In 3D production, the 3D director (also known as the 3D project manager) is THE person at the heart of the project. At once an artist, a technician and a pilot, he or she follows the various stages of the project, from concept to design, mastering all the subtleties.
THE TASKS OF A 3D DIRECTOR
A true conductor, the 3D director is the main person in charge of a project. Working directly with the production team, he chooses his teams (storyboarder, character designer, 3D animators, special effects supervisor, etc.), who work together under his direction. He or she is the main contact for a project.
They are involved in pre-production, production and post-production. Upstream of the project, he or she fine-tunes the script, assembles and briefs the various people involved so as to convey his or her intentions, and the guidelines he or she has defined down to the smallest detail (characters, set, lighting, camera angles, etc.).
During the actual production phase, the 3D project manager will keep a close eye on everyone involved, both artistic and technical, and will guide them as the project develops.
Finally, during the final post-production stage, he or she will assist with editing and colour-grading, which are invaluable in the final rendering of the project.
KNOW-HOW, SKILLS
Versatile, a manager at heart with excellent organisational skills, the 3D project manager is subject to time, budget and quality constraints.
Their strong personality and wide-ranging knowledge give them the weapons they need to succeed.
Because of their interface role, 3D project managers need to have a good knowledge (or at least an understanding) of the various trades with which they work. They must therefore be comfortable working as part of a team. As good managers, they are rigorous and organised.
To deal with emergencies and unforeseen events that may arise in their field, they must be able to react quickly and withstand stress. All in all, they need to be both authoritative and psychological. An iron fist in a velvet glove!
CAREER, DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
3D project managers do not immediately take charge of a product when they leave school, particularly in animated film: the job is also learned through experience and by stepping up the career ladder.
As a result, the job of project manager is often reserved for experienced executives, and pays relatively well: around €40,000 to €80,000 per year (€2,800 gross per month for a project manager, a salaried junior 3D director).
Project managers can work for a wide range of companies: production, multimedia, communications, etc. They can also be self-employed and work on commission.
Over time, they may move into ‘traditional’ cinema, television or advertising, either as employees or freelancers. In this profession, you have to be able to seize opportunities and bounce back with the right attitude!
