Lead Generalist Artist

Position Summary

We are looking for a Lead/Environment  Generalist who reflects the innovative spirit, creative talent, production excellence, collaborative mindset and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM.

Lead Generalists manage a team of artists, and/or a sequence of shots, to ensure that shots are created according to the design and visual style of the project. Generalists create photo-real environments, and exhibit a strong foundation in photo-realistic, traditional, and digital art skills with an emphasis on full cg environments and set extensions. They work with live action footage and digital still photography, create cgi elements and use digital paint to construct environments that are seamlessly integrated into shotwork. 

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a bridge between the Generalist Supervisor/VFX Sup/CG Sup Production team and artists

• Comprehend feedback and reply to review notes with little Generalist Supervisor direction, and have the ability to guide a team of artists in achieving the Generalist and VFX Supervisor’s vision

• “Own” a scene and help to divide the work into smaller parts for other artists

• Present work on behalf of the team

• Use your  experience in decision-making, managing tasks, and allocating shot resources

• Help develop solutions and techniques that meet supervisors aesthetic/technical direction

• Organize and create complex environments, while sharing assets and elements with other departments  

• Create high quality environments within a shot using a variety of software programs, and working under the Generalist Supervisor’s guidance, establishing the look of a shot before handing elements to final comp

• Help guide and mentor artists while assisting them with their tasks

• Meet milestones within a timeline, attend dailies and participate in creative problem solving

• Create basic lighting setups in complex shaders that look convincing and render efficiently

What We’re Looking For

Education / Experience:

• 8  years relevant professional experience.  BA (or equivalent experience) in computer graphics, fine arts, design, photography or related field.

• Minimum 2 Years of leadership experience

• Extensive experience in CG environment creation, and experience in partnering with other disciplines in the pipeline

Required Skills / Competencies:

• Proven ability in one or more CG techniques, including modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, look development, or compositing 

• High level of problem solving and creative thinking skills

• Good organizational and communication skills 

• Demo reel required

Technical Skills / Competencies:

• Fluent in Photoshop

• Fluent in, Maya and/or Houdin/Katana &3D  Max is a plus 

• Working knowledge of Nuke

• Good working knowledge of specialist tools and plugins like Forestpack, Speedtree, etc.

• Technical comprehension of mainline pipeline

• Demonstrated ability to quickly pick up new software