Crowds Supervisor

The Crowds Supervisor works closely HOCA, Digital Supervisor and other department heads to maintain the integrity of the Character Design, Animation and Look of Film, as related to Crowds. They will oversee the pipeline and shot production for Crowds Animation and associated workflow (including simulated clothing and cycles), develop/oversee any new technology required to meet the specific creative and technical needs of a show as assigned by the Digital Supervisor and Production Management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate interdepartmental communication, dependencies, and technical problem solving related to Crowd Animation production.  Anticipate production problems.  Collaborate with other department peers to identify solutions to production issues.

• Ability to manage large sets of data.

• Provide input towards the vision of the future direction of technology in maintaining a world-class pipeline.

• Approve department deliverables.

• Develop and manage workflow processes and staff. 

• Identify potential exposures to plan.  Follow through on and reevaluate plan accordingly.

• Lead department meetings, manages expectations and provides communications during meetings.

• Troubleshoot creative/technical issues as they arise.  Provide hands-on assistance to the Crowds Animators.

• Present Crowds elements in daily walkthroughs to VFX Supervisor or to Directors in dailies.  Ensure creative direction from VFX Supervisor and Directors to the crew are heard and clarified.

• In collaboration with the Production Supervisor, ensure on time delivery of Crowds elements within established production schedule.  If creative appetite is too large, then need to present ideas and suggest creative alternatives.  Consistently look for a more efficient way of achieving creative goals of crowds (i.e. reuse of setups). 

• Responsible for creating the necessary look as designed by the Director(s), VFX Supervisor, and Production Designer(s) within budget parameters for Crowds.

• Bid Crowds and Cycles in each sequence.  Collaborate with Production Supervisor regarding progress and setbacks of Crowd Animators as it relates to the original effects bid.

• Identify Crowds and Cycle needs as part of the bid and formulate presentations of what is needed in partnership with HOCA, VFX Supervisor

• State potential costs or schedule implications when receiving comments on crowd elements relative to delivery dates.

• Perform daily one-on-one rounds with Crowd Animators: critique work and assist with technical problem solving, and determine when crowds are ready for review with VFX Supervisor.

   

Global:

• Work with TDs, R&D, PE and Production Management to improve and evolve the production pipeline and methodologies.

• Communicate to R&D, PE or VFX Supervisor requests for new tools and improvements to existing tools.

• Participate in technology meetings and other meeting as required to help evolve the toolset towards studio objectives.

• Responsible for participation in the unification and initiatives for the studio.

   

  Managerial:

• Appropriately elevate issues and solutions to Production Management effectively. 

• Work closely with the Production Supervisors in the management of the department and to create the schedule and ensure quotas/deadlines are met for both shots and sequences.  Supervises Crowds Animators.

• Work with the Production Supervisor on casting shots/assignments to Crowds Animators.

• Responsible for improving the performance of artists on the team.  Mentor artists to provide guidance, experience and insight.  Involved in trying to resolve performance related issues.

• Responsible with Production Supervisor for maintaining crew morale.  Foster good working atmosphere and ethics. 

• Deliver reviews with Production Supervisor to crew members; help manage career growth of staff; provide recommendations for promotions.

• Work with management in the casting and staffing of talent on the show. 

• Help with recruiting and perform interviews.  Ensure that Crowds new hires are provided the necessary training.

• Facilitate meetings with artists to keep the crew informed on show changes and requirements.

• Ensure open lines of communication with other departments and department heads.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience including production experience in feature film animation

• Strong working  knowledge of Maya, Houdini,

• Proven Leadership experience

• Experience building new pipelines.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills