Rigging TD

Rigging technical directors (Rigging TD), are responsible for the creation, maintenance, and expansion of rigging, refers to the process of creating the bone structure of a 3D model, included variety of props, vehicles, characters, and other CG objects, which needs to animate.

Rigging TD have to collaborate with the animation team to develop rigs that are intuitive and responsive to the needs of animators, and extend rigs to meet any specific shot’s performance needs. Also, they ensure to follow the rigging department’s technical criteria and guarantee that rigs are pipeline safe.

An example of this job role can be seen in Roman Zhuk’s showreel:

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Creature TD

Creature technical directors (Creature TD), are responsible for providing a wide variety of dynamic simulations for character based work; including clothing, hair, muscle, skin ,fur and feathers as well as any post simulation sculpting.

Comparing to rigging technical directors, Creature TDs create simulation rigs for characters and creatures using Maya, nCloth, nHair, and additional 3D software. However, both Rigging TD and Creature TD are aim to make sure the effects are realistic and integrate in with the other VFX and live-action elements of movies.

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VFX Producer

The Visual Effects Producer is at the heart of a production alongside the Visual Effects Supervisor. They are responsible for overseeing all parts of a show, including resource planning and scheduling, client management, scope or budget modifications, and ensuring the project is completed on time and on budget while maintaining the greatest level of quality.

Further, they plan and schedule resources with the Visual Effects Supervisor to create an effective approach to the visual effects work. Also, they ensures the project delivers on time and to agreed margin. Therefore, negotiation and mediation skills of VFX producers are vital when steering projects in the same direction while keeping everyone working in harmony atmospheres.

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Production Manager

VFX Production Managers are responsible for managing artists, schedules, and daily tasks. Also, they closely work in conjunction with VFX Producers and VFX Supervisors. They monitor the production coordinator’s work in terms of scheduling, and may also be engaged in casting or hiring artists, as well as drafting contracts.

VFX Production Managers communicate with VFX artists and technical directors (TDs) while using pipeline software – like ShotGrid (Shotgun), across the VFX pipeline to ensure that projects are completed on schedule. They are also familiar with VFX, production, and post-production workflows and infrastructure on both the production and vendor sides.

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Reference:

1.ScreenSkills (n.d.). Production manager in the VFX industry. [online] ScreenSkills. Available at: https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/visual-effects-vfx/production-management/production-manager-visual-effects-vfx/

2. Fredin, N. (n.d.). 5 Tips To Get a Job in Visual Effects | VFX Career Advice |CG Spectrum. [online] www.cgspectrum.com. Available at: https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/5-tips-to-get-a-job-in-the-visual-effects-industry.

3. IAMAG Inspiration. (2013). Penn stevens Creature FX TD. [online] Available at: https://www.iamag.co/penn-stevens-creature-fx-td/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2022].