highest level of work quality
- Ensure ongoing communication with Production and Leads regarding schedules and deadlines
- Help mentor junior artists within the Lighting/Look Dev team
- Create and maintain simple materials using the provided shading templates
- Set up bespoke turntable light rigs and shading networks when necessary
- Create and maintain custom hero materials and shading networks when necessary
- Perform shot Look Dev tasks
- Collaborate with model, texture, and groom artists to achieve the best possible results
- Build and maintain complex shading networks with artist usability and user-interface support in mind
Required Qualifications / Skills
- Degree and/or professional training in Computer Graphics, with advanced work experience in VFX; experience in Feature Animation is a plus
- Demo reel required; please include a breakdown of responsibilities for each shot in the reel in the edge of the frame
- Excellent listening and communication skills; able to receive direction and criticism
- Demonstrated ability to help and teach more junior-level artists
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time well, and provide accurate time estimates on shot task completion
- Team-oriented with ability to work independently
- Thorough knowledge of the VFX pipeline from modeling through texturing, grooming, rendering, and compositing
- Ability to pick up new techniques and learn new software quickly and easily
- Proficiency in Linux-based systems
- Good understanding of physically plausible shading techniques and energy conservation principles
- Deep understanding of physically based rendering, shading, and real-world materials
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Katana and Renderman
- Knowledge of Python scripting
- Strong interest in shading technologies
Education Requirements
Degree and/or professional training in Computer Graphics or related field.
Experience Requirements
Advanced work experience in VFX; experience in Feature Animation is a plus.
Benefits & Compensation
The hiring range for this position in Vancouver is C$110,600.00 to C$141,500.00 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs.
The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.
A full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits may be offered dependent on the level and position offered.
Application Process
As part of your application, please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.
About Industrial Light & Magic
Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 325 feature films and has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box-office hits of all time and has contributed to 25 of the top 50.
ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, the company continues to break new ground in visual effects, VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences.
From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family.
Disney’s stories, characters, and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.
This position is with ILM (Vancouver) Inc., which is part of a business we call Industrial Light & Magic.
