WEEk2

1.runner

The Runner is an entry-level position. Runners are the universal helpers of the visual effects studio. They support any and all members of the studio, making sure that everyone has what they need. Runners do a wide variety of jobs. They pass materials and information between departments. They organise meetings and schedules. They keep the office clean and tidy and may work on reception or be responsible for locking the door. They also make lots of tea and coffee. They do any professional work that needs to be done.

I think the good thing about being a runner is that when you’re working you meet all sorts of people and different departments. So there’s a particular department that you’re trying to get into, or trying to find out more information about. You can go and talk to people. They are generally very helpful.

I think if you want to be a runner you need to be more proactive and use your initiative to find work and show what you can do, and you need to have better communication skills and communicate well with all your team members and clients. to ensure punctuality and the ability to multitask effectively. 

2.prep artist

Prep artists clean up the backgrounds of live action-footage ready for the effects to be layered onto it by the compositor. Pre-production artists use specialist visual effects software to clean up the slab. There are many processes that are used to do this cleaning. They remove any unwanted dust and scratches from the frame. They tidy up dropped frames, i.e. where the camera cannot capture all the frames in a given amount of time, causing small jerks in the action. They remove any unwanted items such as boom microphones or electrical towers.

I think the prep artist needs to be able to draw proficiently with a drawing pad and have a high degree of accuracy with a pen or stylus. A keen eye for knowing when an image needs to be cleaned up and the patience to take even the smallest of parts seriously.

watch link：Junior roto / paint cleanup artist – compositing, roto and plate prep reel (VFX)

3.Roto artist 

The main job of a Roto artist is to cut out images and sequences from live footage and then reinsert the effects. 

The artist needs to manually draw the surrounding objects and cut out objects from the film frames so that the desired part of the image can be used, a process known as rotoscoping. The part of the image that is cut out is known as a matte.Roto artists work on the areas of live action frames where computer-generated (CG) images or other live-action images will overlap or interact with the live image.

Roto artists need a keen eye and patience to do this meticulous and repetitive work. And as Roto artists also work on video game productions that use live action footage, the effects incorporated into the footage must be compatible and realistic, so Roto artists must work closely with filmmakers and effects artists to ensure consistency of visual effect and style throughout the production process. 

https://www.pluralsight.com/blog/film-games/understanding-rotoscoping-process-every-vfx-artist-know