Digital Paint - Jedi Academy (Open to Canadian Citizens & PR only)

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

Position Summary

Are you looking to get in the door of the exciting world of VFX? ILM’s Jedi Academy may be just the thing for you!

The Jedi Academy provides the opportunity for recently graduated students or industry artists with up to two years experience to train under our Jedi Masters.

In this paid experience, as the successful applicant, you will be carefully placed into the Digital Paint department and will hone your skills in rotoscoping and basic 2D paint tasks in Nuke/Silhouette (such as plate cleanup and reconstruction) for use in a visual effects production pipeline. You will gain experience through training and mentorship, in a fast-paced and highly collaborative production environment.

To top it off, graduates who successfully complete the program may be offered a Junior Artist position within the studio.

ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, and we embrace promising individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We are searching for Jedi’s who reflect the innovative spirit, creative talent, collaborative mindset and passion for great filmmaking that defines ILM.

Applications will close on January 5th, 2025.

What You Need to Know

• The Jedi Academy role is a paid 6-week placement beginning Tuesday, February 18, 2025
• This role is considered Hybrid, which means you will work onsite at our Vancouver studio and occasionally from home
• You will be required to work full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm
• We do not provide assistance for relocation, housing, transportation, or work authorization for the Jedi Academy
• You must be a Canadian Citizen or hold Canadian Permanent Resident status
• You will have graduated from a relevant course within the last 12 months or have up to two years of VFX experience

What You’ll Do

• Attend live classes based on dept course curriculum, as well as self-led training using ILM's own internal tutorials and documentation
• Offer day-to-day show support for Digital Paint Artists under mentorship of Leads, Supervisors, and the Head of Department (HOD)
• Demonstrate basic ability to match colors and grain structures between multiple sources
• Modify and remove isolated elements for digitally composited sequences with both procedural and hand painting methods
• Demonstrate ability to perform the fundamentals of the following: dirt removal; articulate matte creation, editing and shape management; procedural removal of targets; basic 2D paint tasks in Silhouette/Nuke
• Maintain clean, efficient and well annotated scripts
• Perform QC checks such as A/B comparisons with last revision, plate etc.
• Proactively research and assemble reference
• Proactively seek out aesthetic feedback on revisions, as well as technical support when challenges arise
• Demonstrate a basic ability to problem solve and troubleshoot scene files and workflows
• Updates shot team and production on shot progress and new element deliveries
• Strengthen professional habits, including best practices for presenting work in dailies, working as a team, and communicating effectively
• Gain knowledge and appreciation of ILM’s culture and history

What We’re Looking For

• Passion for filmmaking and the VFX industry
• Experience in computer graphics, animation, photography, video, or fine arts a plus
• Understanding of the pace and production process of episodic television, feature film, or commercial work
• Ability to learn computer operating systems such as UNIX and software like Nuke, Silhouette, and Mocha
• Must have a willingness to learn new tools, a proven ability to be detail-oriented, and problem solving skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and to work efficiently within a production environment
• A demo reel or portfolio demonstrating a strong understanding of traditional or media arts and artistic ability (shot work demonstrating visual effects integration a bonus)