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ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 5.05 - AUGUST 2000
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Recruiting at SIGGRAPH 2000
Another Bay Area company, Pixar Animation Studios, also is looking for the right blend of artists and technologists. Pixar reps describe the ideal TD as having knowledge of UNIX programming/scripting and extensive 3D graphics experience in modeling, lighting and shading using Alias|Wavefront and Softimage. Also useful is an education in computer science, mathematics or engineering with an art background and a thorough understanding of physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form. Pixar also is looking for graphics software engineers, animators and layout artists. In New York, the approach is the same. Chuck Richardson of Blue Sky Studios said, "We are finishing a major recruiting effort that started at last year's SIGGRAPH to staff up for feature production. We increased our crew by about 150%. We still have approximately 10-15 TD and character-animator positions open."
As to requirements, Richardson said, "Our antennae are always out for bright, talented, skilled, dedicated, spirited, determined, obsessive, imaginative individuals. Having strong softball skills is a plus." In addition to SIGGRAPH recruiting -- which for Blue Sky usually results in an ocean of applications, resumes and reels -- the studio also makes use of its Web site, paid advertisements and an in-house recruiter, and offers bonuses for successful recruiting. Blue Sky recently transformed itself from a commercial and high-end film and TV computer-animation production facility into a feature film studio specializing in computer animation. The change meant the company tripled in size, so it is moving to a new location. Already hired are feature film editors, layout, visual development and storyboard staff, managers, planners and programmers. They have written fresh animation tools, proprietary rendering software and production management and tracking tools.
Rhythm & Hues also had a booth at SIGGRAPH where would-be employees could drop off resumes and demo reels. "We are always looking for highly qualified and experienced personnel in all disciplines," said David Weinberg, director of 3D production. "We may add to our core group of employees if we meet appropriate candidates. Recently we have seen the talent pool mature. People with years of experience can now be found at SIGGRAPH. In the past, we often found people without much professional production experience applying for positions at SIGGRAPH." He said Rhythm & Hues has found it rarely needs to hire internationally now, as it did in the past. When the studio merged with VIFX a year and a half ago, the result was a larger and better company. "We have hired many more free-lance people in the past year than before," Weinberg said. Working on commercial and feature films, current Rhythm & Hues projects include How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Sixth Day and Little Nicky. Several bids are out for 2001. The Walt Disney Co. was represented at SIGGRAPH by Walt Disney Feature Animation (WDFA), the Secret Lab (TSL), Go.com and Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), which presented their current and upcoming projects. WDFA debuted artwork from The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Sweating Bullets, Lilo & Stitch and John Henry. TSL showcased Dinosaur and previewed work for 102 Dalmatians. Go.com highlighted its Web attractions, and WDI presented its work for the new DisneyQuest virtual ride "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold." TSL also made presentations of its work on Dinosaur, Mission to Mars and Gone in 60 Seconds at the Alias|Wavefront, SGI, Nothing Real and Steamboat Software booths. All divisions were recruiting for a wide variety of job opportunities and were accepting reels and resumes. Job opportunities are posted on the VFXPro.com job listings. Andrew Millstein of the Secret Lab hoped to hire approximately 30 new people, for both permanent and project positions, primarily for feature animation technology. Secret Lab's goals for SIGGRAPH were threefold: present a high-end presence, communicate to candidates about upcoming projects and allow artists and technologists to demonstrate their work. In general, it seeks those with backgrounds in computer science, visual arts, film business and Internet. Industrial Light & Magic had a major presence at SIGGRAPH and is looking for talented people to join its CG, digital technology and art departments. There is a lot of cutting-edge work expected on features such as Jurassic Park 3, The Mummy Returns, Pearl Harbor and Star Wars: Episode II. ILM also will be working on the highly anticipated A.I., a project begun by Stanley Kubrick and currently in production at Warner Bros./DreamWorks, directed by Steven Spielberg. A June 29 release is planned and ILM is accepting reels and resumes. Juniko Moody is a regular contributor for VFXPro.com. Republished from VFXPro, a fellow Creative Planet community Web site, and on-line news resource for the visual effects community affiliated with the Visual Effects Society.
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