Cinematic Supervisor

Ability to work hybrid from our Santa Monica, CA studio is required.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has crafted best‑selling, critically acclaimed games. From The Last of Us to Uncharted, our award‑winning storytelling sets the bar for what we build next.

We’re creating Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, an ambitious new sci‑fi universe—and we’re looking for talented individuals to help bring it to life.

We’re seeking a Cinematic Supervisor to be the accountable owner of our end-to-end narrative cinematic pipeline—from story breakdown and stage prep through final in-engine delivery. You’ll be the day-to-day partner to our creative directors and writers, stay one step ahead of production, and drive cross-discipline execution with animation, layout/cameras, lighting, editorial, concept, and environments to deliver unforgettable story moments at AAA quality. This role functions much like a VFX Supervisor in film—translating creative intent into capture and post methodology, maintaining continuity and quality, and shepherding sequences from prep through final and carries decision-making authority akin to an art director.

What You’ll Do

• Own the cinematic pipeline and schedule from script to final delivery; maintain shot inventories, asset dependencies, and milestone plans in partnership with Production, and be ultimately accountable for outcomes.
• Work closely with our writers and translate story intent into actionable plans: shot lists, previs/techvis, blocking, camera language, and rehearsal plans; ensure every performance capture stage day is prepped and efficient.
• Lead on-set readiness for performance capture: stage bookings, actor and stunt needs, props/sets, continuity, and safety in collaboration with stage teams.
• Oversee post-capture throughput: ingest, solve/retarget, editorial assemblies, layout/cameras, animation polish, lighting, and final integration in engine; uphold continuity and quality.
• Ensure cross-department readiness and de-risk dependencies across characters, costumes, sets, props, rigs, facial, audio, and VFX; keep partners informed and unblocked.
• Establish efficient workflows and cadences: dailies, edit reviews, checklists, templates, and documentation; champion continuous improvement with Production and Engineering.
• Collaborate with editorial to build cuts, temp sound, and review packages; channel clear, timely feedback from creative leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal outsourcing managers to ensure external animation/environment/lighting deliveries meet quality and schedule expectations.
• Mentor peers and foster a calm, solution-oriented culture under time pressure; model excellent communication and cross-discipline collaboration.
• Track and communicate status, risks, and tradeoffs with transparency; present options and recommendations to leadership.
  
  

What Skills You Will Use

• 8–15 years leading narrative/virtual production or game cinematics in AAA games, animation, VFX, or film/TV; at least one shipped AAA title or equivalent series/feature credit.
• Needs to have a narrative sense. Understand what the scenes are about and work with the team to come up with solutions that help achieve our narrative goals.
• Proven on-set or stage leadership for performance capture or virtual production, including prep, call sheets, rehearsals, day-of execution, and continuity oversight.
• Strong creative eye for blocking, composition, lenses, pacing, screen direction, and editorial rhythm; able to articulate and defend choices with empathy and clarity.
• Deep understanding of mocap/facial pipelines and downstream needs of animation, layout/cameras, lighting, VFX, audio, and editorial.
• Production fundamentals: building schedules and capacity plans, managing scope, de-risking dependencies, and driving outcomes in partnership with Production.
• Exceptional cross-disciplinary communication and influence without direct authority; turns ambiguity into clear, actionable plans.
• Proficiency with organizational and communication tools (Slack, Miro, Excel/Sheets); Maya familiarity for previs/layout is desired but not strictly required.
• Comfort reviewing and implementing cinematics in-game and collaborating with tools/engine teams on feasibility and performance considerations.
• Highly organized, proactive, and accountable; thrives in fast-paced, iterative environments.
  
  

Bonus Skills

• Experience building cinematics in a game engine and camera/layout tools.
• Familiarity with facial capture systems/pipelines and solving/retargeting.
• Background in previs/techvis, cinematography, or editorial.
• Experience with ShotGrid/Jira or similar production tracking.
• Experience working with outsourcing and co-development partners.
  
  

Materials

• Reel showcasing cinematic work with a clear shot breakdown indicating your role and decision-making.
• Optional: examples of planning artifacts (e.g., shot lists, stage plans, schedules) or brief pipeline documentation.
  
  

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The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.

$173,000—$207,000 USD