Layout Artist (all levels)

*We are hiring at all levels for this discipline*

The youngest of all of the ILM studios, the Mumbai studio leverages the expertise and technological know-how developed over 40 years at Industrial Light & Magic combined with the top artists and technicians in the region. Knowledge and culture flow freely between the company’s five studios and the global team shares tools and workflow allowing for seamless partnership on all projects. 

As we grow ILM Mumbai, we are seeking a Layout Artist to join as one of the first members of the team and be a part of building the studio and its technology infrastructure.    

The Layout Artist will create camera moves and rough blocking animation within a digital environment. They will work closely with the Animation Director and Visual Effects Supervisor to establish composition, timing, and continuity for each shot. When live-action photography is involved, the Layout Artist will accurately recreate the set, camera moves, and actor performances to allow for seamless effects integration. In the CG Layout process, camera matchmoves and original CG camera moves are integrated to create the framework of each Sequence. In some cases a sequence might be entirely Computer Generated with no live action background elements.  The Layout Artist works as part of the larger layout team which acts as a central hub for all shot preparation to ensure continuity and camera accuracy in CG Elements. 

What You’ll Do

• Performs matchmoving duties such as camera tracking, character matching (matchanim), solving lens distortion, deformation matching of surfaces, solving native stereo plates. 

• Performs  multi-plate splicing and stitching, adding creative plate post-moves, creative stereo (i.e. Technical layout) 

• Manages Previz, postviz and techviz (prep for location shooting or ride development); Process inbound/outbound moco data 

• Photomodels, performs environment/scene setup verifying correct assets are being used, edit ranges are correct, and generating initial data for downstream artists including animation/TDs/comp, lidar processing, set dressing (i.e. Scene setup) 

• Creates creative camera work for non-plate shots and camera takeover shots; originate entirely CG camera animation (i.e. CG camera work) 

• Solve facial animation from face cams (i.e. face-capture) 

• Under the direction of the project Supervisors, setup the technical and aesthetic approaches of the matchmove work for a shot, sequence, or an entire aspect of a show 

• Convert background plates to various formats to use with specific software to create digital motion files that match the plate photography; animate any live action character or relative object in the scene 

• Model the set geometry used to create the matchmove and environment for Animators and Technical Directors 

• Light, render and composite files with the background to judge the move 
   

What We’re Looking For

• Ability to reproduce exact camera moves within a computer environment.  

• Knowledge of photography and the effects of different lenses on perspectives.  

• Good written and oral communication skills including strong social skills.  

• Excellent problem solving skills including the ability to work under tight deadlines.  

• Advanced knowledge of Linux, Maya, 3dEqualizer (or other tracking software) required.  Knowledge of Nuke is a plus.  

• Maintain an expert level of knowledge about current developments in matchmove tools for computer graphics, especially in areas that relate to the film industry. 

• Must have a willingness to learn new tools, proven ability to be detail-oriented and to work efficiently within a production environment.  

• Preferred Skills / Competencies: 

  • Location and/or Stage experience including matchmove set ups; data wrangling; hdr/digimatte/texture/pmodel photography; lidar scanning; lens grid filming; on-stage (real-time) camera capture/assistance. 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent; 3+ years’ experience as an artist, animator, or camera operator. 

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