DreamWorks Feature - Digimatte Artist - job 1 of 2

DreamWorks Animation is looking for more adventurous dreamers who shoot for the moon. We tell stories about the journeys our unconventional heroes take to make dreams come true. As a growth-minded studio, we pride ourselves on being one of the world's leading producers of high-quality, award-winning, animated films and series, reaching consumers around the globe. We push to feel more, laugh more, and build immersive new worlds.

DreamWorks creates a diverse array of original content in a variety of formats, delivering compelling stories with unique characters. We place tremendous value on the experiences our talent brings to the table from their own non-traditional paths to success. We believe in frequent communication and that transparency and trust yield the best work. We are a community of artists, technologists, innovators, and creators, who are passionate about animation and also happen to love eating lunch together. 

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

The Digimatte department is an integral part of the DreamWorks pipeline, working closely with the Production Designer, VFX Supervisor, and the Lighting Department to create a convincing backdrop for the characters to integrate with. Our ideal candidate tends to be a generalist -- they tend to take the environments that are too big to handle in the regular pipeline. They have the artistic and technical know-how to make every shot shine!

If you are part of the fandom and believe teamwork makes the dream work, join us in #livingthedream and #doingyourdreamwork! 

Responsibilities: “What would you say you do here?”

• Follow Production Designer’s direction to produce complex digimatte elements at a high standard, with a thorough understanding of perspective, lighting, and color

• Work with rendered cg elements, still photography, and digital paint to build believable environments that are to be seamlessly integrated into the film

• As necessary, create 3d assets from scratch and seamlessly meld them with photography and painting into a cohesive whole

• Work hand in hand with Lighting, Modeling, FX, and Look Dev to find the most efficient techniques to finalize shots

• Work collaboratively as part of a team taking direction from the Digimatte Supervisor, VFX Supervisor and feedback from the Production Designer as needed

Basic Qualifications: “What do I need to have in order to do this job?”

• Proficient and a strong understanding on the latest versions of software such as Nuke, Photoshop, and other industry standard 3D packages

• Strong conceptual understanding of compositing, and general knowledge of compositing software (such as Nuke's) 3D environment and tools

• Familiarity with working with AOVs and different passes within an EXR file

• Adheres to timelines; previous experience prioritizing and managing time efficiently for quick turnarounds

• Willing to provide a reel/portfolio of work examples -- if available, include a web address when you submit your resume

Desired Qualifications: “What can I offer?”

• 5+ years of experience in VFX/Animation industry

• Experience in a Linux-based operating system

• Knowledge of a 3D Animation Pipeline

• Traditional art skills which demonstrate an eye for light, shadow, composition, and color

• Work comfortably in a variety of implementations; be it 2D backdrops, 3d assets and complex 2.5D/3D projections

• Bachelor's degree in Art, Film, Visual Effects, Animation, Computer Graphics or other related field and/or equivalent experience desired

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

Salary Range: $78,312 - $120,000

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].