FOCUS, The Meeting Place for International Production, returns to The Business Design Centre in London on 3/4 December 2019 for its fifth edition, and ProductionBase is delighted to be a media partner again this year. If you work in film, TV, advertising, games or animation, FOCUS is an unmissable date in your calendar. This year’s programme will respond to the rapid changes in the creative screen industries, offering even more content, countries and connections!
What is a CG Producer?
A CG (Computer Graphics) Producer is responsible for managing various areas of visual effects production, relating to bidding, scheduling, resource planning, production management and the overall departmental budget.
What is the job?
As a CG Producer, you’ll be in charge of all things CG, and so you need to have a deep understanding of the pipelines, techniques and workflows involved. The responsibilities and duties you are given will vary depending on the studio you are working for. For example, in some studios you will have to help the CG Supervisor in building the teams and managing other aspects of the project.
A CG Producer you will work closely with the VFX Producer, who will usually work in a more client-facing role, to ensure that the end client is happy with the timing and quality of the work that is being completed.
What is a Modeler?
A Modeler is responsible for creating 3D models used in computer animation and VFX. The models represent an object from all angles and give viewers the ability to digitally enhance those angles so they can better understand the object.
What is the job?
The role of a Modeler involves creating objects in 3D, which could be anything from a character to a whole environment. Depending on the studio you are working in, the role of the Modeler may be split into Character Artists and Environment Artists, or it may be a generic role in which the Modeler does both.
Modelers will work from reference, and this may include photographers, blueprints, data, and concept designs. On top of this, they will work closely with Texture Artists in order to produce models that meet the specific requirements of a VFX pipeline.
The main responsibilities of a Modeler involve creating models as briefed and then presenting these models for progress reviews to leads, supervisors and clients. In addition to this, the Modeler will have to communicate with other departments to ensure that the models they are creating meet the required standards and requirements specified. Following this, they will be responsible for making changes and updates to these models as and when requested, all whilst staying on schedule and meeting set deadlines.
What is a Rigging TD?
A Rigging TD (Technical Director) is responsible for creating digital skeletons for 3D computer-generated models. They work to program these digital skeletons so that they move in a realistic way, and this is then used by Animators as a basis for their character’s movements.
What is the job?
A Rigging TD will work closely with a Modeller, whose job will be to draw a 3D computer-generated model in a static pose. This is then passed on to the Rigging TD who will program this to move in a realistic way. The Rigging TD may also receive the facial shapes and expressions of characters and it is their responsibility to work out how this character moves when they perform different expressions such as smiling.
From here, Animators will test rigs and then provide feedback to the Rigging TD, who will complete any requested adjustments. This process will continue until both the Rigging TD and the Animators are happy with the final result.
What Is a VFX Supervisor?
The VFX Supervisor has overall responsibility for the production of visual effects on the film or TV project that they are working on. It is up to them to make sure the technical and artistic quality of the finished shots is of the standard agreed on with the Director and other production staff.
What Is The Job?
A VFX Supervisor is brought into a film or TV project at its earliest stages. They will work directly with the project’s producer and director as they go over the script and sort out the VFX needs for every shot. As a VFX Supervisor, you must understand and interpret the Director’s intentions, and at the same time be conscious of the project’s budget constraints. You’ll work in collaboration with the Post-Production Manager on tasks such as budgeting, planning and client relations.
The VFX Supervisor will be involved in all stages of production; pre-production, filming, and post-production. In pre-production, the VFX Supervisor will prepare the visual effects production breakdown, and will be responsible for anticipating problems, as well as tackling any present issues as they arise. On top of this, they will play an active role in participating in visual effects production breakdown, and will also have the opportunity to recruit and manage production teams. Due to the fact that so many shots of a film or show must be oriented around the VFX, having the VFX Supervisor involved in pre-production can save time and make the visual effects process much more efficient.
What is a 3D Artist?
A 3D Artist is responsible for creating three-dimensional models, animations, and visual effects that will be used in various ways within a TV, film or games production. It is their job to create special effects to match specific briefs.
What is the job?
The job of a 3D Artist involves using a combination of hand-drawing techniques and computer software to create three dimensional animations and graphics. On top of this, a 3D Artist is also responsible for researching upcoming projects in order to help find new ways to create designs or animations.
At the start of a project, they may also help conceptualise ideas and processes to come up with the best plan of action. Then, towards the end of the project, they will receive feedback from directors, clients, or other animators and they will make several alterations before the final design is approved. This aspect of a 3D Artist’s role with involve meeting with clients, designers and directors to review projects and deadlines and agree on a timeline for the project.
What is a Matte Painter?
Matte Painters are animation artists who create painted representations of landscapes, sets and other locations, as backgrounds for scenes that can be impossible or difficult to find and film. Most Matte Painters work digitally nowadays, instead of using traditional painting.
What is the Job?
The main role of a Matte Painter is to create realistic elements that are able to replace live-action elements and/or improve existing live action footage in films. Matte Painters work with several types of content; live-action footage, digital still photography, CG elements, and digital paint. They are responsible for creating environments that are realistic, believable and can be integrated seamlessly into the film. Matte Painters mostly work digitally, using software, as well as working with a variety of 2D backdrops and 3D projections.
What is a Matchmover?
A Matchmover is the bridge between 2D and 3D. A Matchmover is responsible for match moving, which is a technique that allows the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage.
What is the Job?
Match moving has become a standard visual effects technique in almost every case where live-action materials and computer-generated imagery are combined. It allows real and virtual scenes to be seamlessly merged together, to make them appear as if they are from the same perspective.
The most basic duty of a Matchmover is to match a CG camera to a live action camera, as well as matching animated objects and characters to real-world objects and characters. This is done by object-matching and tracking the movement of a camera through a shot so that a virtual camera can reproduce identical motion through the use of the latest match moving software.
What is a Concept Artist?
A Concept Artist is a designer who visualises and creates art for characters, creatures, vehicles, environments, and other creative assets. Concept art is used to visualise ideas so that Modellers, Animators and VFX Artists can make these ideas a reality, ready for production.
What is the job?
The role of a Concept Artist involves getting the project started by imagining and sketching characters and worlds that don’t yet exist across film, animation, VFX, video games and advertising. You’ll have to apply imagination and artistic skill to create images of people, creatures, places and moods.
A Concept Artist has the opportunity to work across many areas of visual media, such as animation, comic books, and films. Any project involving a visual story will likely require a Concept Artist. You can choose to specialise in one area of concept art, such as character (producing mainly human characters), creature (illustrating non-human characters) or environmental (creating detailed scenes and worlds).
What is a 3D Generalist?
A 3D Generalist is an individual who can work in any number of capacities on projects in the film, games and animation industries. They are fairly common in the field, and most students with little specific career experience will be prepared to start as a Generalist while they sharpen their skills.
What is the job?
The role of a 3D Generalist varies from studio to studio. However, in most positions, Generalists are responsible for modelling, rigging, animation, motion capture, painting, and sculpting. On top of this, the 3D Generalist will be responsible for anything else that the studio needs done at any given time. It’s not expected for the 3D Generalist to be an expert in every field, but it is expected that they have basic knowledge in a variety of niches.