I taught two classes, Maya Scripting (MEL and Python) and Introduction to Rigging. Each class is 4 hours per week of teaching, plus homework assignment writing and marking. Class sizes are typically 15-20 students.
Animation TD
Digital Domain
September 2016 - February 2017
Pipeline TD
Sony Pictures Imageworks
March 2015 - September 2016
Supporting a feature animation production as part of a small team of TDs, primarily working with the layout, animation and occasionally lighting departments. Role largely compromises of troubleshooting and facilitating production shots down the pipeline, providing front line support to artists. Developing tools and scripts in short turnaround times as needed to support production tasks.
Animation Support TD
MPC
October 2013 - March 2015
I am an embedded software developer in a VFX animation department of around 80 artists. My role is a hybrid of software development and providing direct technical support to the artists.
Typical Development Tasks:
Animation Tools
Release/Publishing Tools
Dailying Tools
Additional Utilities (File management, farm task monitoring, etc)
Typical Troubleshooting Tasks:
Pipeline Issues (gathering/releasing assets, animation, cameras).
Rendering Issues (failures on farm, caching failures)
Rigging Issues (animation gathering/releasing, bounds not matching puppets).
General Maya issues (hotkeys, shelves, preferences)
Issues are typically resolved directly myself, or where appropriate I will coordinate with other departments (such as software or rigging) to highlight and coordinate solutions to problems. MPC is a global company so coordination with the studios in London and Montreal is essential.
Overall aim is to increase the efficiency of the artists in the department, to discover recurring issues and increase the robustness of the animation pipeline.
3D Tutor
VCAD
August 2013 - June 2014
Tutoring students in all subject areas in the "3D Animation, Modelling, Art & Design" and "Game Development and Design" programs at VCAD. Tutor a 4 hour weekly session for students to drop in and receive additional guidance. Also act as a Teaching Assistant in the Rigging and Scripting classes weekly.
Subject areas include Modelling, Texturing, Rigging, Scripting, Animation, Lighting, Rendering & Sculpting.
Software includes Autodesk Maya, Adobe Photoshop and Pixologic ZBrush.
Systems Support
MPC
March 2013 - October 2013
Providing technical support to artists in all positions at the studio, troubleshooting software and hardware issues. Assisting system administrators with maintenance on servers and render nodes.
Coordinating with resource and department management, setting up and maintaining workstations to meet artist’s needs.
Operations and Render Support
Rhythm & Hues Studios
July 2012 - March 2013
Initializing and monitoring data transfers between studio locations. Backing up and restoring data to/from offline storage. Managing disk space across studio.
Monitoring the render queue, managing distribution of tasks across the render farm, resolving crashed renders.
Providing technical support to artists in all positions at the studio, troubleshooting software and hardware issues. Internal websites maintained and updated.
Writing utility scripts to automate often repeated procedures, in Python and Perl. Linux based studio environment.
Maya Tutor
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October 2012 - December 2012
Weekly private Maya tutoring for a student at Emily Carr University of Art & Design.
Tutoring in modelling, both environment and creature, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, animation and rendering.
Render Wrangler
Rainmaker Entertainment
November 2011 - June 2012
Monitoring the render farm, prioritizing jobs critical to production deadlines, resolving crashed renders and verifying completed jobs, across three concurrent productions at the studio. Linux based studio environment.
Student Tutor
VCAD
November 2010 - July 2011
Organized and tutored weekly sessions for students needing assistance with Maya assignments. Tutored subjects including modelling, texturing, rendering and animation. Critiqued and mentored to develop student abilities.
Systems Engineer
Selex Galileo
September 2006 - August 2009
Developing new computer software to predict airborne radar performance. Programming software, GUI design, testing and presentation to customer.
Verifying existing modelling tools through experimental validation. Investigating advanced concepts to de-risk new technologies.
Interpreting customer requirements from both technical specifications and face-to-face discussions.
SELEX Galileo Innovation Awards 2009 Winner (Team Member)
