Virtual Production Artist and Instructor

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY:

This exciting opportunity is a collaboration between the University of South Florida’s Innovative Education, InEd Studios, and the College of the Arts.

Innovative Education (InEd) serves as a catalyst to foster innovation, enhance the student experience, cultivate faculty success, create revenue opportunities for colleges, and empower USF to thrive in this transformative era of education. As a result, students of all levels are empowered to excel academically and achieve lifelong success.

Innovative Education Studios (InEd Studios), is an acclaimed multimedia production team, collaborating closely with USF’s learning design team, faculty, staff, and administrators to craft engaging educational media, encompassing video, photography, animation, and graphic design. Their high-quality content is meant to enhance student engagement and elevate learning outcomes in both blended and fully online courses. Beyond their university partnerships, InEd Studios also collaborates with diverse clients to create custom content, spanning documentaries, commercials and a variety of other innovative projects. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities, including a custom LED volume for virtual production and a green screen studio with state-of-the-art real-time compositing technology, InEd Studios consistently pushes the boundaries of multimedia production to deliver immersive and impactful educational experiences.

As the creative hub of the University of South Florida, the College of the Arts cultivates an inspiring and professional environment that nurtures the leaders of tomorrow. Within this vibrant setting, the Animation and Digital Modeling curriculum in the School of Art and Art History engages students in developing both 2D and 3D animation, as well as in producing virtual 3D objects for fine art, film, games, and visualization. By combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation in the design process, craft, and studio art practices, students at both the BFA and MFA levels gain invaluable skills as they progress through their courses and prepare for a wide array of creative careers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

In a cross-department collaboration, Innovative Education and the College of the Arts at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa invites applications for a 12-month Faculty Instructor in Residence at InEd Studios for Virtual Production Art and Design. Appointment to begin late 2024 or early 2025.

As an Unreal Engine Artist and Faculty Instructor in Residence at InEd Studios, your role encompasses diverse responsibilities including asset creation, level design, and content delivery for InEd’s virtual productions within tight timelines. You’ll collaborate with InEd’s Virtual Production Supervisor on concept development, sequence blocking, and interactive experiences. Your support extends to on-set virtual production operations and the optimization of virtual sets for real-time rendering. You’ll also enhance visual quality through lighting setups, ensure seamless integration of assets into Unreal Engine, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate artistic vision into virtual environments.

As a faculty instructor in residence, you’ll be expected to teach up to two courses per semester within the School of Art and Art History’s Animation and Digital Modeling curriculum. Keeping abreast of industry developments, you’ll mentor students, develop course materials, conduct research, and align curriculum with industry standards in collaboration with the College of Arts fast-growing Animation program.

This is a unique opportunity between Innovative Education and the College of the Arts to contribute to cutting-edge virtual production projects while also helping to shape the future of the industry through education and mentorship.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation, as well as an expansive approach that embraces the evolving role of Virtual Production in the film industry. They should have a record of producing, presenting, and exhibiting creative original work at the national/international level. They will have the ability to help shape the future of Animation within the School of Art & Art History and be able to expand the range of the program through interdisciplinary and innovative creative research. In addition, contribute to the virtual production efforts of Innovative Education.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization, or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years related professional experience. Consistent with university guidelines, qualifying experience and/or training may substitute for the degree requirement for some positions assigned to this class.

Candidates with a Master’s degree in Game Art and/or Design, Animation, Filmmaking, or a relevant field, or those with equivalent qualifications based on professional experience that meet national and/or regional accreditation standards, are encouraged to apply. Proven experience using Epic’s Unreal Engine, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise. Including Unreal Engine material editor, lighting system, Blueprints, and particle systems. A solid understanding of real-time rendering principles, shading techniques, and optimization strategies for real-time environments. Knowledge of current practices, techniques, technology, and issues as related to teaching interactive 3D game art is essential. Strong artistic and design sensibilities, with an eye for detail and composition. Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

PREFERRED:

Terminal degree (MFA) in Animation or MFA in Studio Art, Game Art, Filmmaking, or relevant field with significant professional experience in Game Art or Design.

Two years teaching experience after completion of terminal degree.

The candidate should demonstrate relevant areas of expertise in two or more of the following areas: Storyboarding and Visual Storytelling, Character Design, 3D Modeling, Motion Graphics, Digital Illustration/Concept Art, Character, Rigging and Character Animation.

Knowledge of software for 3D content creation, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, Houdini, or Substance Painter, to complement Unreal Engine workflows.

Collaboration with Film or Television: Experience collaborating on film or television productions, understanding the unique challenges and workflows involved in integrating virtual production into traditional media.

Advanced Unreal Engine Expertise: Demonstrated experience with advanced Unreal Engine features and tools, such as Niagara for complex particle effects, Sequencer for cinematic storytelling, and Blueprints for automation and customization.

Please provide the following documents when completing your application:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Link to a curated online portfolio of work examples. If the works require passwords for viewing, please include them. Files that cannot be easily accessed may not be reviewed.
• If available, a separate portfolio of student works must also be accessible online as examples of teaching.