Description
We are expanding MOCEAN Gaming and looking for a visionary Director / Head of Game Capture to build, lead, and elevate our virtual cinematography department. This is an influential leadership position that will help set vision for how we position the games we work on, and that will work collaboratively across all departments of campaign making.
As our lead capture authority, you are equal parts filmmaker, gamer, technical director, and department architect. You understand that capturing gameplay isn't just recording a screen. It’s virtual cinematography that captures the soul and tactile feel of a game. You will direct live capture sessions, wrangle pre-release builds, pioneer camera tooling, and lead a team of capture artists to deliver world-class trailer footage for titles ranging from AAA to indie.
What You’ll Do- Direct Virtual Cinematography: Turn creative briefs, scripts, and storyboards into compelling shot lists and cinematic sequences. Capture high-octane gameplay, dynamic "freecam" cinematics, environmental coverage, and key art stills using debug tools, UE5, Unity, and custom developer tools.
- Lead & Scale the Capture Team: Oversee, mentor, and grow our team of in-house and freelance Capture Artists and Techs. Establish creative standards and performance benchmarks for all captured media.
- Architect the Pipeline: Partner with our post-production, editorial, and finishing teams to streamline build ingestion, asset tagging, shot logging, and editorial handoffs.
- Master the Build: Dive deep into early-stage dev builds, alpha/beta builds, and console dev kits. Identify debug capabilities, write "What It Feels Like to Play" guides, and problem-solve build limitations alongside developer technical teams.
- Collaborate Across Departments: Work seamlessly with Creative Directors, Editors, Writers, and Account Leads to ensure capture aligns with trailer narrative beats and campaign goals.
- Client-Facing Leadership: Serve as MOCEAN’s authoritative voice on game capture during capabilities meetings, client kick-offs, script reviews, and technical syncs with publisher marketing and dev teams.
Requirements
Who You Are
- A Veteran Virtual Director: 6+ years of experience capturing in-engine footage for game trailers, gameplay reveal trailers, and marketing campaigns at a major creative agency, trailer house, or game publisher.
- Deep Cinematic & Technical Intuition: Strong grasp of real-world cinematography principles (lens selection, depth of field, key framing, lighting, motion pacing) adapted for 3D digital environments.
- Engine & Tool Master: Deeply comfortable navigating Unreal Engine (Sequencer//Debug Cam), Unity, console SDKs/dev kits (PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch), PC debug menus, and custom developer tools.
- Natural Leader & Communicator: Able to direct multi-player capture sessions like a live-action director on set, keep cool under tight trailer delivery timelines, and inspire a creative team. You’ve served as a mentor and know how to help others grow their game capture careers.
- Gamer at Heart: Possess high-level mechanical skill across multiple game genres (FPS, Action/RPG, Fighting, Sports, Strategy) to pull off precise, repeatable gameplay maneuvers for the camera.
Compensation / Benefits
- Annual Salary: $145,000 to $185,000 – The final salary offered will be dependent on factors such as experience, location, and budget.
- Benefits include generous paid time off, including ten (10) holidays, sick days annually, subsidized health insurance (medical, dental, vision), short/long term disability, fertility/family planning benefits, 401(k) with company match and more.
About MOCEAN
Named one of the Best Places to Work for Innovators by Fast Company and a three-time Entertainment Agency of the Year, MOCEAN is an independent creative agency and production studio. We operate where entertainment, culture, and gaming meet, partnering with the world’s most ambitious gaming publishers, film studios, and brands to move people to action through the power of emotion.
Our mantra is See Change™. It means we operate with cultural vision, translating player behaviors, game mechanics, and emerging platforms into stories that move your audience and your business.
Skills Required
- 6+ years of experience capturing in-engine footage for game trailers, gameplay reveal trailers, and marketing campaigns at a major creative agency, trailer house, or game publisher
- Strong understanding of cinematography principles, including lens selection, depth of field, framing, lighting, and motion pacing in 3D environments
- Deep experience with Unreal Engine, including Sequencer and Debug Cam
- Experience with Unity
- Experience with console SDKs and development kits for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch
- Experience using PC debug menus and custom developer tools
- Ability to lead multiplayer capture sessions and mentor capture artists and technicians
- High-level mechanical gaming skill across multiple genres, including FPS, Action/RPG, Fighting, Sports, and Strategy
What We Do
MOCEAN is an independent entertainment advertising agency based in Los Angeles that specializes in creating original marketing campaigns through audio-visual, print, social, and digital media. The company partners with major media brands and entertainment giants to develop branding, content, and strategy solutions that connect audiences to the brands they love. With a focus on creative production, MOCEAN has been recognized as an industry leader in entertainment marketing.
