VFX Artist:
Practical and Technical skills: A VFX Artist would need to have technical skills in using software to create VFX elements: this would include:
- The ability to use 3D software such as C4D, Houdini (More simulations and procedural workflow based), Maya, 3DS Max so that they can create CG environments, assets or simulations and compositing software such as Adobe After Effects so that they can create basic effects and composite the shots together seamlessly
- Animating characters and objects in the scene to have realistic motion considering physics such as inertia, gravity and air resistance,
- Physics simulations e.g Fluid simulations E.G in Frozen 2 they used fluid simulations when for an action scene with a big flood and when Elsa ran on ice on the ocean . This was simulated in Houdini Frozen 2 - Houdini FX - YouTube
- Rotoscoping skills so they they can composite CG and real footage together or parts of real footage into CG environments. For example green screening footage of actors into new environments, CG or real. They also may need to manually rotoscope actors or objects frame by frame into new scenes or even out of existing scenes.
- Understanding of cameras, motion and lighting so that they can match these properties of the original footage with the CG footage e.g matching, frame rates, lighting direction and motion blur
- The ability to understand and use new technologies such as AI. For example AI based rotoscoping is becoming more and more popular.
- The ability to create and match PBR (Physic Based Rendering) CG materials with real life materials. For example creating a CG robot that looks photorealistic so that it can be composited into actual footage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIdqiwHsuI8
- The ability to motion track camera footage so they can create CG footage that was rendered with same camera properties: Location, Rotation, Focal length, F-stop
- The ability to read and understand complex written documents such as storyboards and scripts because they will be used to communicate between the director/writer/cinematographer and the VFX team. Scripts will include things information on timing and props which is important information to the VFX team and storyboards will include a lot of information on the composition of the shot and movement of the camera which is important information that the VFX needs to they can recreate it.
Specific Industry Knowledge: A VFX artist needs to understand the industry that they are working in, this would include understanding the teamwork pipeline based workflow and understand the important of hitting deadlines. They will also need to understand their placement in the hierarchy of film making business so they know who is working above them and who is working below them. They would need to be able to use industry specific software such as 3D software's (listed above) and compositing software. Furthermore, they would need to be able to read and understand industry standard documents such as storyboards so that they can recreate the shots wanted.
Communication Skills, Oral or Written:
Oral: A VFX artist will need to have good oral communication skills because VFX is a very collaborative sector; therefore they will need to be able to easily and clearly explain complex concepts verbally. They will be working directly with some high level personnel such as the art director so they will need to be able to speak in a professional manner.
Written: VFX artists will use a lot of written documents for communication and reference, this will include: Storyboards so that they can understand how the VFX shots are meant to develop over time, they will also use email to discuss ideas and share assets with their colleagues. They will also use mind maps-and spider-diagrams to create initial ideas that can be shared easily.
Organisation: Organisational skills are very important for a VFX artist as they it is crucial that they can get work done by the deadline due to the pipeline based workflow. They will need to be able to manage their time well and work efficiently without becoming stressed.
Creativity: Creativity is a large part of a VFX artists skillset but because much of the work they make needs to be photorealistic this limits their creativity because they need to strive for photorealism which limits their potential for creativity. Often more abstract work will allow for more creativity as the work will not necessarily need to be photorealistic so VFX artists will have more creative freedom with aspects such as art style. Furthermore, if they are creating full CG physical elements (e.g. a futuristic spaceship) this will allow them to be more creative as they can somewhat ignore realistic physical limitations.
Problem solving: Problem solving skills will be a big part of a VFX artists skill set because they will need to be able to solve many issues such as issues with software not working as expected, problems could include software bugs, hardware limitations, budget issues etc; Therefore they will need to be able to come up with creative workarounds to the problem such as creating a similar effect without having to do a full simulation.
Working as a part of a team: Working as a part of a team is very important to a VFX artist because of the pipeline based workflow that they work with. They will work directly with compositing artists and animators to create and augment special effects as these are the people that make up the pipeline. They will also work with superiors such as VFX supervisor who manages the entire special effects production and they will work with their superiors who would be the cinematographic and the art director as they are in charge of the design style of the entire production. People who work below you would include VFX trainees who are often people trying to gain work experience for when they want to become a VFX artist. They would be helping the main artists out and doing the lower skills less influential but time consuming work that needs to done. This would help them build contacts in the industry.
Task 3:
Wider responsibilities that a VFX artist would have would include: being dependent and able to hit a deadline reliably, organising meetings with the VFX team to discuss progress and priorities, communicate effectively and quickly as soon as any issues or urgent matters arise, work with higher ups such as the cinematographer, art director or director.
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