Postvis Animator - VFX Generalist

THE THIRD FLOOR is the world’s leading visualization company with offices in Los Angeles and London as well as on location with productions around the world. Since 2004, the studio has helped clients visualize and maximize content by producing computer-animated blueprints, known as “previsualizations”. The Third Floor is a fun, creative company founded by artists, for artists. We work on extremely high-profile projects, while maintaining a small studio culture. The company has won multiple Emmy and VES awards for its work. Recent projects include Avatar: The Way of Water, House of the Dragon, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, For All Mankind, Masters of the Air, and many more.

A Postvis Artist pieces together elements, sets them in motion, and “films” them with virtual cameras to create cinematic sequences that represent the creative blueprint. Nearly any aspect of a shot can be tweaked instantaneously to improve the composition or the timing of the action. Candidates should have a variety of CG skills and a solid understanding of character animation, composition and cinematography.

The Third Floor’s Postvis Artist are not your typical Postvis Artist. We are not a finals house; we are a Visualization studio! Each Postvis Artist must have compelling examples of flushed out keyed character animation as well as shot layout and camera animation in addition to examples of compositing and tracking. A demo reel showing dynamics or motion graphics won’t get you through the door.

Project Based. Full Time. Remote Position. UK Based.

Responsibilities:

• Create sequences of shots from storyboards and/or script pages to enhance story
• Possess a strong sense of composition, color, and animation timing.
• Establish character blocking, camera positioning and animate camera movement.
• Create realistic and compelling character animation following the 12 principles of animation.
• Animate creatures, props, and vehicles.
• Create scene lighting that complements the shot and matches the sequence.
• Understand cinematic language, camera terminology and have the ability to use motion blur, depth of field and other effects, to create realism.
• Clean up and accentuate mocap animation.
• Understand concepts that are used heavily in previs such as the creation alpha/transparency cards and animated UV's for visual effects.
• Possess an artistic eye for detail and understand the technical specifications for each project.
• Maintain high consistent standard of quality and speed.
• Composite and track shots to integrate all the layers, including live-action and computer-generated elements.
• Understand shot continuity of sequence to help guide shot creation.
• Design accurate models from storyboards, concept art, and/or script pages.
• Build lower resolution assets for both organic and hard surface - characters, creatures, props, and environments.
• Texture, rig, and light models quickly and efficiently.
• Transfer and/or create lower resolution models from higher resolution models.
• Work well on a team and successfully take direction from a supervisor.
• Adapt quickly and accept change – often have to toss out ideas and start fresh.
• Work well on a team and successfully take direction from a supervisor.
• Adapt quickly and accept change – often have to toss out ideas and start fresh.

Essential Skills:

• Autodesk Maya
• Adobe After Effects
• PFTrack
• Autodesk Motion Builder (a plus)

Requirements:

• To be considered: include your resume, a demo reel/ portfolio link (and password, if needed), and demo reel breakdown (or, alternatively, a written detailed breakdown/contribution) with your application.
• Your demo reel and breakdown should include both character and camera layout/animation to be considered as well as comping and 3D tracking.