VP, Creative Technologist & VFX

Position Summary

Torchlight is Sony Pictures Entertainments advanced production creative technology and innovation organization dedicated to transforming how stories are imagined created and delivered across Feature Film Television Animation and Marketing.

Leveraging Sonys proprietary technologies alongside industry-leading third-party platforms Torchlight identifies develops and operationalizes next-generation creative capabilities that redefine the future of filmmaking. Acting as both an innovation incubator and strategic production partner Torchlight accelerates the adoption of emerging technologies while enabling filmmakers to push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling.

Reporting directly to the Visualization Creative Director Torchlight & SVP of Visualization the Vice President Creative Technology & VFX serves as the organizations senior creative technology executive and principal visual innovation leader.

This executive works directly alongside filmmakers showrunners directors producers studio creative executives animation leadership the Sony Pictures VFX organization global marketing creatives engineering teams and external production partners to transform creative ambition into production reality.

The Vice President leads the creative exploration implementation and adoption of emerging technologiesincluding artificial intelligence visual effects virtual production procedural content creation real-time rendering digital humans simulation immersive media and future creative platformsto expand what is creatively possible while maintaining world-class artistic standards.

Unlike traditional technology executives this leader remains deeply embedded within the creative process serving as both a trusted creative partner and hands-on change agent responsible for shaping the future visual language of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Responsibilities

Creative Technology Leadership

Partner directly with the Executive Creative Director to define Torchlights long-term creative technology vision.

Serve as Sony a senior executive advisor on emerging creative technologies and visual innovation.

Inspire new methods of storytelling through the convergence of filmmaking machine learning visual effects and advanced production technologies.

Establish creative technology strategies that balance artistic excellence production feasibility and long-term studio innovation & efficiencies.

Creative Partnership

Serve as Torchlights primary creative technology partner to:

Feature Film Directors

Television Showrunners

Producers

Studio Creative Development Executives

Franchise Leadership

Global Marketing Creative Organizations

Sony Pictures VFX

Animation Leadership

Studio Production Executives

Responsibilities include:

Collaborating from concept development through final delivery.

Developing innovative visual approaches that enhance storytelling.

Advising productions on technology adoption creative methodology and production strategy.

Building trust with filmmakers while preserving creative intent.

Developing new and innovative ways to create efficiencies in the filmmaking process

Visual Innovation & Pixel Creation

Lead Torchlights exploration of next-generation image creation technologies.

Drive innovation across visual effects computer graphics virtual production animation simulation rendering compositing procedural content generation and machine learning visual development.

Champion advances in pixel creation that improve both artistic quality and production efficiency.

Prototype emerging workflows that redefine how visual content is conceived developed and delivered.

Emerging Technologies

Identify opportunities where new technologies enhance creative workflows while preserving artistic authorship.

Develop production-ready applications of machine learning generative media intelligent automation and future creative systems.

Evaluate emerging technologies for creative value scalability production readiness and enterprise adoption.

Production Innovation

Work directly with productions to introduce innovative technologies into active filmmaking.

Support productions through visualization proof-of-concepts rapid prototyping and creative technology consulting.

Collaborate with VFX Supervisors Production Designers Cinematographers Editorial Animation and Post-Production leadership.

Help productions navigate complex creative and technical challenges through emerging technologies.

VFX & Vendor Leadership

Partner closely with Sony Pictures Visual Effects organizations to define future production methodologies.

Build strategic relationships across leading VFX facilities technology companies developers software partners and research organizations.

Establish best practices for integrating emerging technologies into production pipelines.

Influence the industrys evolution through collaborative partnerships and technological leadership.

Innovation Incubation

Lead Torchlights creative experimentation initiatives.

Build proof-of-concepts demonstrating future production capabilities.

Transition promising technologies from research into production deployment.

Foster a culture of continuous experimentation creative curiosity and responsible innovation.

Executive Collaboration

Partner closely with the Vice President Creative Infrastructure to translate creative innovation into scalable enterprise capabilities.

Collaborate across Studio Technology Engineering Production Marketing Security Product Operations and Sony corporate organizations.

Represent Torchlight at executive forums industry conferences technology partnerships and strategic innovation initiatives.

Qualifications

25 years of progressive leadership and hands-on experience in the visual effects animation and digital production industries.

Minimum of 10 years serving as a Visual Effects Supervisor and/or On-Set VFX Supervisor on major feature film productions with demonstrated leadership across both feature animation and live-action visual effects. Candidates should possess a rare dual-discipline background encompassing the complete creative and technical lifecycle of both production modelsfrom pre-production planning through final deliveryincluding animation pipelines stylized lighting rendering and character performance as well as live-action VFX supervision plate photography practical/digital integration and compositing.

Demonstrated ability to translate creative vision into scalable production methodologies across feature animation live-action franchise filmmaking episodic content and global marketing.

Minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience developing implementing and deploying machine learning for professional media production. Experience should include advanced technical education or executive-level training in artificial intelligence machine learning computer vision or related disciplines coupled with practical development of production-ready tools utilizing technologies such as diffusion models generative video GPU-accelerated inference large language models model optimization and intelligent production workflows.

Proven ability to move beyond AI strategy into direct technical implementation delivering production-tested creative tools that measurably improve artist workflows production efficiency and creative capability

Industry recognition through nomination or receipt of a Visual Effects Society (VES) Award or comparable internationally recognized professional honor.

Extensive hands-on leadership of virtual production and in-camera visual effects

Strong interdisciplinary background spanning software engineering pipeline development creative technology and digital content creation with demonstrated ability to collaborate directly with engineering organizations on production tooling workflow automation platform architecture and creative systems.

Demonstrated history of technical innovation through granted patents published research proprietary production technologies or other significant technical contributions advancing the state of the art in visual effects rendering compositing simulation production pipelines or creative technology.

Exceptional executive communication skills with the ability to influence filmmakers studio executives engineering leadership researchers artists production teams technology partners and external vendors.

Recognized as an industry thought leader capable of influencing the future direction of visual storytelling through the convergence of filmmaking artificial intelligence visual effects and emerging production technologies. Demonstrated ability to advise C-suite executives filmmakers and technology organizations on enterprise creative transformation.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience designing hardware embedded systems custom imaging devices depth-sensing technologies or advanced capture systems supporting production.

International production leadership across multiple territories and cultures.

Multilingual communication skills.

Experience serving as an invited instructor lecturer or executive educator at accredited universities technical institutions or professional organizations.

Active participation in industry standards organizations advisory boards research initiatives or technology councils.

Recognized thought leadership through publications keynote presentations patents conference speaking engagements or significant contributions advancing the future of creative technology.

Executive Competencies

Executive Creative Leadership

Visual Storytelling

Machine learning pipelines

Tooling and customization

Creative Technology

Visual Effects Leadership

Virtual Production

Production Innovation

Executive Influence

Creative Transformation

Digital Production Strategy

Cross-Functional Leadership

Organizational Change Management

Innovation Commercialization

Strategic Partnerships

Emerging Media Technologies

Vision for the Role

The Vice President Creative Technologist & VFX serves as Torchlights creative engine for technological transformation.

Working at the intersection of artistry engineering and production this executive partners directly with Sony Pictures storytellers to imagine prototype and realize the next generation of cinematic experiences. Through hands-on collaboration with filmmakers artists engineers studio executives and technology partners the Vice President defines how emerging technologies become meaningful creative tools that elevate storytelling while advancing the craft of filmmaking.

Together with the Executive Creative Director and the Vice President Creative Infrastructure these executive forms the senior leadership team responsible for shaping Torchlights next-generation production ecosystemwhere creative ambition technological innovation and enterprise-scale execution converge to define the future of entertainment.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex national origin disability veteran status age sexual orientation gender identity or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

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