Lead Pre-Visualisation Artist - ILM London

The Lead Previz Artist at ILM London is a creative and technical leader responsible for the day-to-day artistic and technical oversight of the Previz team. This role involves collaborating with the Previz Supervisor and VFX Supervisor to set aesthetic and technical standards, ensuring complex shots and sequences align with the Director's and Clients' vision through dynamic camera movement, animation, composition, staging, lighting, and editing. The Lead also contributes to creative development and pipeline efficiency, overseeing and producing Techvis, and applying advanced compositing techniques.

Must Have

• Lead experience (5+ shows) as Previs, Post-vis, or Layout Artist.
• Experience working on set.
• Proficiency in film grammar, composition, and editorial decisions.
• Strong understanding of cinematography, lenses, and cinematic lighting.
• Experience with motion capture integration and cleanup.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Maya for animation, camera, and scene assembly.
• Proficient with modeling and texturing tools (Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, ZBrush).
• Familiarity with Nuke, DaVinci Resolve, Houdini.
• Working knowledge of Linux and Google Suites.
• Ability to set aesthetic benchmarks and translate creative concepts into 3D.
• Ability to oversee and produce Techvis for real-world shooting.
• Ability to apply advanced compositing techniques.
• Ability to troubleshoot assets and shots.

Position Summary

The Lead Previz Artist is a seasoned creative and technical leader who acts as the day-to-day artistic and technical anchor for the Previz team. Collaborating closely with the Previz Supervisor and VFX Supervisor, the Lead is responsible for setting the aesthetic and technical standard, and directly overseeing a team of artists. The role ensures complex shots and sequences align with the Director's and Clients' vision through dynamic camera movement, animation, composition, staging, lighting, and editing, while actively contributing to key creative development and pipeline efficiency.

What You’ll Do:

• Set the aesthetic benchmark for shots and sequences, with a passion for and deep understanding of character/camera animation and real-world shooting methodologies, translating storyboards, scripts, and creative concepts into dynamic, fully realised 3D sequences
• Oversee and contribute to the modeling, texturing, shading of assets, preparation of environments, and development of in-shot pipeline-compatible rig solutions.
• Oversee and produce Techvis to support realworld and onset shooting of the completed Previs incorporating practical set dimensions, camera lens data, and virtual production requirements
• Oversee and apply advanced compositing techniques to facilitate a post-process look development pass
• Collaborate and contribute to the creation of tools and scripts to increase team efficiency and workflow.
• Oversee or execute compositing abilities to facilitate the post-process look development pass.
• Maintain or exceed a consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work within Previs timelines
• Troubleshoot assets and shots, continually looking for and suggesting improvements to increase overall efficiency and productivity
• Comfortable overseeing a team of artists, some of whom may be working remotely from other ILM locations
• Must have a passion for camera animation and understand how to design camera motions for real world shoots
• Comfortable communicating and collaborating with other departments across ILM
• Be the primary point of contact for junior and senior artists, escalating major issues to the Previz Supervisor, helping to elevate the overall quality and efficiency of the Previs team
• Demonstrate flexibility with iterative process
• Take initiative to acquire new skills and think outside of the box

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience working as a Previs, Post-vis, or Layout Artist in feature film, high-end television, or AAA game cinematics with lead experience on 5 shows or more.
• Experience working on set
• Well versed in film grammar, composition and editorial decisions
• Strong understanding of different styles of cinematography, knowledge of film terminology, lenses and a good eye for cinematic shot composition and lighting
• Experience with motion capture integration and cleanup
• Strong leadership, communication and problem solving skills with the ability to take complex feedback and rapidly iterate on shots or sequences
• Highly motivated and proactive
• Proficient in Maya for animation, camera, and scene assembly
• Proficient with modeling and texturing tools within common 3d packages (e.g.Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, ZBrush, or similar)
• Familiarity with Nuke, DaVinci Resolve, Houdini
• Working knowledge of Linux and Google Suites

As part of your application please submit a demo reel, shot breakdown, or equivalent showcasing your work. A current resume is required.

This role is Hybrid, which means the employee will be required to work a minimum of 2 days on-site per week at a Company designated location, and occasionally from home.