Layout Artist

If the screenwriter is a narrator, then the layout artist is a performer. Layout artists determine the depth and perspective of what is displayed on screen, they takes care more about the audiences’ feeling, they use the professional way to set up layout the scene view so as to narrate the storyline more intuitively. The role of the Layout Artist is very important because they will determine the presentation effect of the picture according to the content of the story and the proportion of the characters.

So the Layout Artist need to be good at:

• Art: be able to draw, have an eye for composition, know what looks good and why
• Photography: understand camera and lighting techniques, know how to use them to affect emotions, know how to tell a story through a shot
• Communication: work with the director, be able to pick up an idea from storyboard artists and share your work with other artists
• Animation and art programs: be adept at using relevant programs such as Photoshop and TVPaint, as well as After Effects, Blackmagic Fusion, Maya, Mental Ray, Nuke, RenderMan and 3ds Max
• Watching animations, feature films and media: have a passion for the medium of animation, a love of the industry and a broad interest in film and TV

It is critical to understand the story and emotion of the sequence before placing cameras into the scene. Without this, a camera is only a spectator in the scene, not a storyteller

Arem Kim, 3dtotal

Indeed, if you don’t understand the story, you have no picture about what it gonna be look like, it’s useless to take camera and shoot, because you will get the audience confused and they may misinterpret your meaning. So it is Layout Artist’s duty to correct the story and show the audience what exactly the editor want to show.

Matchmove Artist

Matchmove Artist as known as 3D tracker, Body tracker, Camera tracker, Matchmover, Tracking artist, these name can exactly show me what Matchmove Artist’s daily work, to track and match CG scenes with shots from live-action footage so the two can be convincingly combined. Sometimes matchmove artists go to the film set to take measurements and put up tracking markers. 

Matchmove artist need to be good at?

• Maths and physics: understand camera motion in virtual 3D space and how to accurately model it to reconstruct a scene
• Understanding of virtual 3D camera principles: know about filming techniques and lenses, including the principles of distortion, parallax and overscan
• Software knowledge: be skilled at using a variety of relevant tracking and 3D packages and compositing software
• Eye for detail: be methodical and highly accurate in your work, paying closing attention to detail and have strong problem-solving skills
• Communication: communicate well with the VFX departments about schedules and the on-set team filming the shoot

Listing Artist

Though the researches and according to my understanding of Listing Artist, theirs duty is kind of like publicity and promotion. A good production inseparable from a good publicity, if no one knows its existence, it will loses its values and everything we do is useless. So listing artist needs to find a way to promote it and let more people to know it.

References:

https://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-A-Listed-Artist?&id=6581862

What is a Listed Artist?

CG Supervisor

CG Supervisor is a leader and they will take responsible for the delivery and quality of the 3D computer-generated (CG) elements of a VFX project. Their responsibilities are very heavy because because they need to precisely control the quality of the project and ensure the delivery time. So on large productions, there might be several CG Supervisors, each concentrating on a specific area.

Typical duties of the CG supervisor include:

• Designing and implementing the technical, artistic pipeline and workflow of a production.
• Designing and possibly implementing tools used in production.
• Assisting the producer by reviewing budgets and schedules.
• Training the film crew and making sure the tools required for the project are up to the task.
• Designing and supervising the creation of CG imagery.
• Leading the technical directors (TDs) in solving problems the production faces on a day-to-day basis.
• Assisting and supervising the artists in achieving the artistic goals of the production.

Due to the variety of tasks and the obligations of problem solving as the “go-to person”, the CG supervisor is usually able to handle any individual part of the production in addition to managing. The CG supervisor position is one of the most senior in VFX. Companies may ask for you to have at least five years’ worth of experience working in a senior film or TV production management or a senior VFX artist role. Therefore, you can initially look for work in more junior-level positions in VFX, such as being a matchmove artist, prep artist, roto artist and then progress from there. Alternatively to the VFX artist route, you can start work as a runner in the production management department.

Look Development Artist

Look Development Artist is a person who decide the characters and the whole project’s styles, they need to ensure all the art in the film or TV programme is consistent. Look Development Artist need to ensure what the objects and characters will be like in different environments such as rain, different lighting and textures etc.

So become a look development artist, you need to be good at:

• Art: have strong artistic ability, good understanding of form, colour and texture, and know how these elements work together
• Understanding lighting: understand colour, space and the scientific principles behind creating realistic lighting and have a strong knowledge of lighting techniques
• Collaboration: be able to work with other VFX artists, share ideas and expertise, agree upon a look
• Knowledge of VFX programs: be adept at using relevant programs such as Arnold, Blender, Maya, Mental Ray, Photoshop, RenderMan, Substance Painter, V-Ray and ZBrush
• Organisation: work within the production schedule, manage files and meet deadlines

If CG need to be looked so real and have no sense of violation, they need to unified the whole style. It’s not an entry level role, so you would need to get work in a more junior VFX role as a matchmove artist or VFX runner and progress to the position of look dev.