Creative Director, Stage 31 AFX

The Creative Director for Stage 31 AFX serves as the primary creative authority for Warner Bros. Discovery’s internal, AI-centered VFX facility. Reporting to the Facility Managing Director, this role defines both the creative and technical approach for each package, supports high-quality client-ready deliverables, and leads creative liaison, on-set supervision, and mentoring across the pipeline.

Role Overview

As the creative and technical lead for Stage 31 AFX, you guide decisions from prep through final delivery. You establish the approach for each package, provide internal review and approval for every frame prior to client presentation, and coordinate with production stakeholders to align shot methodology, AI-assisted workflows, and final pixel standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary creative liaison to directors, showrunners, and production-side VFX supervisors from prep through final delivery.
• Break down scripts and sequences to determine shot methodology and where AI tooling, human craft, or external vendors contribute to each shot.
• Provide internal approval for all work before client presentation, including ownership of dailies and the review cadence with the Head of Finaling.
• Supervise on set for facility-carried sequences, including protection of plates and data capture for AI-assisted workflows.
• Partner with the Lead Pipeline Architect on what tools are creatively acceptable for final pixels.
• Mentor AI Workflow Supervisors and senior generalists on creative standards and expectations.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of visual effects experience, including supervisor credits on studio features or premium episodic productions.
• Deep compositing or CG background with strong on-set experience.
• Hands-on familiarity with current AI/ML tooling in production environments, with sound judgment about its limits.
• Demonstrated history of direct, successful relationships with directors and studio creative executives.
• Ability to operate within a provenance and human-in-the-loop governance framework.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to mentor senior artists.

Preferred Experience

• Experience standing up a new facility, department, or creative team.
• Working knowledge of guild agreements and current AI provisions across IATSE, the Animation Guild, and SAG-AFTRA.
• Experience supervising across both feature and premium episodic slates.

Compensation and Location

Location: Burbank, CA (onsite).
Salary Range: USD 157,500 - 292,500 per year.
Minimum Experience: 12 years.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Employee wellness program
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays and sick time and vacation
• Annual bonuses
• Short- and long-term incentives
• Program-specific awards