Open-rank Professor of Cinematic Practice in Virtual Production, Division of Film and Television Production

The Division of Film and Television Production within the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California is seeking an experienced professional in the film and television industry to fill a full-time non-tenure position to teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced-level courses in Virtual Production.  Qualified candidates will have substantial professional experience in Virtual Production.  Applicants should possess Virtual Production credits in feature film and television.   The ideal candidate will have some teaching experience.  A commitment to mentoring students toward achieving their educational and career goals is crucial.  The candidate must have experience using the Unreal Engine, Motion Capture, and other Visual Effects techniques. They will also be responsible for advancing the technology for the Virtual Production program.

The Division of Film and Television Production offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Fine Arts degrees. The primary goals of the degree programs in film and television production are to develop the student's ability to express original ideas on film or video and to instill a thorough understanding of the technical and aesthetic aspects of motion pictures and television. Courses in Virtual Production provide individual and group filmmaking experiences and the opportunity to learn all aspects of filmmaking in a collaborative environment. Our Virtual Production classes focus on students learning Unreal Engine and Motion Capture to create a short CG film or Previs with basic animation and hybrid films that combine traditional film production with virtual production elements.

Minimum Education: BA degree and/or equivalent

Minimum Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in the film and television industry

Preferred Education:  MFA degree

Preferred Experience: Teaching experience and a minimum of ten years of professional experience in the film and television industry

• 3-5 years of motion capture and performance capture technologies and setup
• Experience with Unreal Engine using switchboard, blueprints, sequencer, environment building tools
• On-set experience in LED volume operation using UE5 would be a bonus
• Creative filmmaking experience from script to post

• Ability to put together a Syllabus (or adapt the existing one)
• Knowledge of 3D workflow and software such as Maya, Blender, etc.
• Visual Effects and compositing skills for greenscreen keying, roto, mattes, integration of live action into another environment
• Lighting skills
• Knowledge of color space and theory
• Storytelling skills
• Cameras & Cinematography
• Photogrammetry
• Communicating well with students
• Communicating and collaborating with the faculty and heads of Virtual Production
• Staying abreast of the latest techniques

The annual base salary range for this position is as shown below:

• Assistant Professor: $83,000 - $90,000
• Associate Professor: $88,000 - $ 104,000
• Professor: $100,000 - $125,000

This is a 9-month full-time, non-tenure/tenure track open-rank position.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market and organizational considerations.