Instructor or Artistic Assistant Professor of Virtual Production, Non-Tenure track, Spring 2025

Description

Chapman University seeks applications for a non-tenure track Instructor or Assistant Professor position in virtual production for its nationally recognized Dodge College of Film and Media Arts beginning February 2025.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. The University holds an R2 designation in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction held by just 133 U.S. universities.  Our faculty include academic leaders who excel in research, publishing, and world-class teaching in our 11 schools and colleges, including Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Dedicated to forward-looking, personalized education, we create an environment for unlimited student and faculty achievement. Industry trade publications The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter rank Dodge College #4 among film schools nationwide. More information about the university and Dodge College is available at https://www.chapman.edu/dodge/index.aspx.

Chapman University is dedicated to forward-looking, personalized education and ongoing engagement with diversity and inclusion in people. We create an environment for unlimited achievement by our students and faculty and are committed to strengthening our culture represented by the multi-ethnic opportunities drawn from the marketplace. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. More information on diversity and inclusion at Chapman University is available at https://www.chapman.edu/diversity.

Key Responsibilities

Faculty duties include teaching, academic advising, and service to Dodge College and Chapman University. The teaching load is 24 credits per academic year, in addition to continued professional work and/or research and scholarship.

• Teach Virtual Production and VFX courses.
• Work closely with faculty, staff, and students to plan and execute projects including preparation of assets and production design elements for Virtual Production
• Assist the onsite stage team in the virtual production needs for student productions by providing training, mentoring and guidance on set
• Assist tech support staff and our chief technology officer in curating new hardware and software for virtual production and assist with AI integration
• Mentor undergraduate students who are focused on virtual production projects.
• Mentor students throughout their creative journey, from conceptual development to postproduction.
• Develop curriculum to align with current and emerging industry standards
• Explore opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration
• Assist the Chair and Program Director in developing relationships with industry to maintain current best practices and facilitate student placement at graduation
• Contribute to developing a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for all constituents

Qualifications

Required

• MFA or other terminal degree in film production, a related field, or significant relevant professional experience in virtual production
• Experience as a director, cinematographer or supervisor in virtual production on an LED volume stage.
• Experience with hardware and software integration, and on-set pipelines such as camera tracking and source control on a virtual production stage.
• Advanced knowledge of surfacing, environment set up, lighting and optimization in Unreal as well as experience with blueprints.
• Experience directing teams in a VFX asset and shot production pipeline.
• Experience using digital content creating software such as Maya, Nuke and Unreal Engine.
• The ideal candidate will have professional and teaching experience in one or more areas, including  but not limited to:

o    Demonstrated teaching experience at the university level, encompassing directing and production courses or VFX courses as well as software and other tools currently used in virtual production including Unreal Engine.

o    Professional industry experience of 5 years or more in directing or supervision of projects with significant VFX and Virtual Production components as well as traditional live action projects.

o    Expertise in Unreal Engine and two or more software packages used to develop content for virtual production, such as, Maya, Nuke or Adobe Substance suite.

o    Experience in multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Desired

• Tea