VFX Paint / Cleanup Artist Needed

I’m looking for a skilled VFX paint / roto-cleanup compositor to repair one short live-action shot for a premium branded video. Watch the attached clip for reference: The shot is approximately 7.4 seconds long, 1920×1080, 24 fps, 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes, and currently ungraded. NOTE: The original clip is 4k shot anamorphic, if that extra data is helpful I will send you all original clips, but we are delivering in 16:9 1080p. The problem is very specific: a horizontal optical lens flare crosses the subject’s upper face and eye. The client wants the flare removed or significantly suppressed only where it obstructs facial readability. This is NOT a request to regenerate the shot, replace the actor, or redesign the cinematography. The original footage must remain authoritative for: • subject identity and facial performance • wardrobe • glass and hand movement • room/environment • lighting • camera movement • overall photographic character The ideal approach is invisible tracked cleanup using professional compositing techniques such as: • roto/paint • facial/head tracking • clean-frame reconstruction from nearby frames • warping / SmartVectors / patch replacement • temporal repair • controlled ML-assisted cleanup where useful • final integration of motion blur, grain/noise, and local contrast The flare itself is largely fixed in screen space while the subject moves through it, so I expect there may be useful donor information elsewhere in the same take. IMPORTANT CREATIVE DIRECTION The goal is NOT necessarily to remove every flare element from the entire frame. I want to preserve the existing optical character of the shot while making the flare across the subject’s eye/upper face effectively invisible or non-distracting. Please do not deliver an AI-generated replacement performance or a synthetic reconstruction of the full shot. SOURCE / DELIVERY I can provide the original ungraded ProRes source clip and, if available, alternate takes from the same production setup. Final delivery should: • preserve the original duration, framing, and timing • preserve 1920×1080 / 24 fps • remain ungraded so the existing color grade can be applied downstream • be returned in a high-quality mezzanine format appropriate for professional post-production, ideally ProRes matching the source characteristics as closely as practical • contain no visible facial warping, identity drift, texture smearing, flicker, or temporal artifacts DEADLINE ASAP. This shot is part of an active client delivery, so fast turnaround matters, but invisible quality matters more than a rushed patch. HOW I’D LIKE TO WORK I would prefer a freelancer who can first assess the shot and tell me whether it is cleanly recoverable. If practical, I am open to a short paid representative test on the most difficult section before authorizing the full cleanup. WHEN APPLYING, PLEASE INCLUDE 1. Your assessment of the likely cleanup approach. 2. The software/workflow you would use (Nuke, Silhouette, Mocha, After Effects, Fusion, etc.). 3. Examples of prior live-action paint/cleanup, beauty cleanup, facial repair, wire/object removal, or similar invisible VFX work. 4. Your fixed-price quote for the full 7.4-second shot. 5. Your turnaround time. 6. Whether you are willing to complete a short representative paid test if requested. APPLICATION FILTER Please begin your proposal with the words: FACIAL CLEANUP This lets me know you read the actual brief rather than sending a generic editing proposal. IDEAL FREELANCER I am specifically looking for a VFX cleanup / paint compositor, not a general video editor and not someone whose primary solution is generative AI video. Strong fits would include experience with: • Nuke / NukeX • Boris FX Silhouette • Mocha Pro • high-end After Effects roto/paint • DaVinci Resolve Fusion cleanup • beauty retouching / digital makeup • clean-plate reconstruction • facial tracking and patch work The successful result should feel like the original shot was always photographed without the distracting flare across the face.