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.
Animation, Production Management, Career Progression, International Experience, Dreamworks
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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
Video Highlights
1. Priyaa's career path demonstrates the value of starting with an entry-level position and working your way up. She began as a production assistant and steadily progressed to Associate Production Manager.
2. Her experience at multiple studios (Dreamworks Animation India, BL Studio, and Dreamworks Animation) showcases adaptability and the ability to navigate different work environments. This highlights the transferable skills valuable in the animation industry.
3. Priyaa's decision to return to Dreamworks Animation after a stint at another studio demonstrates loyalty and the importance of networking and building strong professional relationships. It also shows that career paths are not always linear.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Growing up, I knew I wanted to be in the animation or film industry, or do something creative. I considered advertising or film, and ultimately studied electronic media in India. My degree covered animation, film studies, filmmaking, and journalism.
I then pursued my master's in film studies at the University of Sydney for a year, which I thoroughly enjoyed. After returning, I was eager to find a job in the film ministry. I felt sure that was the path I wanted to take.
I had the opportunity to interview for a production assistant role at DreamWorks Animation in India. I immediately seized this chance, seeing it as a great start to the industry. Once I secured the position, I was thrilled about the responsibilities.
As a production assistant, I managed artists and their work. While production supervisors created the schedules, my role involved observing and helping artists meet their goals within stipulated times. I focused on encouraging and motivating them to finish their work on time.
This role gave me insight into the production process, and I realized this was what I wanted to pursue as my career. I love working with artists and supporting their creative endeavors. Helping them achieve their work felt incredibly fulfilling.
I was with DreamWorks India for about five and a half years. I began as a production assistant and was promoted to production coordinator. I worked on various films, including *How to Train Your Dragon*, *Kung Fu Panda*, *Madagascar*, and *The Boss Baby*.
Seeking new opportunities, I left DreamWorks Animation and moved to the US with my husband. I joined BL Studios as a production coordinator, working on the series *Love, Death & Robots* for about 10 months.
I decided to return to DreamWorks, driven by my existing network there and a desire for new challenges. My goal was to move into a production supervisor role. Upon my return to DreamWorks, I began working on films like *Trolls World Tour*, *The Boss Baby 2*, and *Meet the Gillmans*.
Currently, I am an associate production manager on the movie *The Wild Robot*. This has been a very interesting journey. I knew I wanted to be in production from the moment I became a production assistant in 2011, so it's been 12 years. That's how I started and where I am today.