Main Responsibilities of a Director, Content Operations at Global Media Company
Dillan's role as Director, Content Operations involves "navigating...from the Inception" of film acquisition, developing release plans (from wide theatrical releases to targeted platform rollouts), and ensuring all elements—marketing, distribution to theaters and streamers, and accessibility options—are flawlessly executed. This includes collaborating with various teams and stakeholders to maximize each film's potential, encompassing both operational and technical aspects of theatrical distribution and subsequent licensing.
Project Management, Film Distribution, Media Operations, Accessibility, Strategic Planning
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Dillan Damodar
Director, Content Operations
Global Media Company
University of California, Irvine
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA, Spring 2024
Economics, Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Dillan's role involves strategic planning for film releases, including deciding on distribution methods (wide release vs. limited rollout) to maximize reach and profitability.
2. He collaborates with various teams, including sales, publicity, advertisers, and filmmakers, to ensure a coordinated and successful release plan.
3. Dillan also focuses on the technical aspects, making sure accessibility options (for the hearing or visually impaired) are available across different viewing platforms.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
On the operation side for theatrical distribution, whenever a film is acquired and the legal agreement is executed, I need to decipher all the rights, territory fees, and the exact release plan. I also gather as much detail about the film as possible, including its genre and comparables.
This involves building reports and presentations to show leadership the best path for the film. We determine if it makes the most sense for a wide release, a limited platform rollout, or an Oscar-qualifying breakout in select markets to generate awareness. Then, we make it available to the public in all domestic markets theatrically.
Subsequently, I work with the sales team to sell the film and secure the best offer possible to streamers for licensing content in perpetuity. My role navigates this process from the inception of a film acquisition.
As soon as a movie is acquired, we develop the plan and execute that vision. This ensures all parties are aligned, including publicity agencies, advertisers, and filmmakers.
I also make sure theater chains have the necessary materials, like posters and trailers, to effectively market the film. We spend a lot of money ensuring theaters have the film prominently displayed so the public can make informed choices about buying tickets.
On the technical side, I work with filmmakers to ensure all accessibility options are available for customers. This includes those who are hearing or vision impaired, whether they attend the theater or watch at home on any platform, ensuring those options are ready with the film for sale.