About the role
Guru Studio is a creative-driven entertainment company and an industry leader in animated storytelling. For over twenty years, our studio has brought to life some of the most recognizable and beloved children’s properties in the world.
We’re always looking for passionate and committed talent, so come join our dynamic and growing team! Are you ready to take the world’s #1 smash hit animated series to the next level? The award-winning, action packed and loved-by-every-child-on-Earth series PAW Patrol is entering its second decade of production, with BIG plans ahead! We’re looking for a visionary Previz Lead to join us on PAW Patrol!
Duties and Responsibilities
- Using an extensive 3D assets library along with creating rough models to represent scale, placement and necessary volumes to compose appealing sets, locations and stagings based on 2D designs, storyboards and production scope.
- Completing script Previs as requested ahead of storyboard launches.
- Evaluating Storyboards into 3D space to visualize and pre-plan each episode by preparing rough modeling blockouts, rough camera positions, staging and set dressing ahead of the layout department being mindful of production scope.
- Applying launch notes and considerations to set dressing planning.
- Working with supervisor(s) to determine relevant location/set usage for episodes and any possible modifications that may be needed on existing assets per episode.
- Evaluating staging, general camera usage, and path of action plans to create a successful foundation to begin Previs and Set Dressing work.
- Planning & managing of Houdini stagings, groupings, and location splits in alignment with production scope.
- Populating Asset files with Previz Explore Geo as required.
- Posting both WIP and completed work internally and communicating progress to managers and other departments so Shot Dept Supervisors have an opportunity to suggest any needed amendments for their department to stay within scope.
- Keep up-to-date on location set dressing techniques and technology and proposing new tools/methodologies.
- Maintaining strong organization, communication and problem-solving skills.
Qualifications
- Experience: 5+ years experience working as a PreViz/Scene Planner in Series and/or Feature Animation production.
- Leadership: Previous Lead or Supervisor experience required.
- Technical Skills: Experienced with Maya, Flow and Houdini is required, including submission notes, task statuses and logging work time.
- Vision: Needs to have the vision to be a world builder, taking the initiative to lead conceptual development of previs of new environments in development.
- Spatial Awareness: A strong spatial awareness for previs building to translate shots into Layout.
- Layout Background: A strong layout background would be ideal but not necessarily required.
- Soft Skills: Strong leadership skills, very collaborative and skilled at inter-department communication.
- Pipeline Understanding: Strong understanding of how an TV Animation series pipeline operates.
- Portfolio: Portfolio featuring modeling and/or previz and/or layout work or any combination of these.
Why Join Guru?
- We create a collaborative and creatively fulfilling work environment by promoting courage, purpose, inspiration, integrity, transparency, and empowerment as our core values.
- We take great pride in our work and we always ensure it reflects a high standard of quality and creativity.
- We encourage individuals to grow with us by offering learning opportunities that encourage skill development and growth.
- We are proud to support philanthropic initiatives that support through an extensive benefits plan and extended mental health services and initiatives.
- We allow flexibility to work remotely while making our downtown studio available for in-person team building and collaboration.
Additional Details
- Contract duration: Fixed-term contract of approximately 1 year.
- Expected compensation: $1,550 - 1,650 per week, depending on experience and role requirements.
- Vacancy status: This posting reflects a current vacancy that we are actively working to fill.
- Work arrangement: This is a Hybrid/In-Studio role open only to Ontario residents who can travel to the Greater Toronto Area for studio work.