About the role
Job Overview
Please Note: Due to contract lengths, we can only consider UK based candidates.
Framestore is a multi-Oscar-winning creative studio collaborating with directors and producers across the complete filmmaking process to design, plan, and create beautiful images. The studio focuses on finding innovative creative solutions to support directorial vision and set new standards for visual effects in cinema. Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to projects in film, TV, advertising, and immersive experiences, driven by creativity and inspired by the future.
Role
As an FX Technical Director, you will be tasked with creating CG renditions of naturalistic physical or magical phenomena. You will bring to life the wonder of visual effects in high-end films.
Responsibilities
- Creating particle, rigid-body, soft-body, fluid, cloth, fur, and/or hair simulations or animations.
- Applying lighting and shaders to produce the final rendered image or passing the simulation on to a Lighting Technical Director.
- Using a variety of commercial and proprietary FX tools, including Houdini as the primary FX package.
- Working in partnership with other departments to ensure that shots are delivered to the highest possible standard.
- Leading and working within the team to determine the various design solutions needed to create the effects.
- Designing and creating images, elements, effects, pipelines, tools, and techniques.
- Helping to design solutions involving a more procedural approach in order to create the effects required.
- Producing reviewable composites of all FX elements for a shot. Sometimes, FX TDs will be expected to produce final renders too.
Essential Skills
- Excellent knowledge of Houdini and working knowledge of Maya.
- Excellent soft skills and communication skills within a team environment.
- Passion to create cutting-edge FX work and push technically and creatively what can be achieved.
- A thorough understanding of the techniques and technologies relating to FX simulation and procedural animation.
- Previous experience producing effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam, and explosions in addition to simulation techniques for rigid-bodies, cloth, and hair.
- A good understanding of animation and an eye for motion, understanding what makes a shot work from an FX perspective.
- A working knowledge of modern rendering techniques.
- A good understanding of the entire visual effects process.
- Familiarity with pipeline issues, especially working between multiple packages and formats including Alembic and USD.
- A working knowledge of at least one compositing application (e.g., Nuke) and a solid understanding of the compositing process.
- Strong hscript, Vex, and/or Python scripting skills.
- Experience in leading a team of FX artists.
Desirable Skills
- A background in both film and commercials FX production.
- Knowledge in other simulation packages such as Maya/Bifrost.
- Experience within large-scale studio pipelines and working with automation systems.
- Programming skills with C/C++ along with knowledge of the Houdini HDK and/or Maya API.
- Python and Unix shell scripting.
- Experience with other modern render packages.
Working Conditions
- Location: On-site in London, United Kingdom (Chancery Lane office).
- Hybrid Policy: Ability to work onsite 2 days a week is required.
Equity and Inclusion
Framestore is committed to employing extraordinary talent across all genders, races, nationalities, religions, ages, abilities, and sexual preferences. We aim to encourage and support all of our current and future employees to achieve their potential. No individual will receive less favourable treatment on any basis when applying for a career with us.