Lighting Td

**POSITION PURPOSE**

The Lead Lighting TD plays a very important role in the quality control and leadership of the Lighting team. They set the positive tone of the team by exhibiting encouraging and constructive behavior. The Lead is responsible for communicating internal and client notes/feedback to artists in a straight forward manner. They will provide leadership, training, guidance, and support to the rest of the Lighting team while still handling most of the hero work on active shows to ensure all deadlines are met. Also, the Lead may sometimes need to assess Lighting tasks and delegate those tasks to the team. They will maintain clarity and focus during peak periods to ensue show delivery.

The Lead Lighting TD will also contribute to the overall operation and improvement of the Lighting team by setting and maintaining department standards. This will include, but will not be limited to engaging in cross-department communication, flagging/providing solutions to critical issues, documentation, taking part in interviews and participating in the buddy system for new employees. They will also review all shots and ensure minimum quality levels before submitting to the Lighting or VFX Supervisor. In addition, the Lead will develop new processes and stay up to date on innovative technologies to keep the Lighting team on the cutting edge.

**DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Communicate the creative brief and real-world references from the VFX Supervisor and Director to the Lighting team
- Communicate successes and challenges faced by the team to the Lighting Supervisor
- Take direction from the Lighting Supervisor to help realize the vision of the shots through the lighting team
- Work with the CG Supervisor to set up shots and develop the look of the shots
- Work with Composting team members to achieve high quality complex composites
- Responsible for working with the Lighting Supervisor to assess, assign and monitor lighting needs
- Design and develop procedural and innovative tool sets, pipelines and techniques for the Lighters
- Ensure continuity is upheld across shots and sequences
- Offer guidance and mentoring for junior to mid-level lighter
- Light multiple types of shot ensuring consistency in lighting, colour balance and mood between the various elements of the shot or sceneManage time and resources to meet weekly targets
- Promote interdepartmental collaboration

**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE**
- 5+ years’ experience in Lighting digital VFX for film or commercials
- Experience leading teams (6+ people) on large projects of 300 + shots
- Good understanding of photography and film, and how the interactions of light, lenses and film emulsions go to make up the image
- Thorough understanding of a linear color-space workflow
- Excellent attention to detail when finalizing, approving or quality controlling shots
- Ability to balance quick turnaround while achieving a high degree of aesthetic quality

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**

**Technical skills**
- Understanding of Lead best practices
- Ability to train and coach artists in lighting techniques and best practice
- Expert Knowledge of a physically plausible renderer like Arnold
- Strong aptitude for technical workflow challenges such as directory structure, file formats, naming conventions, scripts, automation tools, automated dailies, etc.

**Core skills**
- Ability to help with bidding; determine the timeframe and scope required for each project
- Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities and projects
- Ability to create multiple types of Lighting scenarios
- Capable of managing a team of artists; setting expectations, and managing their time
- Ability to assess artist’s strengths and weaknesses to assign tasks and manage workflow
- Experience in tool development through Python or other high end programming languages
- Strong leadership skills
- Excellent time management and communication skills
- Ability to remain calm during peak production periods and maintain the morale of the lighting team