Story Apprentice

3 Months ago • 1-2 Years

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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