DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION - SIXTH DIMENSION in City of London

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STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+’s in-house studio, is one of Europe’s leading film and series studios, with worldwide production and distribution capabilities. It operates directly in nine major European markets including Austria, Benelux, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, and offices in the United States and China.

STUDIOCANAL finances, produces, and distributes 80 films per year. It owns one of the most prestigious catalogues in the world and the largest catalogue of European titles, boasting more than 9,400 titles from 60 countries. With a catalogue spanning 100 years of film history, STUDIOCANAL has invested close to 25 million euros into the 4K restoration of nearly 1,000 classic feature films over the past 7 years. STUDIOCANAL also produces over 15 series each year, including local creations and premium international co-productions, and distributes its scripted productions and CANAL+ Originals globally (2,000 hours of current and library content in distribution).

The Director, Development and Production, Genre Label will help build and grow STUDIOCANAL’s establishment of a new genre label, working across all aspects of the business including to identify, source, option and acquire content across film and TV, scout exciting new filmmakers and storytellers, evaluate and assess new material with a keen commercial eye and help to support senior executives to deliver the objective as being the European home for commercial genre film and TV.

The role will be required to work across a growing slate of Film and TV in the genre space, provide constructive creative notes and support to filmmakers and writers, be outward facing in ensuring key producers and talent submit material and show a real entrepreneurial flair.

• Identify and proactively source commercial film & TV projects in the genre space including realistic paths to production at a contained budget level via meetings with writers, directors, agents, producers and wider entertainment industry network.
• Scout and deliver new screenwriting and directing talent relationships to build projects around.
• Track books, graphic novels, short stories, articles, true stories, plays and podcasts for potential adaptation and liaise with book scout to keep up to date on the latest IP.
• Scout for potential remakes in catalogue titles across film and TV.
• Track and keep up to date with upcoming projects from proven genre talent/writers & filmmakers with brand awareness.
• Review film festival programmes and when requested attend genre festivals to track potential breakout acquisitions in the genre space as well as upcoming filmmaking talent.
• Manage submission tracking/workflow and ensure timely responses to submissions.
• Provide creative feedback on submissions internally and externally, in a timely manner via written/verbal reports on scripts, books, treatments, remake titles, podcasts etc.

• Work with producers, writers and directors during the development process to push material to as commercial a place as possible.
• Read drafts/development materials for in-house development projects and provide clear written and verbal notes for internal and external use to a high standard.
• Watch cuts of projects in post-production and provide clear notes.
• Organize and update talent database (writer/director lists), and curate lists of directors / writers / talent for specific projects in development.
• Liaise with agents for writing / directing samples from emerging talent for packaging.
• Liaise with Studiocanal executives in other territories to track international talent.
• Regularly attend theatre, short films and film school graduation showcases and clearly communicate discoveries and recommendations to team.

• Review all dailies/rushes for projects and create dailies reports for internal use.
• Work closely with physical production department on production queries in the pre-greenlight stage, throughout production and in post.
• Conduct talent / HOD availability checks as directed and support the casting process.
• When necessary, do set visits to oversee production.

• Work closely with legal team to negotiate development deals for writers, directors, producers, script/book/IP options and HOD deals, and to give updates on draft deliveries, option updates and project status.
• When necessary, support deal negotiation directly via email and attending calls with agents and other partners.
• Maintain (and create when necessary) legal trackers for projects.
• Explore different tastes and appetites and maintain strong relationships across Studiocanal’s international footprint, including international sales to help inform editorial decisions.
• Generally, help shape vision for genre label as it grows.
• Assist in creating pitch decks and other materials to aid presentation of projects internally and externally, collaborating with cross functional teams in the process.
• Provide general administrative support to the wider team when required.
• Contribute towards one of the D&I Groups within the company to ensure inclusion across the business and contribute to the company’s ethos and values.

And what about you? You have three or more years of experience in a similar role within the film, music, or entertainment industry. You have a start-up mentality and bring an entrepreneurial flair to shaping and building a successful new business. You are highly organized, confident, intuitive, and able to work in a fast-paced environment while meeting tight deadlines. You are a strong team player, and you are also able to work autonomously to achieve department goals. You have effective verbal and written communication skills. You have a keen interest in and passion for film and popular culture, especially genre films and television. You have a strong eye for spotting talent and for reading scripts or literary material analytically. You have an understanding of development and production workflows. You are positive, dynamic, and bring a can-do attitude. You have a strong eye for execution, quality, and finer detail. You have the willingness and desire to learn and expand your skillset. You are proficient in Adobe and Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).

As a media company, producer and distributor of content, the CANAL+ Group has a special responsibility. Whether in-house or on screen, we support ambitious, inclusive creation that respects planetary limits. We act for equality between women and men, against all forms of discrimination or harassment. We are working for equal opportunities and inclusion for all. We act to reduce our environmental impact and eco-design our products.