Senior Assistant Production Manager Needed – Animation 3D

15 12 2008

Starz Animation, Toronto, one of Canada’s largest 3D Animation Studios, is currently in pre-production on Miramax Film’s major animation movie, “Gnomeo and Juliet”. Directed by Kelly Asbury and with music and lyrics by legendary songwriting team ELTON JOHN & BERNIE TAUPIN, this animated feature will be released in 2011.

Position Description:

Senior Assistant Production Manager (APM)

Reports to Production Manager/Associate Producer

Job Duties:

Schedule and Workflow

Works with Production Managers and/or Associate Producer to meet overall production scheduling and budget requirements and helps to ensure the budget and scheduling are updated as changes are made to the film’s production flow and/ or staffing profile. Understands how changes may effect the budget, scheduling and overtime.

Looks ahead to ensure that weekly quotas, department milestones & inventory expectations are met. Strategizes with Department Lead, Senior Management and possibly other APMs to resolve any production and/or inventory issues.

Collaborates with Department Lead/Head to ensure the complexity of work is consistent with department budget and schedule. Strategizes with Department Lead and Senior Management on how to resolve any complexity overages.

Collaborates with Department Lead/Head to develop and manage workflow process.

Develops and manages internal department schedules and staffing requirements. Maintains list of critical assumptions and highlights any vulnerabilities.

Creates and maintains reports that clearly illustrate department and individual artist productivity.

Collaborates with Department Lead/Head to cast assignments and issue deadlines to artists.

Perform walk-arounds to check in with the crew.

Attends Director approvals and helps to drive this meeting.

Mentoring and Staffing

Primary production person within department. Supervises and mentors Production Coordinators and Production Assistants for that dept.

Ensures the department lead is following studio review process and delivering timely performance reviews and feedback.

Partners with Department Lead and Senior Management to manage conflict within the department and partners with Human Resources regarding disciplinary procedures. Documents conflicts and provides updates to Human Resources and Senior Management.

Supports and represents directives from the studio and/ or production leadership.

May assist Production Management with handling transitions.

May be involved in the interviewing and hiring process.

Morale and Communication

Responsible for maintaining crew morale.

Represents department in weekly production meetings. Reports department progress and discusses solutions to any issues impeding the department.

Partners with the Department Lead/Head to manage, motivate and create an environment conducive to achieving quotas and artistic achievements.

Experience Required:

A minimum of five to seven years in production.

CG Feature animation experience preferred.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Excel, Microsoft word a must.

About the Film

Gnomeo and Juliet — distributed by Miramax Films — is an animated picture directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2), produced by Baker Bloodworth, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw and with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Now in pre-production.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume indicating which position you are applying for to:

sat.jobs@starz.com

We thank everyone for their interest in advance, but given the high volume of response we will be unable to reply to everyone in person. No phone calls please.

Thank you.

About Starz Animation, Toronto

Starz Animation, Toronto, one of Canada’s leading 3D animation studio for breakthrough digital production. Starz Animation, Toronto has gained a reputation for its commitment to excellence in high-end digital animation. By utilizing proprietary software technology, Starz Animation, Toronto, continues to advance its character animation and continually raises the bar in CGI animation production by offering the most high-end technology and visual tools available including; Maya, Inferno, Fusion, Mental Ray, Syflex, Real Flow, and Qube on a variety of platforms. Our artists’ creative skills are showcased in an ever-expanding body of work in feature films, direct-to-video productions, prime time and children’s CG animated series.

As part of Starz Media, Starz Animation, Toronto, has partners in development, production, and distribution of entertainment: Starz Home Entertainment/Anchor Bay, Starz/Encore, Film Roman, Manga and Vongo. As such, Starz Animation, Toronto, has the capability to distribute its programming to consumers however and wherever they want to watch: in theatres, on DVDs, via cable or satellite, on broadcast stations and over the internet in both the domestic and international markets.





3D CG Senior Animator and Animators Needed – Animator Jobs

15 12 2008

Position Description: Senior Animator and Animators needed

Reports to Supervising Animator and Head of Animation

Position Description and Requirements:

Previous study of anatomy, perspective and composition.

Demonstrated expert knowledge of timing, acting, posing and lip-synch

Previous work should reflect a strong understanding of character personality, movement and storytelling.

Expert knowledge of Maya

Ability to meet tight deadlines

Demonstrated success at working at CG Feature level quotas and quality

Strong problem solving skills and ability to present solutions in order to meet quotas required

Clear communication style – open and responsive

Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction from the Supervisor and feedback from Directors(s) as necessary.

Post graduate diploma in classical or 3D Animation

5+ years character animation on CG Feature Films

About the Film

Gnomeo and Juliet — distributed by Miramax Films — is an animated picture directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2), produced by Baker Bloodworth, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw and with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Now in pre-production.


If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume indicating which position you are applying for to:

sat.jobs@starz.com

We thank everyone for their interest in advance, but given the high volume of response we will be unable to reply to everyone in person. No phone calls please.

About Starz Animation, Toronto

Starz Animation, Toronto, one of Canada’s leading 3D animation studio for breakthrough digital production. Starz Animation, Toronto has gained a reputation for its commitment to excellence in high-end digital animation. By utilizing proprietary software technology, Starz Animation, Toronto, continues to advance its character animation and continually raises the bar in CGI animation production by offering the most high-end technology and visual tools available including; Maya, Inferno, Fusion, Mental Ray, Syflex, Real Flow, and Qube on a variety of platforms. Our artists’ creative skills are showcased in an ever-expanding body of work in feature films, direct-to-video productions, prime time and children’s CG animated series.

As part of Starz Media, Starz Animation, Toronto, has partners in development, production, and distribution of entertainment: Starz Home Entertainment/Anchor Bay, Starz/Encore, Film Roman, Manga and Vongo. As such, Starz Animation, Toronto, has the capability to distribute its programming to consumers however and wherever they want to watch: in theatres, on DVDs, via cable or satellite, on broadcast stations and over the internet in both the domestic and international markets.





Senior Animator needed – Feature film CG

5 11 2008

I’m looking to hire 1 senior animator. A weath of Maya knowledge and experience working on a big movie or serveral big movies from any major studio would be good points to have on your reel. Anyone interested can contact me at Lancelefort’at’hotmail.com





Lighting TD, Surfacing TD, Maya TD needed

11 07 2008

Starz Animation is hiring for TDs in Lighting and Surfacing. Ideal candidates have performed the role for at least 2-3 years professionally and have a strong technical understanding of Maya. You can reach me at Lance’dot’lefort@starz’dot’com or hit the website at www.starzanimation.ca

Position Description: Senior Technical Director
Reports to Supervisor, Pipeline Architecture
Position Description and Requirements:

The Senior Technical Director is responsible for designing, developing and improving production focused pipeline workflow processes. Technical Directors may also be called on to do shot work when necessary during production.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Design, prototype and implement artist-focused production tools, using Maya, Mentalray, Fusion, Python, MEL, and C++.
  • Collaborate with Production Management on utilization of production tools and workflow processes.
  • Troubleshoot production problems, and proactively work to minimize their impact.
  • Design and execute project work plans to produce known deliverables on a pre-determined timetable.
  • Be aware of new technologies, techniques, and processes that will benefit studio’s production processes for current and future projects.
  • Perform shot work/fixes as required during production.
  • Share and present new research, ideas and technology with others in the studio.
  • Act as mentor to less seasoned TD’s.

Minimum Qualifications and Abilities:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent job experience
  • 5+ Years of (CG) Experience, Feature Film experience preferred
  • Experience working with Maya, Mentalray, MTMR, Fusion, or equivalents.
  • Experience with WxPython
  • Experience using various scripting languages – primarily Python, Mel, CShell
  • Experience in C/C++ or some other object-oriented programming language
  • Experience with subversion, cvs or another revision control system
  • Experience designing user interfaces
  • Excellent troubleshooting/debugging skills
  • Strong communication skills
  • Superior time management and prioritization skills
  • Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision
  • Flexible and adaptable to change
  • Coach and mentor junior coworkers as required




Recruitment Party – Starz Animation

12 05 2008

See the website www.starzanimation.ca for details or the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29631282192 and to RSVP. It looks like a great venue at CiRCA nightclub in the kidrobot room.

Starz is looking for animators, riggers, TDs, lighting artists, FX artists, modelers, project managers, coordinators,surfacing artists, layout artists and more. The event is aimed at the whole community from junior to veterans.





Scene Prep & Character Finaling – Maya – Shane Acker’s 9

26 03 2008

Position: Character Finaler/Maya Generalist
For: Shane Acker’s “9″
Reports to Department Supervisor
Position Description and Requirements:

Support the creative performance in a shot with the appropriate technical requirements as follows:

  • Remove undesirable geometric penetrations, folds and creases from rigged assets.
  • Ensure that rigged assets are in contact with one another and their environment appropriately.
  • Ensure that rigged assets are prepared for FX simulations when required.
  • Ensure proper continuity of motion for the calculation of motion blur.

Experience Required:

  • Good artistic eye.
  • Detail oriented.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Good organization skills.
  • Technical aptitude.
  • Previous production experience or exceptional abilities in CGI.
  • Familiarity with skeletons.
  • Experience in Modeling
  • An understanding of the principles of animation.
  • Experience with Maya Deformers, Constraints, and Blend Shapes.
  • Thorough knowledge of Maya’s Graph Editor and connection editors (Hypergraph, Hypershade..)
  • Must be able to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction from the Sequence lead(s), Supervisor and feedback from Directors(s) as necessary.
  • Bonus: Ability to script in Mel and/or Python to fix recurring issues.
  • Bonus: Rendering experience with stand-alone packages (Mental Ray, Renderman etc…)

contact me at LanceLeFort’at’hotmail.com or Lance.LeFort’at’starz.com