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Priyaa, Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from a Bachelor's in Electronic Media in India to Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, began with a Master's in film studies and a production assistant role at Dreamworks Animation India in 2011. The interview reveals a consistent upward trajectory marked by increased responsibility, from managing artists to mentoring production supervisors and navigating complex production workflows.
Success hinges on strong people management skills, proficiency in project management software, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, including financial acumen.
The most rewarding aspects include mentoring others, strategizing solutions, and witnessing the final product on the big screen.
Advice for aspiring animation professionals includes pursuing production internships, asking questions, embracing challenges, and intentionally seeking out uncomfortable situations to build essential skills.
Overcoming initial parental reservations about a non-traditional career path highlights the importance of a well-defined career plan.
This inspiring journey underscores the value of transferable skills gained through extracurricular activities and the rewards of a career in animation.
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Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Priyaa Kalkura
Associate Production Manager
Dreamworks Animation
MOP Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai
University of Sydney, Film Studies
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Immigrant
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Career Path of an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa's career path began with a Bachelor's in Electronic Media in India, followed by a Master's pursuit in film studies, solidifying a desire for a film industry career. After securing a production assistant role at Dreamworks Animation India in 2011, "managing artists and their work," they progressed through various production roles at Dreamworks and BL Studios, ultimately returning to Dreamworks as an Associate Production Manager on *Wild Robot*, demonstrating a consistent passion for production and a clear upward trajectory within the animation industry.
Main Responsibilities of an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa's main responsibility as Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation is "managing people on a higher level," mentoring production supervisors across multiple departments, and ensuring timely delivery of all deliverables, including marketing materials. This represents a significant career advancement from their previous role as a production supervisor, showcasing increased scope and leadership responsibilities.
A Day In The Life Of An Associate Production Manager At Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa's role as an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation involves constant communication and coordination, acting as a central hub ensuring "a waterfall" of production tasks flows smoothly between departments. This includes attending dailies, generating weekly progress reports for executives, and resolving production issues and dependencies across various teams, ultimately contributing to the timely delivery of marketing materials and the final animated product.
Most Important Skills For An Associate Production Manager At Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, emphasizes that the most crucial skill is "people management," requiring a thick skin and the ability to "navigate those situations" while remaining resilient. Success also hinges on strong soft skills, including "being able to read a room" and knowing when to provide creative input, coupled with hard skills such as proficiency in Excel and project management software like ShotGrid.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Associate Production Manager At Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, finds the most rewarding aspects of their role to be "mentoring other production staff" and developing "soft skills and hard skills" in others. Equally fulfilling is the challenge of "strategizing and coming up with solutions for workflow issues," finding joy in tackling unexpected problems and making "everything going smoothly."
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa's biggest challenge as a newly promoted Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation is learning the financial aspects of the role, transitioning from managing "Labor Weeks" to understanding how "everything is money." This involves carefully considering costs when making decisions, as illustrated by the example of needing to choose between more and less expensive personnel to complete tasks.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Animation Industry as an Associate Production Manager
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, finds the most rewarding aspect of her career "being able to see the final work on the big screen," a feeling amplified by collaborating with talented artists and facilitating "the final product." The joy of seeing the fruits of their collective labor enjoyed by audiences on release day is what truly drives Priyaa's passion for the animation industry.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Animation, According To An Associate Production Manager At Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, highlights the importance of interpersonal skills for success in animation, emphasizing the need to be "flexible" and "love working with people," especially artists. The ability to "motivate and promote an environment" that fosters collaboration and trust, while maintaining professionalism and meeting deadlines, is crucial for thriving in this collaborative industry.
What an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Animation Industry
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, initially believed a production assistant's role focused on "following up with artists on a day-to-day basis," but learned the most crucial aspect is "understanding where they're coming from" and fostering positive relationships. This involves motivating artists and ensuring a positive experience for everyone, prioritizing "getting the best out of them" over strict adherence to schedules to achieve a beautiful end product.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Associate Production Managers At Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa, an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation, recommends that undergraduate students interested in animation production pursue "production internships" at studios like Dreamworks, Disney, or Pixar; these provide "a sneak peek into how production works" in a forgiving environment where mistakes are opportunities for learning.
Significant Career Lesson From an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation
Priyaa's most significant career lesson is the importance of asking questions, emphasizing that "there's no wrong question," and that this proactive approach prevents missed information and wasted time; this, coupled with embracing mistakes and stepping outside of one's comfort zone ("put myself in the uncomfortable position"), has fostered growth and adaptation in their career journey.
College Experiences That Helped an Associate Production Manager at Dreamworks Animation Succeed
Priyaa's undergraduate success stemmed from intentionally placing themselves in "uncomfortable situations," such as joining student council and acting as a class rep, which unexpectedly built crucial skills in "managing things, organizing things, [and] making sure we deliver things on time"—directly transferable to their Associate Production Manager role at Dreamworks Animation. These extracurricular activities proved more valuable than academics in developing teamwork and people management skills, essential for career success.
How Identity Has Influenced an Associate Production Manager's Career at Dreamworks
Priyaa's career navigation as an Indian woman in media involved overcoming initial parental hesitation about a non-traditional career path, a common experience for many. Successfully addressing this involved creating and communicating a detailed career plan, demonstrating commitment and ultimately earning their pride, proving that "laying that plan out is super, super important."
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