Hey all
We’re shortly starting filming a new sci-fi comedy series, and I’m looking to build a list of people we can call on when “crunch time” arrives, which will be between November '04 and Feb/March '05.
We already have a vfx budget which has now been exhausted due to software, stock footage (explosions etc), hardware to setup a render farm, and plugin purchases, so we are looking for people who wouldn’t mind working on this for the experience and the use of the resulting footage in demo reels. Additionally, should… sorry, WHEN 
we get comissioned for a second series (which will be 22 episodes) you will have first refusal at paid work and/or a full-time position at the Bristol studio.
I’m looking for experienced “general” 3ds max artists (ie jack of all trades) who can hit the ground running without any ramp-up; ie we provide the scene / animatic / assets (models, textures etc) / storyboard etc and you produce the jaw dropping resulting shot which we can render out using our farm.
Specifically looking for:
modellers (low and high and/or low to high)
mapping and texture artists (preferably using Photoshop or compatible)
particle / vfx artists (with experience of particle flow and afterburn (desirable but not necessary)
animators (majority being basic animation of objects and camera, but knowledge of weighting and timing is very desirable, as is camera animation effects (eg hand-held motion effects) and composition of a shot)
Knowledge of compositing and working with different pixel aspects is desirable as is working to a set style. Please note that we are looking for people who can produce scenes that render relatively fast with the standard scanline renderer due to time and cost (this obviously does not apply to modellers etc)…
if you use any other package, then I’m sorry but we cannot afford time to expand the pipeline and start implementing methods to import models as the deadline is very tight… unless you’re sooooooo good we’d be stupid to say no!!
Starhyke is a 6 episode raunchy sc-fi comedy series produced and filmed in Bristol UK, and features cast members from Babylon 5 (Claudia Christian), Star Wars (Jeremy Bulloch), Die Another Day (Rachel Grant), Stargate SG1 (Suanne Braune) and London’s Burning (Brad Gorton) amongst others.
Further information about the show can be found on the main site www.starhyke.com (under construction… new site up in October) and on the Yahoo group (link on the starhyke.com site).
Unfortunately, for those interested, I cannot release images of the physical set or designs until authorised to do so by the director, nor can I release additional images of the ships (only one basic one has been released so far to the group). Should you be given the go-ahead, we will need you to sign and return a Non-Disclosure Agreement to secure information leak, which will then allow you into the fold and gain access to the studio stuff.
Location: Honestly, I’m not concerned, provided you have a fast internet connection.
However, if you are based around Bristol in the UK, then you are more than welcome to come and work in the studio, where you can take part in production first-hand and work with us using our machines and software to get this series out the door!
So… to cut a long story short, what I need now is to see some work… usual deal - demo reels, stills etc… either posted here or emailed to me (links to reels… image attachments will be fine)
Cheers!
Pete
VFX Director, Lightworx
pete@lightworx.co.uk
pete.draper@xenomorphic.co.uk
Got you on the list… but please bear in mind that max users will have priority as we’re really REALLY REEEAAAAALLLLY on a tight schedule, with about 400 vfx shots to complete by march. A fair few companies frown on flying spaceships in demo reels, but I’d really like to see them if you or anyone else reading this is interested!!