Story Apprentice

1 Month ago • 1-2 Years • Game Story Writing/Narrative Design

Job Summary

Job Description

Skydance Animation seeks a Story Apprentice for a 6-month rotational program (June 9th - December 12th). The apprentice will work alongside a mentor on a feature film production, gaining hands-on experience in storyboarding, illustration, and the animation filmmaking process. Responsibilities include developing thumbnails, roughs, and storyboards; pitching ideas; collaborating with the team; and ensuring consistent quality. The program includes a structured learning curriculum to support future career growth. The role requires approximately 1-2 years of experience in visual development or related fields and a portfolio showcasing storyboarding and illustration skills. The position is full-time (40 hours/week) in Santa Monica, CA, and pays $44.20/hour.
Must have:
  • 1-2 years experience in visual development
  • Storyboarding & illustration skills
  • Knowledge of anatomy, perspective, composition
  • Filmic staging and storytelling
  • Effective storyboard presentation

Job Details

Skydance Animation is excited to welcome an emerging Story Artist as an apprentice. The Story 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 create a visual representation of the story’s narrative
    • Translate script pages by developing thumbnails, roughs, and storyboards that depict the requirements of the scene/ sequence
    • Pitch storyboards to mentor, crew, Head of Story, and Director, and other members of the Skydance Animation creative team
    • Innovate and elevate ideas, keeping in mind leadership’s requests and vision while adding your own creative flair
    • Modify, revise, and edit sketches and boards addressing notes
    • Gather reference material for projects
    • 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 story artists
    • Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as needed

Qualifications

    • 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 your skills with storyboarding and illustration
    • Eagerness to learn and actively participate in studio offerings
    • Knowledge of anatomy, perspective, and composition
    • Sense of filmic staging and storytelling, entertainment, and humor
    • Ability to present storyboards in an effective manner
The hourly rate for this non-exempt position in Santa Monica is $44.20hr.

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).

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About The Company

About Skydance Media 

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, and interactive platforms. Its feature films include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Annihilation, LIFE, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Star Trek Beyond, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Terminator Genisys, World War Z, Star Trek Into Darkness, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and True Grit. Skydance’s upcoming film releases include Top Gun: Maverick, Gemini Man, The Old Guard, 6 Underground and the nwe untitled Terminator film. In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance Television launched in 2013. Its current slate includes Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie on Netflix, Altered Carbon on Netflix, Jack Ryan on Amazon, and Condor on AT&T Audience Network. Skydance Interactive launched in 2016 to create and publish original and IP-based virtual reality experiences and video games. Skydance Interactive recently debuted its first original title – Archangel, a story-driven VR shooter.


About Skydance Interactive

Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality games. The division of Skydance Media was launched in 2016 through the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment. Skydance Interactive’s first VR offering is Archangel, launched on July 18th 2017. Skydance Interactive in 2017 partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies. The studio is located in Marina del Rey, CA. 


About Animation

In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance’s first three animated features are Luck, Split (working title), and Powerless (working title). Luck, directed by Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda 3) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, is a comedy that pulls back the curtain on the millennia-old battle between the organizations of good luck and bad luck that secretly affects our daily lives. Split, directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Linda Woolverton, tells the story of Elian, a teenager who comes of age using her magical powers to defend her family when the opposing forces of light and darkness threaten to divide her kingdom. Nathan Greno (Tangled) is set to direct Powerless. The studio is located in Los Angeles, CA. 

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