Houdini Crowd Simulation Lead

4 weeks ago


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Zoic Studios Full time

Career Opportunities at Zoic Studios

Zoic Studios is a leading Visual Effects company specializing in high-end visual effects for television, film, and advertising. Our mantra is Visual Evolution, focusing on every aspect of the process, from the final picture to the pipeline used to create them.

About the Job

The Senior Crowd Artist will play a critical role in creating crowds of characters and creatures to the visual style and narrative of the film. This position will be instrumental in developing creative and technical tools, establishing pipeline-related workflows, and collaborating with the animation team to achieve seamless crowd simulations.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Create detailed layouts and performances of crowds in scenes and shots, adhering to the animation style and narrative look of the film.
  • Publish crowds using Houdini to meet the specifications required by layout for downstream consumption.
  • Collaborate with the animation team to develop supporting animation performances that can be used effectively in crowd simulations.
  • Work with technical directors to enhance capabilities and workflow.
  • Perform technical work in support of shot production, utilizing various production tools to troubleshoot and develop creative solutions to complex tasks.
  • Partner with other disciplines to support each department's integration requirements.
  • Contribute to the mentoring, training, and development of talent within the team.

Requirements:

  • 7+ years of high-end production experience in television or feature films as a Lead Crowd Artist, Crowd Artist, or Technical Director.
  • Experience in producing crowd simulations and proficiency in particle simulations to control the motion and look of crowds.
  • Familiarity with Houdini 18.0 (or higher) and experience in Houdini Crowd setup and simulation.
  • Working knowledge of Mantra rendering, Nuke compositing, and Maya.
  • Strong communication skills to perform in a collaborative work environment.

Additional Information:

  • Zoic Studios is an Artist-owned and operated VFX studio, prioritizing work-life balance and a collaborative work environment.
  • Candidates must be located in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, and be willing to work onsite at the Vancouver Studio in Gastown.
  • Zoic Studios does not cover relocation costs.
  • This role requires a reliable internet connection and adherence to Pacific Standard Time.


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