Lighting Artist

For the last century, Walt Disney Animation Studios has been combining the best in artistry and storytelling with cutting-edge technology to bring wonderful new characters and visual spectacle to the big screen for audiences around the world. We currently have an exciting opportunity for Lighting Artists to join our world class award winning team at our Burbank, CA studio.

Our Lighting Artists are an integral part of the storytelling process, using their keen eye to manipulate color and light to emphasize shifts of mood both subtle and dynamic. We are looking for artists who thrive in a team environment. A strong ability to collaborate is imperative to the success of our team and our process. 

Responsibilities:

Lighting Artists are responsible for lighting, rendering, and compositing shots together with both character and environment renders into a final frame until it meets the vision of the Director, Production Designer, Director of Cinematography, Lighting, and Lighting Supervisors.

Lighting Artists are expected to present shots in a dailies environment, effectively communicate issues regarding their shots, and deliver top-notch work within production deadlines. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Achieve visual appeal, good value, and structure choices
• Capture the emotion or mood of a moment to best support the story
• Ensure sequence continuity is maintained while executing the shots
• Proactively check lighting work in context

What We Are Looking For:

• Adaptability between different show looks
• Demonstration of good understanding of real world light and material behavior, qualities,and physics 
• A strong visual sense and the ability to distinguish subtle differences that affect the matching of elements created in multiple mediums
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, taking direction from the Director, Production Designer, Director of Cinematography: Lighting, and Lighting Supervisors.
• Experience using Houdini for lighting 

Requirements:

• BA in Art, Digital Media, Computer Science, related field or equivalent experience
• Understanding of color, contrast, and lighting design
• Notable production experience with 3D lighting and compositing
• Working knowledge of a node-based compositing system (i.e. Nuke) required
• Strong problem solving skills and a good eye required
• Global illumination lighting such as V-Ray, Arnold or similar experience required
• Experience with Unix and/or Linux a plus

Studio Behaviors:

• Grow personal proficiencies 
• Address feedback and act with self-awareness and accountability 
• Seek and offer help
• Foster an open and inclusive environment
• Handle change with grace

Visual examples of images exemplifying work in this area are requested for review. Please include a resume and reel breakdown with your online profile.