FX Look Department, Specialist (LOP)

Sony Pictures Imageworks is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are committed to respecting traditional lands, and working with communities towards reconciliation.

Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada Inc.

725 Granville Street, 5th Floor

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7K 1Y4

Project based, Full Time

Language in work environment - English

Benefits per company policy: include healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, Sick and Vacation leave, standard increases as applicable

Job summary

The FX Look Department Specialist will play a vital role in supporting the endeavor to develop non-photorealistic rendering techniques at the facility level.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work on some of the most demanding work in the industry. We are seeking an individual with a good balance of creativity and technical skills who can work closely with artists and developers to help us translate the show requirements into a roadmap for advancing our non-photorealistic rendering platform.

You should have a solid grasp of artist tools for painting, illustration, and composition.

What You'll Do:

• Support and maintain the documentation of existing and new tools related to stylization. These tools can affect workflows and tools such as linework, point cloud generation for brushing, etc.
• Support and maintain “Parallax” (our library of 2d effects elements). Providing setup for new shows and keeping them up to date. You will be the gatekeeper for publishing new aspects to the library.
• Working with production teams to start new shows with the latest effects stylization tools and workflows.
• Define the artistic and technical vision with shows and plan its roadmap to solve particular challenges.
• Regularly meet with other look of picture department specialists and show representatives to discuss progress, tackle setbacks, share updates, present features, give feedback, and informatively and constructively explain the root causes of risks and issues.
• Stay on top of innovative stylization technology within and outside the facility.
• Explore solutions and develop new techniques where necessary for a particular show requirement.

What you bring:

• A minimum of five years of experience as a senior effects artist.
• A highly technical knowledge of Houdini and its workflows.
• High proficiency in Katana (or similar applications) and Nuke.
• Excellent rendering knowledge (e.g. Arnold, Renderman).
• A strategic approach to problem-solving: You don't just patch problems; you solve them so that they never happen again.
• An inventive, flexible thinker who enjoys problem-solving and has a creative, artistic eye.
• Excellent mentorship, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• A highly innovative and collaborative spirit.
• Outstanding communication and strategic leadership abilities, complemented by a solid sense of empathy and diplomacy.
• The ability to remain calm in difficult situations.
• Effective cross-departmental communication: you can easily communicate with all disciplines and break down complex information for various audiences.
• History of making tools for artists in a production environment (preferably stylized animated features).

The anticipated base salary for a Senior position is $129,000 to $185,250/yr. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits per company policy: including healthcare, tuition reimbursement, RRSP's, sick and vacation leave, standard increases as applicable. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

We value unique perspectives, and want diverse, unique talent to work with us. We encourage candidates from all identities to apply.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.