San Francisco, CA · On-site
$67K - $86K/yr
Choreograph the motion and behaviour of crowds in entry level shots, meeting the artistic direction ... At least 2 years of relevant VFX experience with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Traditional ...
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$67K - $86K/yr
Choreograph the motion and behaviour of crowds in entry level shots, meeting the artistic direction ... At least 2 years of relevant VFX experience with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Traditional ...
$11.54 - $14.79
3% of jobs
$14.79 - $18.05
17% of jobs
$18.86 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$18.05 - $21.31
19% of jobs
The median wage is $23.81 / hr.
$21.31 - $24.56
14% of jobs
$24.56 - $27.82
13% of jobs
$29.66 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$27.82 - $31.08
16% of jobs
$31.08 - $34.33
9% of jobs
$34.33 - $37.59
5% of jobs
$37.59 - $40.84
2% of jobs
$40.84 - $44.10
1% of jobs
$44.10 - $47.36
1% of jobs
$11
$26
$47
A VFX Entry Level job is an introductory position in the visual effects industry, typically for recent graduates or those new to the field. Responsibilities may include assisting senior artists, rotoscoping, compositing basic shots, or handling render management. Employers look for proficiency in software like After Effects, Nuke, or Maya, along with a strong portfolio. It's a great starting point to gain hands-on experience and grow into more advanced roles.
As an entry-level VFX artist, your daily tasks may include preparing digital assets, assisting with scene compositing, performing rotoscoping or keying, and supporting senior artists in creating visual effects for film, TV, or games. You'll often work closely with supervisors and other team members to ensure your work meets production standards and deadlines. In this role, you'll learn industry workflows, manage revisions based on feedback, and contribute to team meetings or dailies to review progress. These experiences help build your technical skills and prepare you for more advanced responsibilities as your career progresses.
To thrive as a VFX Entry Level artist, you need foundational knowledge of visual effects principles, basic animation, and digital compositing, often backed by a degree or internship experience in animation, film, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, Nuke, or Houdini is typically expected. Strong attention to detail, communication, and the ability to take feedback are valuable soft skills. These skills and qualities are critical for efficiently producing high-quality visuals and collaborating effectively within a creative team environment.
San Francisco, CA • On-site
$67K - $86K/yr
Full-time
Posted 27 days ago
7.6
Based on 124 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz
6th of 47 rated entertainment
Job Posting Title:
Junior Crowd Technical Director (Project Hire) - ILM San FranciscoReq ID:
10148132Job Description:
Position Summary
The Junior Crowd TD is responsible for supporting the creative and technical development of crowd simulations for a production. Using both off-the-shelf and proprietary tools, they help populate large-scale environments such as cities, stadiums and battle sequences. Working with hero crowd assets, they follow direction from the Crowd Supervisor to assist with shot work, troubleshoot pipeline issues, and maintain non-hero crowd assets.
At ILM, we strive to be an inclusive environment, and we are committed to considering promising individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences for this position.
What You'll DoChoreograph the motion and behaviour of crowds in entry level shots, meeting the artistic direction of the show supervisor.
Manage the motions and cycles used on a show, including creating blending cycles.
Assist in developing efficient workflows within Houdini, including creating and modifying internal HDAs.
Creatively use existing motion and character variations to create visual diversity within a crowd.
Assist the crowd team to troubleshoot technical issues within Houdini and the wider pipeline.
Work with production and supervisors to meet the show's deadlines.
Communicate with artists across disciplines to work effectively as part of the wider show team.
Attend dailies to present your work and receive feedback from the show supervisor.
Collaborate within the crowd team, sharing knowledge and contributing to the development of the department.
At least 2 years of relevant VFX experience with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Traditional Animation, Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Engineering, and related fields; OR at least 3 years of relevant professional VFX experience.
Strong knowledge of Houdini Software and workflows.
Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to address technical and artistic challenges.
In-depth understanding of cinematic principles and composition.
Experience working with motion capture and/or clip-based animation.
Proficiency with Linux.
Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal).
Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines whilst maintaining a high quality output.
Proficiency scripting in Vex and/or Python.
Strong understanding of Houdini input/output pipeline.
Experience with cloth/hair simulation.
Working knowledge of Maya and rigging.
Keen eye for how crowds flock and move.
JoinILM
The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $67,900 to $86,900 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.Job Posting Segment:
ILM San FranciscoJob Posting Primary Business:
ILM San FranciscoPrimary Job Posting Category:
Crowds - StudiosEmployment Type:
Full timePrimary City, State, Region, Postal Code:
San Francisco, CA, USAAlternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:
Date Posted:
2026-04-08Get the full story on Breakroom
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!
Amusement, gambling, and recreation
10,000+ Employees
Burbank, CA, US
