Supervising Director - Series

The Supervising Director guides a dedicated team of artists while keeping to the style, vision, and creative ambitions required for the project. In this role, you will collaborate with EPs to handle all aspects of the storyboarding and timing processes throughout the editing/animatics stage. You will guide the story team including Episodic Directors, Storyboard Artists, Revisionists, and Animatic editors to ensure alignment through all departments for a locked animatic of every episode throughout pre-production. This position is covered by The Animation Guild.

Sony Pictures Animation is a pre-production animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process, and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with the Executive Producer, Line Producer and Art Director and CG Supervisor to discuss creative ambitions and producibility for each episode
• Attends design and board handouts, board pitches, animatic reviews to hear notes and be a part of the braintrust that helps problem solve
• Oversees storyboard directors, storyboard artists and animatic editors' work to ensure quality and style of show is met. Also ensures the episode remains within the parameters of the show's budget and schedule.
• Creates sequences of images including thumbnail sketches to detailed storyboard panels to support all aspects of the story process.
• Manage animatics at all stages of the episode by providing thumbnail sketches, final board panels, animatic pitches, revisions, and locks
• Pitch storyboards to the EP and other members of the team as needed
• Visually develop character personality and dramatic/comedic action through engaging image sequences
• Communicates next steps to the entire Story Team and strategically develops a plan to hit deadlines.
• Oversee revisions and provide notes on an ongoing basis to ensure the style and vision for the show is maintained. Thoroughly reviews storyboards for timing and shipping and revise, edit and modify sketches as needed to address notes.
• Participate in all storyboard handouts with the episodic directors by communicating storytelling direction, design requirements, and expected level of polish to the storyboard team while maintaining producibility
• Participate in storyboard reviews and provide clear notes for revisions including thumbnail sketches.
• Evaluate the continuity and quality of all storyboards and punch up the storyboards and/or animatics as needed
• Review animatics with Animatic Editors to direct pacing. Along with EP will help refine staging, pacing and camera action.
• Provide status updates, troubleshoot, and review potential changes on a regular basis with production staff
• Participate in the talent acquisition process as needed with the Line Producer to review portfolios and tests, interview candidates, and provide detailed feedback
• Mentor and support the storyboard team and cultivate positive team morale

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience directing episodic animated series.
• 3+ years of story production experience on a series, preferably in CG TV animation
• Storyboarding/Directing samples and/or credits demonstrating excellence and inspiration with clarity, comedy, acting, writing, and visual storytelling.
• Knowledge of CG TV animation and a detailed understanding of a 2D and 3D production pipeline from pre-production to post production.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of production crew, artistic staff and management
• Knowledge of Storyboard Pro, and Photoshop; Maya knowledge is a plus.
• Comfortable working digitally on a Cintiq.
• Proven skills in storyboarding, animation camera composition, storytelling and animation timing required. Must be able to time storyboards to dialogue tracks.
• Experience in leading teams with outstanding communication skills with the ability to give feedback and guide a unique group of creative staff.
• Ability to multitask and work well in a fast paced department.
• Must be willing to take direction and also take the initiative where applicable.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work independently and set appropriate priorities.
• Trustworthy and able to maintain a high level of discretion.
• Highly organized, resourceful and diligent with excellent interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer and technology literate – familiarity with Mac/PC operating systems, Photoshop, Word, Excel and Gmail.

To apply, please submit a resume and a link to your portfolio. Please make sure to include any passwords needed to review your work in your resume or cover letter.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $3,655/week to $4,500/week. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.I’ll

Sony Pictures Animation 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.