Motion Capture Technical Director (StageCraft)

Position Summary

ILM London's acclaimed StageCraft team, located at our Townsend Studio, invites applications from experienced Motion Capture TDs for a short-term contract requiring immediate availability.

Under the direction of the StageCraft Motion Capture Supervisor, the Mocap TD will operate and support the motion capture system throughout virtual production shoots and during mocap data processing.

What You’ll Do:

• Daily operation of Vicon motion capture system in a live action shooting environment
• Daily calibration of the capture volume
• Calibration of camera tracking objects
• Prepare and mark up motion capture performers, props, cameras, and virtual set environments for data capture
• Assist performers with fitting head-mounted cameras (HMC)
• Provide support for setting up and retargeting assets for real-time
• Process motion capture data, from tracking to solving.
• Maintenance of markers, tracking objects, and mocap hardware
• Capturing data with the Xsens MVN inertial mocap system. Dressing actors in suits, adjusting sensors and performing calibration. Monitoring data quality during the shoot and delivering data to the Moedit team.
• Operating and troubleshooting the Stagecraft Virtual Production tool set with the help of the VP TD team.
• Work with the camera department and stage tech to fabricate tracking objects, and reliably attach tracking objects & other devices to cameras
• Assist with motion capture camera placement
• Troubleshoot Vicon data quality
• Ensure capture of all data, with slate names that are in sync with production
• Communicates with the StageCraft team on the status of the camera tracking
• Assist the Mocap Lead with the adjustment of mocap camera placement to ensure coverage
• Assist with camera offset and lens calibration protocols
• Routing of video signals

What We’re Looking For:

• On-set/Post experience working with Vicon or other optical motion capture systems
• On-set/Post experience working with inertial motion capture systems (Xsens)
• Proven experience in motion capture for film, television, and games, specifically utilizing Vicon Shogun and Xsens.
• Knowledge of realtime technology and virtual production toolset required
• Proficient in tracking and solving motion capture data.
• A good knowledge of Maya
• Strong attention to detail, particularly regarding human movement
• On-set production experience preferred
• Must be able to execute technically difficult work and maintain a productive attitude under the pressure of live-action production.
• Must have knowledge of film production.
• Familiarity with video hardware and signals preferred.
• Must be highly computer literate with Linux and Windows Operating Systems.
• Must be an excellent troubleshooter to diagnose and solve issues in complex integrated systems of computers, video recording systems, software, and other sensor-driven systems.
• Familiar with a variety of concepts, practices, and procedures used in visual effects and film production.

About Industrial Light & Magic:

Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production, and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 325 feature films and has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box-office hits of all time and has contributed to 25 of the top 50. ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, the company continues to break new ground in visual effects, VR, AR, and Immersive Cinema.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.