Technical Director in Visual Effects, Animation and Games?

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What is a Technical Director in VFX, Animation, and Games?
Since I get asked that a lot of people in and outside the industry I thought I give a basic interpretation while I am in Vienna, Austria.
Being a Technical Director means to solve artistic and technical problems with a technical mind. It can involve structure, workflows, scripting & programming, testing what works, templating and also being creative.
TD positions
Asset TD, Look Dev TD, Rigging TD, Lighting TD, Rendering TD,
Surface TD, FX TD, Crowd TD, Pipeline TD, Animation TD, Layout TD ...
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alexanderricht...
VIDEO overview
00:13 - Intro
00:26 - Introduction
00:41 - Best Joke
00:50 - Who Am I?
01:40 - Definition
01:49 - Making Things Easier
03:13 - Making Things Possible
04:50 - Director
05:53 - Technical
06:37 - Being Lazy
08:48 - Outro
09:38 - short Q&A and Credits
SHOWREEL TD
vimeo.com/alex...
PLEX open source pipeline
github.com/ale...
JOIN me
on alexanderricht...
on / forknpipe
#TechnicalDirector #Animation #VFX
INTRO films
Breaking Point [Pipeline]
Drool Pool [Lighting, Pipeline]
Animan [Look Dev, Lighting, Pipeline]
MUSIC by
/ ukiyoau
/ ukiyoau
/ dyallas

[@rajeshparmar7842]

absolutely correct definition about TD

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thx!

[@jackskhn]

Thank you man, I appreciate this video alot, I have an interview next week and you have really opened my eyes into what a TD does, fingers crossed.

[@trm245]

how'd it go?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I am interested too

[@alligator64]

@@alexanderrichtertd still interested

[@jefflhama]

I feel represented by the description, but I have a problem to show it. 😅 Like, the companie I worked long time ago I did this puzzle solving and now I'm doing it too, I think this will be my path, let's figure out how to walk on it

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Sounds great! Let me know if I can help. 😊

[@ronydey2696]

Great understanding and much clear concepts that's much needed sir hi there myself Rony I'm an BCA in computer sc & VFX student from India

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zinkzonk777]

love this video. I need to make a demo reel for the video game technical director. studying your video.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Have a look here: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/post/the-perfect-showreel-interview

[@alexanderrichtertd]

The sound is far and windy ... but Vienna. Added subtitles for the readers. If you want to find out more: Here is the interview with Paul Kanyuk (Lead Technical Director at Pixar): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqS4eKagqaiisNE

[@cgbintang]

You really make a great content and video for people out there who work in game, vfx and animation studios, but it seem you find hard enough to gather audience and make some extra income from youtube. In my opinion you should make something in Udemy platform, like Dhruv Govil python for maya course. And share your other life activity as a TD in youtube. I hope this could help you.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thanks. You words strike a core and besides being stressed by KZbin production this was one of the reasons why I stopped. I want to enjoy it but it is not pleasant if the production is so complicated and you still have to maintain a full time job. I think the audience is there just smaller but more focused. Saw your videos by the way - some of them are amazing. KZbin teached me a lot last year. Now I will come back with a plan to gather audience and some income. About learning platforms I am not sure I see the videos more like a trailer for my skills and would like to do more company and private coaching. I think it is more sustainable than online tutorials ... but I need more trial and error. Thanks for your tips appreciate them a lot and keep up your great channel.

[@aloktiwari9865]

Where should i find the basics tutorials for learning as i am already working in vfx industry but wanted to switch to the Td can you please suggest me some websites where i can find suitable things to start learning...it will be very helpful...thanks in advance

[@alexanderrichtertd]

www.alexanderrichtertd.com/post/the-role-of-a-technical-director

[@N3.1Kryuk]

That's cool, thank you! Also I checked your website and it looks interesting

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Check out the most recent live event about the TD role.

[@yamanshrivas3479]

Respected Sir, I Need To Know The Education Background Required To Become An Technical Director. What All Programming Languages Are Required To Become Compositing TD or Lighting TD.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Python mainly. A lot of technical feel and problem solving (Maya crashes: How can we fix it?) Check out this resources: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/free

[@yamanshrivas3479]

@@alexanderrichtertd Thank You So Much Sir.

[@foxman4455]

Hey Alexander , have a question for you : How much programming knowledge is required for a technical director ? At what level? I know it's not computer science Bachelor level , but i would love to know because in my country the only degree in VFX doesn't focus so much on programming and i'm trying to find ways to either learn on my own / courses outside school. Would really appreciate your answer :)

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Hey foxman4455, the level depends on your position. Can you help others make the assets and shots and solve technical problems? That is the level that you need. I coached computer science bachelor developer: They learned a lot background but they don't have much practice and most of the time don't understand 3D which makes them factually useless as TDs. When you are a Pipeline TD the level is similar to an experienced software developer. When you are a specialized TD like Rigging or Lighting TD it is more like advanced Python (using functions, loops, classes). You should feel comfortable writing code but you will spend most of your time solving technical problems or creating technical workflows. This is the level I expect from every TD: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/sfa-advanced

[@foxman4455]

@@alexanderrichtertd Hi Alexander , thank you for a detailed answer. I think I don't quite know yet the actual mechanics of writing code . I know the CS guys have a lot of theory and less coding experience during their study, and i know programming is a knowledge AND a skill you practice and need to exercise to perfect. Bottom line , you don't need CS knowledge to be a TD , but rather a good 3D knowledge and code writing that is connected to 3D software's?

[@anniejohnson3961]

Heyy alexander, i am an engineering student who wants to be a TD..im good with coding languages ..i know both python and C/C++ ...i know maya..but idk where to go from there...i dont know coding for graphics and such but i am learning..but I honestly dont know if im going in the right direction...Can you tell me if i amm? Or where to go from here?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Everything I learned for this job was because I needed to solve a particular problem. The most important skill you should have is to solve problems for film and game challenges that is how your value is measured. So if you can put your technical knowledge to work and help the artists to overcome actual challenges (by participating in 3D projects) that is where you morph from an artist/developer to a TD. I am curious: How do you know you're actually good at coding?

[@andeleyeppa]

Hello Alexander. I am an industrial engineer and i want to change my profession. I wasn't happy to do it so i quit my job and stayed searching for what i like to do, what i can do, what is my desire, what can makes me happy and after a year i realized that i am really into animations, designing, gaming industry etc. I needed a pc so i decided to enter any job that i can manage just to buy a pc. Now i have bought my laptop and looking for courses to start or a start point . I talk with every guy i find who works with animation or 3D character modeling. And one guy sent me your this video. I'm still in need of help to direct my path. Could you give some advise? :)

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Hey, sure. I will just release "Becoming a Technical Director at Pixar" interview video this Thursday. I am also giving personal coaching sessions: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/getthejob

[@gabya7075]

Hi Alex, I am very interested in grooming and currently learning it in Houdini and Yeti for Maya but I am still a student. At which state do you think is it crucial for an upcoming Groom Artist, to become fluent in VEX/Python and other scripting, for being able to advance in the future to TD. I have basic coding skills, but you still have to compare to everybody else, right?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

"fluent" is a thing. I know Rigging TDs who are great in Maya Python while Rigging but still miss basic programming skills. Dont pressure yourself to understand everything. The best TD is "the lazy one" so learn what you need not to repeat and to make what you need.

[@greciacorpusrincon5696]

Hi Alexander, useful and necessary information, great video!!

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thx for watching and your support!

[@danielamiteva6125]

Great location...already interested! :)

[@alexanderrichtertd]

True but not many TD jobs in Vienna :')

[@mmtd5214]

Informative!!

[@alexanderrichtertd]

windy

[@nilvoidzero000]

What is the difference between pipeline and workflow?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

They are mostly used as a synonym. Pipeline is more often used in productions/projects to describe a from-beginning-to-end process: Making a film, a car etc. with additions of scripts. While a workflow is mostly smaller and can change faster.

[@gergototh2012]

Thanks man!

[@alexanderrichtertd]

De Rien

[@xnickjonsson]

Hey dude, great one!

[@xnickjonsson]

Btw I'm xFauxtoe on IG, are you more on chat on IG or on KZbin?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thx. Was fun to make this on the road. Next one is at Annecy - looking forward to that. :)

[@ZhuYuan0148]

I kinda agree, I'm the laziest person within my team. Lol

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Haha. Thx. :)

[@alexanderrichtertd]

See also my newest video with Paul talking about being a Technical Director at Pixar.

[@blackdiamond2605]

nice

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thx

[@AlexUdilov]

Братишка здравствуй конечно

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Привет :)

[@joonkantour147]

Boring

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Agreed