VFX - Assistant Technical Director Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

The Assistant technical directors (ATDs) apprenticeship may perform a diverse series of technical support functions in order to ensure the smooth running of a visual effects project. They are responsible for:

• supporting and troubleshooting the pipeline and workflow tools
• providing technical assistance to people in creative departments
• managing data and resources.

ATDs utilise a variety of industry standard graphical applications, scripting languages and operating systems. They may support projects by gathering artist requirements, designing solutions and coding small-scale tools using established employer workflow requirements. They are expected to work well within a team and to be good communicators and problem solvers.

Topics covered in this apprenticeship include:

• The importance and methods of retaining the quality of the source material.
• The general VFX shot pipeline, including general knowledge of all artists’ roles within the shot’s lifetime and their needs and deliverables.
• The film and/or TV shot pipeline, from pre-production, through shoot, editorial, VFX to grading.
• The VFX production pipeline, including shot bidding, turn-over, briefing, reviews, client reviews, deliveries and final delivery
• Approach to loading data from internal and external sources
• Delivery and output formats
• Visual effects terminology
• And has a familiarity with industry-standard software packages e.g. Maya, Houdini, 3D Studio Max etc.

For more information on this apprenticeship please visit Institute of Apprenticeships.

Individual employers will set the selection criteria, but this is likely to include A levels (or equivalent level 3 qualification) in an ICT or moving picture related subject. Most candidates will also have English and Maths at level 2 on entry. Some employers may also ask for an online portfolio, coding examples or the completion of a timed assessment.

Apprenticeships are assessed by classroom study coursework and assessments along with on-the-job practicals.

On completion of this course, you can progress onto further study in this field or into a career in the creative sector