Job Summary:

Swaybox Studios is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist to help bridge the gap between live-action footage and CG integration. In this role, you’ll be responsible for extracting motion data from filmed plates, tracking both environments and facial performance, and aligning CG elements with precise real-world movement—whether using lidar scans, measurements, or solving without them.

The 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist will focus on tracking environments and character features (such as: face, hands, legs, etc.) with a handoff to the layout, animation, and compositing teams. This person will play a hands-on role in ensuring seamless tracking blends of practical and CG, improving workflows, resolving creative challenges, and collaborating with Supervisors and Technical Directors to evolve tools that enhance production efficiency. 

This is a studio-based role working onsite in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform accurate 3D camera and object tracking in live-action plates with or without on-set measurements and lidar scans.
• Implement best practices in our tracking pipeline, ensuring the environment and object tracking are seamlessly matched to the camera and puppet facial performances.
• Hand-key and solve complex motion where automated solutions fall short.
• Deliver clean and tight matchmove data, including STMaps, to layout, animation, and compositing departments.
• Create rotomation of CG character rigs to match puppet movement, as needed.
• Maintain output quality and momentum in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with the VFX and CG teams to troubleshoot tracking challenges and maintain alignment with production needs.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience as a matchmove or tracking artist in film, episodic, or high-end VFX.
• Expert knowledge of matchmoving principles: camera focal lengths, lens distortion, film backs, rolling shutter, parallax, and real-world camera behavior.
• Strong proficiency in 3DEqualizer and Maya.
• Basic knowledge of Nuke to create slapcomps for presentation and handoff to the compositing team.
• Prior experience with rotomation.
• Deep understanding and experience with object and face tracking using KeenTools.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt quickly to unique or proprietary workflows.
• In-depth knowledge of layout, cinematic language, camera operation, and on-set data acquisition practices.
• Proven ability to work independently and maintain accuracy under tight deadlines.
• An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback, whether that’s with draw-overs, over the shoulder adjustments, or team meetings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using PFTrack, Syntheyes, and MMSolver.
• Familiarity with performance capture, and Nuke for projection and compositing integration.
• Working knowledge of rigging workflows, animation principles, and stylized performance-driven animation pipelines.
• Scripting skills in Python, PySide, PyQT, or MEL to improve workflow or develop internal tools.