Visual Development Apprentice

Skydance offers a dynamic, inclusive, and ever-evolving culture where innovative ideas are welcomed, and growth fostered. The partnership between unique creativity and technological advancements are demonstrated within each pillar of the company. At the heart of it all is a commitment to boldly entertaining and relevant storytelling.

While all Animation studios look to hire people who are creative and hard-working, Skydance Animation is specifically looking for pioneers who seek to push the limits of what the world’s most collaborative art form can achieve, and to give those pioneers the space and the resources to build a new studio that’s doing something different.

If you’ve ever dreamt of what the early days of Hollywood must have been like, of what it takes to roll up your sleeves and break new ground, figure out a new process, and to one day say, “I was there when it all began,” then welcome aboard…

For information on Skydance’s privacy practices, see the Skydance U.S. Personnel Privacy Notice located at  https://skydance.com/privacy-personnel/.

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Skydance Animation is excited to welcome an emerging Visual Development Artist as an apprentice. The Visual Development Apprentice will join the studio in a rotational program having opportunities to, with the help of their designated mentor, hone their craft while working on a real feature production and getting an in-depth look at Skydance Animation’s studio culture, including our filmmaking process and our people. In addition, a learning curriculum will be built around the apprentice to help support future growth as an artist.

Candidates must be 18 years or older and have approximately 1 year of experience as a visual development artist and/or background painter, background designer, prop designer, etc., but no more than 2 years in feature animation.

#Animation

Responsibilities

• Use artistic skills to bring characters, settings, and stories to life
• Work alongside mentor and team to visually explore and design different aspects of a film while keeping in mind the story needs and narrative
• Create character and environment concepts, color scripts, color keys, lighting studies, mood paintings, and production illustrations
• Innovate and elevate ideas, keeping in mind leadership’s requests and vision while adding your own creative flair with depth, humor, emotion, and resonance to visual concepts
• Perform research that will inform the design of the work
• Take notes, implement feedback, make any changes or revisions when necessary
• Communicate progress of work to mentor and other appropriate staff
• Ensure quality and style of show is consistently achieved
• Participate in brainstorming sessions with other visual development artists
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as needed

Requirements

• Must be 18 years or older
• Approximately 1 year of experience as a visual development artist and/or background painter, background designer, prop designer, etc. but no more than 2 years in feature animation (this can include previous internships, trainee experiences, etc.)
• Available full-time (40hrs per week) for 6 months between June 9th-December 12th
• Located in, or willingness to relocate to, the Los Angeles Metropolitan area
• Portfolio that demonstrates visual development skillset; exhibit proficiency in drawing, anatomy, design, perspective, composition, painting, lighting, and color theory
• Advanced knowledge of Photoshop
• Eagerness to learn and actively participate in studio offerings

The hourly rate for this non-exempt position in Santa Monica is $44.11hr.

You must be available to work full-time from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (PT) for the duration of the program (Mon-Fri, June 9 to December 12).

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, interactive, and animation divisions.

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