Lead Crowd Technical Director - ILM London

The Lead Crowd TD is responsible for executing the creative and technical direction of a show, ensuring the vision of the VFX Supervisor is met with high-quality, efficient solutions. You will support, mentor and guide artists and solve production roadblocks. In conjunction with the Crowd Supervisor you will contribute to the evolution of crowd tools and workflows, while leading a sequence or a show.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and manage a team of crowd artists both technically and artistically ensuring the vision of the show supervisor is met, providing creative feedback at a shot and sequence level.
• Lead the direction and development of shot templates and tools, collaborating with other crowd artists to implement efficient solutions that enable the smooth running of the show.
• Gather, edit and maintain the show motion library to meet artistic and technical show requirements, while assisting with the planning and direction of motion capture shoots.
• Manage crowd agent setups for the show, collaborating with upstream departments to troubleshoot issues.
• Set up and maintain agent variation logic to effectively balance diversity and performance.
• Manage show setup for small to medium shows.
• Mentor crowd artists on Houdini workflows and proprietary pipeline tools, while maintaining comprehensive technical documentation.
• Work with Production and Artists to understand and assign tasks, meet the show deadlines and provide shot/sequence feedback.
• Identify, troubleshoot and problem solve complex issues throughout the crowd pipeline.
• Collaborate and communicate with R&D and Pipeline Engineers in order to implement efficient and effective ways to problem solve issues around the crowd pipeline.
• Attend relevant meetings on shots, sequences, and production.
• Support with recruitment and staffing of the crowd team.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven strong experience working on high end VFX or animated feature film productions.
• Previous experience in a leadership or mentoring role.
• Expert knowledge of Houdini for Crowds.
• Extensive understanding of crowd behaviour, including human crowds, swarming insects, combat choreography and animal behaviours.
• Strong knowledge of cinematography and composition with a passion for storytelling.
• Highly proficient at VEX and Python.
• Proficiency with Linux including shell scripting.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to address technical and artistic obstacles.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organizational skills.

Nice To Have:

• Experience with motion capture retargeting, motion editing, creature simulation including cloth and groom.
• Working familiarity with C/C++.

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