Associate Writer (Disney Television Animation)

Summary

In this entry level position, the Associate Writer will have an opportunity to work closely with our experienced creators, showrunners, story editors, and staff writers, with exposure to story and character development, structure, and theme while building new tools essential for excelling in a professional writer’s room. The Associate Writer has many responsibilities, including supporting the Story Editor and Writers, along with the Producer/Line Producer, ensuring support as it relates to proper formatting of scripts, reports, archiving, and prep for the Casting and Music department. The opportunity of writing a script(s) from premise through record/locked script will be determined by the Series Creative Leadership. Associate Writers will have duties and responsibilities in addition to their opportunity in the writers’ room. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

Responsibilities 

• Work with Story Editor, track and maintain critical information for the writer’s room with detail and accuracy, such as: episode ideas, continuity documents, timelines, joke pitches, discarded story ideas, unused characters, etc.

• Take clear, organized, and effective notes during meetings with the Story Editor, story breaks, pitches, meetings with writers.

• Distribute notes to Story Editor, Writers, Producer/Line Producer, and other relevant parties

• Proofreading all outlines and scripts, synopsis and logline information along with other materials from the Story Editor and/or Writers 

• Create, update, and distribute the writer’s schedule to all relevant partners

• Print any script materials for meetings and records as needed

• Prepare and distribute various writing materials through various stages of production, including Script Department and Casting/Music.

• Liaise with Casting and Music departments to ensure and track correct materials are being recorded in conjunction with Production team.

• Create, revise, and distribute pick up scripts and ADR memos in conjunction with Production team.

• Conform scripts at each stage of production (animatic lock, record, etc.)

• Communicate completed deadlines to Producer/Line Producer

• Create and maintain accurate and organized Script server folders

• Partner with Writers and/or Story Editor to research and track materials 

• Prepare and maintain writer’s room for optimal writers’ sessions

• In collaboration with Production, create and maintain Franchise tracker for series and individual episodes as it pertains to writing.

Responsibilities (Creative) 

• Observe and/or participate in writer brainstorms (participation at the discretion of Story Editor)

• Collaborate with Story Editor to maintain and update show bible, character descriptions, episode synopsis, franchise materials, franchise tracker

• Read the room to know what the Story Editors and writers need for optimal writing conditions and performance, and ways to support the Story Editor in their role

• The opportunity of writing a script(s) from premise through record/locked script will be determined by the Series Creative Leadership. If Current Series Executives, Executive Producer, and Story Editor feel that the Associate Writer has the appropriate skill, capacity, and experience, they may assign written materials for the series (story pitches, premises, outlines, scripts) and/or ancillary written materials (Franchise, etc.)

• Maintains positive working relationship with Story Editor, writers, production, and other departments 

Skills

• Knowledge of Final Draft

• Outstanding written skills, including clarity, grammar, organization, and copy-editing 

• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to multi-task

• Understanding of how to prioritize and respond accordingly

• Team-player who operates in a fast paced team-oriented setting

• Self-motivated, flexible and versatile

• Strong desire to be a part of the TV and film industry with a particular focus on animation

The hiring range for this position in California is $45.97 to $52.58 per week based on a 40-hour work week, which follows the pay scale agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The base pay actually offered may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.