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Position Description:
Layout Finaler
Position Description and Requirements:

The Layout Finaler prepares final files for lighting/rendering and compositing. This includes all set dressing elements, various elements and camera tweaking.
Skill set Overview
Strong skills in layout (planning and asset management), animation & cinematography are required.
Excellent communication skills, written and oral
Basic understanding of modeling and lighting
Ability to keep detailed notes and track information in data base
Excellent ability to manage assets within the files
Solid Maya Software experience:
Able to use the Maya tools fluidly
Proprietary tools will be taught
Solid understanding of production priorities
Ability to problem solve and share solutions
Willingness to accept direction and changes from Supervising Animators

Position Description: Technical Surfacing Artist
For: Gnomeo and Juliet
Reports to: Head of Surfacing

Position Description and Requirements:

Helps establish and/or guide the look and qualities of characters, props and environments for an animated film with direction from the VFX Supervisor, Art Director and Surfacing Supervisor.
Ensures that Surfacing files are complete and ready for lighting
Spot and flag creative and technical issues as they arise – fix them where possible or work closely with TDs to adjust. Assist other surfacing artists with technical demands as required
Communicate with other departments to convey Surfacing needs (primarily Modeling) and provide for other departments needs (primarily Lighting).
Maintains awareness of the broader show needs as they relate to the Surfacing Department (schedule, complexity of setups, shader issues, technical aspects etc.)

Requirements:

Minimum 3 years of high-end production experience on feature films
Strong painting skills and artistic eye for detail combined with a strong understanding of the technical side
Detail oriented and the ability to understand the complexity of a 3D pipeline and work closely with TDs
Familiarity with mental ray as a renderer
Familiarity with Polygonal texturing using image maps
Strong uv-ing skills is a must
Familiarity with construction of shaders and utilities
Experience with hair, fur, cloth systems
Ability to debug complex shader networks
Strong photoshop knowledge
Experience with mudbox or zbrush
Some experience with mel scripting or python scripting would be an asset – minimum requirement is to be able to read scripts and debug with TDs assistance
Openness to existing workflows
Ability to solve problems independently
Takes initiative and enjoys learning from and teaching others
Ability to work well in a team setting, guide/mentor others as needed




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 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.