WHAT DOES A FX TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A FX Technical Director Do?)

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WHAT DOES A FX TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A FX Technical Director Do?)

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What Does A FX Technical Director Do?

Effects Technical Directors (FX TDs) are the digital versions of the traditional on-set special effects crew. They need to have a feel for how to set up a system that will produce the effect they want, although this is a skill that comes with experience. There is often opportunity to be creative and have a real impact on the final result, especially when working on fantasy and sci-fi projects, and FX TDs will often use references from books, films and concept art together with the director and VFX supervisor's comments to create the 'look' required.

An FX TD needs to have the ability to break a problem down into steps. Most 3D software packages have built–in systems for creating particle or fluid systems, but an FX TD needs to understand how these can be manipulated. Many effects also require moving beyond the base setups and building more complex systems around them, which often require programming.

Simulations can often take hours to run, and a single effect may need to be simulated with many times with different tweaks to its input parameters before the desired result is achieved. Understanding how to optimize and speed up the simulations is therefore also very useful.

Realistic particle and fluid effects are among the most challenging visual effects to recreate in the digital environment. Such effects include fire, smoke, moving water, air debris, snow, and clouds. To accomplish a convincing sequence involving these effects, studios rely on the expertise of a technical director to solve complex computer modeling and geometry problems.

Duties

The FX technical director works under the management of the visual effects supervisor and is responsible for overseeing the completion of particle and fluid effects for VFX sequences in a film or television program. Each project presents new challenges, as filmmakers attempt to push technological boundaries of what is possible; therefore, he or she is tasked with addressing production obstacles by creating new software tools and modeling techniques to accomplish the director’s vision of realism.

As necessary, the technical director will write and test new software tools, using a combination of commercial applications and proprietary programs. Integrating the new tools into the studio’s production pipeline will require the FX technical director to write appropriate code using Python or C++. It is the technical director’s responsibility to write and update corresponding documentation on the FX tools and workflows established within the department. Supervising a team of effects artists, the technical director may contribute certain art assets, as well as collaborating with the staff to troubleshoot and solve problems that arise in the animation of particle sequences.

During the course of production, the technical director will support the staff of artists through mentorship and review and will keep the VFX supervisor updated on the progress of the department. Upon completion of FX assets, the technical director evaluates the visual consistency and technical compatibility of the sequences, to ensure that the assets will integrate and blend seamlessly with the other visual effects components and live-action plates. Those sequences are then passed on to the next phase in the pipeline, where the shots will be textured, lit, and rendered.

Skills & Education

The role of the FX technical director requires a thorough understanding of software design and the use of scripting languages such as Python and C++. Specific to animation for visual effects, this position requires proficiency with rigid body and particle dynamics, volume modeling, fluid and gas algorithms, and geometry generation. As this position is both artistic and technical, the individual must have an educational background that includes computer science, computer animation, as well as the advanced mathematics. A bachelor’s degree in at least one of the aforementioned areas is required. Additionally, the role of the technical director demands a person with strong communication and problem-solving skills.

What to Expect

Technical directors within a visual effects or animation studio are considered senior-level supervisors. Typically, there is a requirement of at least three years of relevant VFX experience to qualify for the position. Depending on the size of the studio and scale of the project, there may be several TDs assigned to the same department. A senior technical director will oversee the work of subordinate supervisors.

On the job, a TD is most effective when he or she is actively searching for a means to make production more efficient and enhancing the technical capabilities of the studio. It is a point of pride among studios to constantly be one-upping each other. To stay on the cutting edge, the FX technical director must commit considerable time and energy to continuing education and research within the field of visual effects.

Websites

Animation Magazine - a US magazine about the business, technology and art of animation and VFX…

Animation World Network - production news, interviews, jobs and a big archive…

Shooting People – community-driven site, founded by filmmakers, and providing opportunities, news and animation jobs…

Skwigly Animation Magazine – the longest running UK based animation magazine and community. Offers news, interviews, reviews, podcasts, videos and tutorials…

Toonhound – website about cartoons, animation, comic strips and puppets in the UK…

Own-it - offers intellectual property (IP) advice, information and learning resources for the creative sector

Animation Nation - Animation industry news and useful links…

3D World Magazine - international magazine for CG artists, covering the fields of animation, VFX, games, illustration and architecture…

Computer Graphics World - magazine covering innovation in computer graphics technology across various industries…

Cinefex - quarterly magazine devoted to motion picture visual effects..

Books

The Art and Science of Digital Compositing by Ron Brinkmann (pub. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers)…

Digital Compositing by Steve Wright (pub. Butterworth-Heinemann)…

Visual Effects in A Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7,000 Visual Effects Terms by Karen Goulekas (pub. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers)…

How to Get a Job in Computer Animation by Ed Harriss…

Software

Houdini Apprentice - Specialist effects software, used in many high-end VFX productions to create smoke, water and particle effects…

Maxon Cinema4D - Available free for students and teachers, offers a much easier learning curve than most 3D software, and full integration with After Effects…

Blender - Free and open source 3D modelling and animation software, used to create open source films like Sintel and Tears of Steel…

The Foundry's Nuke Non-Commercial - Powerful node-based compositing software, free for training and personal projects…

Autodesk 3DS Max/Maya Academic - Industry standard and very popular 3D modelling and animation tools.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Ella Laryen,

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