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VFX Artist Apprentice (Contract)
4 years ago
We’re ArenaNet—we’ve created a studio that makes online worlds infused with innovation, hand-crafted excellence, and creative passion. We're not the only ones who share this passion; gamers made Guild Wars 2 the fastest selling MMO game in the West with more than 3 million copies sold in its first 9 months, and players and press have consistently called it one of the best MMOs of all time.
At ArenaNet, we’re serious about games. We created the ArenaNet Apprentice Program to help develop young artists, providing them with the skills they need to be successful in the game industry. We’re looking to cultivate artists who have the talent, but lack one thing: work experience.
It’s our experience that artists learn more in the first few months of a game industry job than in their entire time at art school. We’ve created an immersive work-based educational program where apprentice artists work alongside professionals to develop real skills that are relevant and sought after in the game and entertainment industry. This isn’t a standard studio internship, where you’ll be expected to make copies or perform menial tasks for studio artists. You can’t develop your skills if you’re doing “grunt work” for a year, so expect to be challenged artistically and provided with opportunities to contribute to the success of the studio in a substantive way.
Program Features
Small cohort. Work and learn alongside a small group of motivated apprentices.
Professional environment. Hone your skills at the ArenaNet studio working side-by-side with top game industry artists in a dedicated work space.
Meaningful work. You’ll work on a variety of important art assignments that contribute to the success of the company, not “grunt” work.
Broad training, relevant skills. You’ll receive training in a broad variety of skills rather than specializing on creating specific content. We want our apprentices to emerge from the program as stronger all-around artists, not as experts in creating eyeballs or helmets.
Pacific Northwest location. Enrollees in the ArenaNet apprenticeship program will be expected to relocate to the Bellevue, WA area at their own expense. Bellevue is in the beautiful greater Seattle area, which offers a wide range of cultural and natural activities.
Apprentices are welcome to participate in ArenaNet University, our internal program of classes and workshops presented by experts from our studio and guest speakers from the game and entertainment fields.
This is a seven month contract position. The ArenaNet Apprenticeship Program is not an apprenticeship-to-hire program. We’re not guaranteeing jobs to any apprentice in the program, but you will emerge from the program with an arsenal of professional skills, an incredible portfolio, and an invaluable experience under your belt.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong Portfolio demonstrating excellent understanding of particle systems and geometry VFX and timing.
- Demonstrated experience producing effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam, and explosions.
- Strong working knowledge of Autodesk Maya.
- Keen understanding of particle and geometry material use.
- Ability to author texture source from scratch or photo/video reference, and create looping texture sets through use of Photoshop and After Effects.
- Highly motivated, self-starter, creative thinker
- Able to creatively solve problems.
- Strong grasp of the overall ArenaNet visual style for Guild Wars.
PLUSES
- Background in painting, concept art, or animation.
- Strong ability to model and texture hard surface / rigid objects within a range of styles (painterly to realistic).
- Strong understanding of game development pipeline.
- Understand of material creation.
Requirements
- Hourly compensation range $14-$18.
- Must be local and available to work on-site in Bellevue, WA.
- Must be currently legally eligible to work within the United States (In compliance with Federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire)
We offer an open and casual environment, competitive pay, and free snacks. This is a full time contract position located on-site in Bellevue, Washington
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