Matchmove / Layout Artist

This role is considered Hybrid, which means the employee will work 2-3 days onsite at a Company designated location and occasionally from home.

We are looking for Layout/ Matchmove Artists who reflect the innovative spirit, creative talent, production excellence, team-oriented mentality and passion for great filmmaking that define ILM! 

The Layout / Matchmove (MM) Artist creates camera moves and rough blocking animation within a digital environment. They 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 / MM Artist accurately recreates the set, camera moves, and actor performances to allow for seamless effects integration.

In the CG Layout / MM process, Camera matchmoves and original CG camera moves are integrated to create the framework of each sequence (matchmoving is the replication of the real set, camera and camera move within the computer for later use by animators and technical directors). Often this includes manipulating both 2d and 3d elements, while maintaining accurate camera perspective.

In some cases a sequence might be entirely Computer Generated with no live action background elements. The Layout / MM 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. While matchmoving is one requirement of the position, ILM Layout / MM Artists perform many tasks outside of matchmoving.

ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and we embrace promising individuals with a variety backgrounds and experiences. 

What You’ll Do

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

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

• Photomodel, perform 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)

• Create 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

• At least three years of relevant professional VFX experience and at least a college level diploma or higher in computer graphics, fine arts, design, photography, or related field; OR at least five years of relevant professional VFX experience in lieu of education

• Proven track record of delivering high end VFX across a range of feature film and/or episodic television genres

• Ability to reproduce exact camera moves within a computer environment

• Understanding of photography and the effects of different lenses on perspectives

• Good written and oral communication skills including significant interpersonal skills

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

• Nice to have:

• Advanced knowledge of Linux, Maya, 3dEqualizer (or other tracking software)

• Willingness to learn new tools, proven ability to be detail-oriented and to work efficiently within a production environment

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

• Knowledge of Nuke and Unreal is a plus.

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