Overview

BG PREP SUPERVISOR – Image Engine, Vancouver, BC
Contract: starting October/November 2015
Project:  various

ABOUT IMAGE ENGINE

Well known for our work on Neill Blomkamp’s District 9, Image Engine has gone on to create numerous incredible creatures, epic environments and extraordinary digital effects for a broad range of feature films! We are an independently owned and operated company, led by a team of creative and passionate individuals who are committed to furthering the art of visual storytelling, and helping our exceptionally talented crew to push the boundaries of artistic and technical achievement at our studio.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Supervisor of the BG Prep team is essential to the success of the Image Engine pipeline. With BG Prep sitting at the front of the production pipeline, the BG Prep Supervisor has the responsibility of ensuring plates are setup correctly for downstream departments. The BG Prep Supervisor will lead by example, deliver briefs and set the quality standards for all paint and rotoscoping work completed. They will review and finalize all frames before submission. They will coach, guide and provide feedback to artists ensuring detailed and high quality work is delivered to Image Engine clients. BG Prep Supervisors will be responsible for employee performance management and supervision.

Equally, the BG Prep Supervisor will establish themselves as a key member of the leadership team and will build relationships with all Image Engine Supervisors and Leads. They will leverage their relationships with department Supervisors to build cross-departmental efficiencies. They will communicate with the Leads and Producers to develop cost effective bids to assist Image Engine procure new business opportunities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Interview, select and train artists
Engage in the performance management process such as performance reviews, daily feedback, and mentoring
Review scope of work and assign tasks based on artist skills/abilities
Manage workflow to balance production schedule and employee resources
Communicate artist surplus or deficits to ensure profit and loss margins are maximized
Utilize effective communication skills to receive client notes and deliver instructions/feedback to artists
Ensure quality standards are met by administering final quality control checks for all artist’s work
Communicate with vendors to provide feedback and directions for all assigned tasks
Provide recommendations/technical solutions for effective task completion
Provide assistance to junior artists in the event an assigned task proves to be too difficult
Communicate with downstream departments and provide solutions to technical issues
Attend and coordinate meetings with downstream departments
Stay on the pulse of all activities surrounding the assigned project
Understand elements impacting the downstream departments to foresee/prevent challenges in BG Prep department
Process requests from downstream departments
Use time management skills to schedule meetings and tasks effectively
Manage time and resources to meet weekly targets
Complete prep duties such as rotoscoping, marker removal, plate preparation, plate retiming, motion capture actor removal, crew/camera/set removal, rig and wire removal, and set extensions
Mentor junior artists
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

5 years+ of feature film/TV production experience
2 years of experience as a lead
Supervisory experience is an asset
Proficient in Nuke
Experience with Photoshop
Working knowledge of Silhouette or Mocha is preferred
Knowledge of a 3D package such as Maya and 3DS Max is an asset

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Technical skills

Ability to train and coach artists in paint and rotoscoping
Strong knowledge of tracking (camera tracking, planar tracking, 2D tracking)
Proficient in keying
Strong background in frame by frame paint
Experience with colour management
Experience with Linux based OS
Understanding of 3D projection workflow in Nuke
Understanding of grain management
Excellent eye for detail for quality control

Core skills

Ability to complete bids; determine the timeframe and scope required for each project
Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities
Capable of managing a team of artists; setting expectations, and managing their time
Ability to assess artist’s strengths and weaknesses to assign tasks and manage workflow
Strong leadership skills
Excellent time management and communication skills

HOW TO APPLY

E-mail your resume and a link to a reel and breakdown to jobs@image-engine.com. The subject should read “BG Prep Supervisor – your name”.