Lead Crowd Technical Director - ILM London

Lead Crowd Technical Director - ILM London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Industrial Light & Magic

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team of crowd artists, ensuring high-quality VFX solutions and mentoring talent.
  • Company: Join ILM London, a leader in visual effects with a creative and collaborative environment.
  • Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Exciting projects, dynamic team, and a chance to innovate in a fast-paced environment.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of crowd animation in blockbuster films and make your mark in the industry.
  • Qualifications: Strong VFX experience, leadership skills, and expertise in Houdini for Crowds.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Position Summary

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 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; the employee will be required to work two days on‑site per week at a company‑designated location, and occasionally from home.

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Industrial Light & Magic

Contact Details:

Industrial Light & Magic Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Crowd Technical Director - ILM London

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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Crowd Technical Director - ILM London

Leadership Skills
Mentoring Skills
Houdini for Crowds
Crowd Behaviour Understanding
Cinematography Knowledge
VEX
Python

Some tips for your application 🫡

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How to prepare for a job interview at Industrial Light & Magic

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