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.
Project Management, Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Leadership
Advizer Information
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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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 role involves consistently monitoring the production schedule and ensuring timely delivery from various departments. This highlights the importance of organizational and time management skills in production management.
2. A significant portion of her day is dedicated to attending and participating in reviews, addressing questions and concerns, and ensuring everyone remains aligned with the production timeline. This showcases the collaborative nature of the job and the need for strong communication skills.
3. Priyaa spends considerable time compiling reports and communicating production status to executives, emphasizing the importance of data analysis and clear, concise reporting skills for career advancement in production roles.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an associate production manager look like?
My day at work begins with reviewing our weekly deliverables. I check what needs to be completed by each department for that week, as our process is essentially a waterfall.
Once a department, like animation, finishes their part, it moves on to Character FX. I review the schedule to see our progress for the week and then contact each department to check on their status.
I also attend many reviews throughout the day, including lighting dailies, where we go over the department's work. If any questions arise about deliveries or the schedule, I help answer them. This isn't limited to lighting; I do the same for CFX and animation dailies.
Additionally, I report a lot of information to the studio executives. For example, at the start of each week, I gather data from the previous week, such as the number of shots delivered by each department.
I compile this information into a report format and send it to the executives. This allows them to see if we are meeting our targets and identify areas where we are falling short. If they have concerns, they will reach out to discuss mitigation plans for any issues.
My time is also spent meeting with production supervisors and department managers. I address their day-to-day questions regarding people management, upstream dependencies, and downstream deliveries. I help navigate these various challenges.
Finally, I assist with marketing deliverables. I review documents to track weekly tasks like poster and trailer deliveries, and I follow up with the responsible individuals. Essentially, my day is very communication-heavy, ensuring everyone is on track to achieve our final results.