Previsualization Artist - Expression of Interest

THE THIRD FLOOR is the world’s leading visualization company, with offices in Los Angeles and London and teams working on productions around the globe. Since 2004, we’ve partnered with clients to help them plan and explore their stories before filming, using our visual storytelling skills and deep filmmaking knowledge to help directors and studios envision their projects in the earliest stages of production. Founded by artists for artists, The Third Floor is a fun, creative studio where we work on high-profile projects while maintaining a collaborative, small-studio culture. In 2022, we expanded with a dedicated animation department that creates final content for film, episodic, and games. Our work has received multiple Emmy and VES awards, and our clients include Disney, Marvel, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Universal, 20th Century, and many more.

A Previs Shot Creator/Animator pieces together elements, sets them in motion, and “films” them with virtual cameras to create cinematic sequences that represent the creative blueprint. Nearly any aspect of a shot can be tweaked instantaneously to improve the composition or the timing of the action. Working with the previs supervisor, previs shot creators produce previs shots and sequences that help to support the director's vision via appropriate use of camera movement, lenses, composition, staging, lighting, and editing.

Project Based. Full Time. Remote Position. Must be in the state of California, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, New York (Outside NYC), Colorado, Washington or Canada for remote positions.

Responsibilities:

• Create sequences of shots from storyboards and/or script pages to enhance story
• Possess a strong sense of composition, color, and animation timing.
• Establish character blocking, camera positioning and animate camera movement.
• Create realistic and compelling character animation following the 12 principles of animation.
• Animate creatures, props, and vehicles.
• Understand cinematic language, camera terminology and have the ability to use motion blur, depth of field and other effects, to create realism.
• Clean up and accentuate mocap animation.
• Possess an artistic eye for detail and understand the technical specifications for each project.
• Maintain high consistent standard of quality and speed.
• Understand shot continuity of sequence to help guide shot creation.
• Work well on a team and successfully take direction from a supervisor.
• Adapt quickly and accept change – often have to toss out ideas and start fresh.
• Work well on a team and successfully take direction from a supervisor.
• Adapt quickly and accept change – often have to toss out ideas and start fresh.

Essential Skills:

• Autodesk Maya
• Adobe After Effects
• Autodesk Motion Builder (a plus)
• PFTrack (a plus)

Requirements:

• To be considered: include your resume, demo reel/ portfolio link (and password, if needed), and demo reel breakdown (or, alternatively, a written detailed breakdown/contribution) with your application.
• Your demo reel and breakdown should include both character and camera layout/animation to be considered.
• Previs Shot Creators are part of TTF’s very agile creative teams, sometimes working at various production locations for our major studio clients. Willingness to travel is a plus. This is a great chance to work on-site with some of the biggest names in the industry!

The pay scale is between $20 - $70 / hour based on experience, skillset and other factors. We work an average of 5 hours of paid overtime a week. Additional TTF benefits: Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision), Sick Time, 401k (staff only), PTO (staff only), and additional Perks & Benefits.

U.S. & Canada Applicants only: TTF participates in E-Verify and we will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All documents provided for proof of work authorization must be current and unexpired. We cannot accept expired proof of identity.

IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, TTF is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.