Overview

Houdini Lighting Artist

This position is based in Vancouver. All applicants must reside in the United States or British Columbia / Ontario if applying within Canada.

We are seeking a Houdini Lighting Artist for our Vancouver studio. This is a project-based position working on a variety of projects, and working closely with the dynamics and compositing teams. The Houdini Lighting Artist reports to the Facility CG Supervisor.

The ideal candidate will have a Generalist background with strong Houdini lighting skills. They will be responsible for creating photo realistic and stylized lighting set ups for dynamics, sets, props and creatures. Good communication skills and collaborative traits are mandatory.

Responsibilities 

  • Light dynamics, environments, props, creatures, and other 3D assets to production requirements
  • Work within the colour and lighting pipeline.
  • Provide basic comps of lit elements to help visualize look of final element.
  • Ensure downstream pipeline needs are considered and optimized for rendering.
  • Work with team members to address internal/external notes.
  • Ensure internal and external deadlines are met within budgeted hours.
  • Keep up to date with internal techniques, tools, and software.
  • Share knowledge and techniques with team members to improve overall team skills and asset quality.
  • Take point on lighting sequences under the direction of Leads and Supervisors as needed
  • Take on 3D Generalist tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

  • Ability to extrapolate from provided art direction/concept art when needed.
  • Proactive in reporting in to 3D Leads on progress, questions, resource needs etc.
  • Lighting – experience with technical line up digital lighting matching practical in camera conditions to add digital asset to plate using HDRI and middle grey/chrome sphere lighting principles/methods.
  • Lighting Design – experience in creative layout of lighting for use in a virtual or set extensions using middle grey lighting principles.
  • Colour Theory – knowledge of colour space (ACEScg) , neutralization of plates/textures and middle grey principles.
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience in a lighting specific role w/ Houdini and within a VFX studio
  • Experience with Houdini
  • Experience rendering with Mantra
  • Excellent communication skills in English; both written and verbal
  • Ability to establish a methodology to achieve desired results within allotted timeframe.
  • Work within a fast-paced team environment.
  • Must showcase an up-to-date demo reel demonstrating listed skills.

Would be nice:

  • Experience in Maya
  • Experience in Vray (for Houdini)
  • Experience in Nuke.
  • Knowledge of Shotgun.

Additional information

  • Candidates MUST be located in the United States, British Columbia or Ontario. This is a remote (work from home) position.
    Zoic does not cover relocation costs.
  • This job description contains the basic requirements for the position and is NOT intended to be a complete
  • list of responsibilities; other duties may be assigned.
  • Due to the volume of applications we receive across our different openings we regret that only those selected to interview will be contact.

About Zoic Studios

Zoic Studios is an Award winning VFX company made up of accomplished artists and producers who understand story, process and relationships. Partnership, integrity and enthusiasm are our key founding principles. We have three locations, Los Angeles, New York City and Vancouver, Canada. Some of our recent credits include Sweet Tooth, Legends of Tomorrow and Flash.

"Visual Evolution" is our mission; we invest in constantly improving our technological and studio processes so that our artists can focus on being creative even in the lightning fast paced world of visual effects. We apply these principles to our work on some of the most VFX intensive film and television projects out there. We like a challenge. Do you?