Creative Producer / Director — YouTube & Branded Comedy

Creative Producer / Director — YouTube & Branded Comedy

Location: US preferred, with regular domestic and international travel
Type: Full-time or freelance-to-full-time
Compensation: $75,000–$100,000 for a full-time hire, depending on experience and location

Two of the biggest movies in America this summer were made by YouTubers in their twenties - one of them beat Star Wars on a $10 million budget. The best creators are working on YouTube in small ultra-talented teams that are shaping internet culture. We are looking for a highly visual, hands-on Creative Producer / Director to develop and direct ambitious comedy videos for an established technology-entertainment channel (think Good Work, Programmers are also Human, and Cluely.

Our work sits between scripted comedy, internet culture, music videos, branded entertainment, and short films. Projects range from nimble character-based shoots to larger productions involving constructed sets, unusual locations, camera choreography, practical effects, and substantial post-production.

This is not a conventional production-management role. You will work closely with the channel’s creator to turn scripts and initial creative briefs into a complete visual approach, then carry that approach through pre-production, the shoot, and post.

What you will do:

• Regular travel for shoots, scouts, and preparation
• Direct actors, camera, movement, and on set production design.
  • Turn scripts and creative briefs into treatments, moodboards, reference decks, storyboards, shot lists, and practical production plans.
  • Independently plan and execute smaller projects when a full production crew is unnecessary.
  • Develop the visual language of each project, including format, camera system, lenses, camera movement, lighting, framing, production design, practical effects, and post-production techniques.
  • Research film, commercial, music-video, photography, art, and internet references that help us develop and communicate the intended style.
• Break concepts down into locations, sets, props, wardrobe, casting, equipment, crew, schedule, and post-production requirements.
  • Work with line producers, boutique production companies, and freelance crews to turn the creative plan into a physical shoot.
  • Scout and select locations, props, wardrobe, and other important art and design elements.
  • Help supervise editing, VFX, sound design, music, color, and final delivery.
  • Build a trusted international network of DPs, production designers, line producers, editors, VFX artists, and other collaborators.

What we are looking for:

• Experience directing performance, preferably including scripted comedy, commercials, music videos, or creator-led entertainment with a strong directing reel showing clear visual authorship.
• Experience as a creative producer, director, producer-director, and other hands-on filmmaking.
• Excellent taste and the ability to explain why a reference, lens, movement, location, or production-design choice serves the idea.
• Experience creating treatments, storyboards, shot lists, camera plans, and production breakdowns.
• Strong knowledge of cameras, lenses, lighting, movement, editing, VFX, sound, and contemporary production workflows.
• A practical, resourceful attitude. You should be equally comfortable discussing the overall visual concept and visiting a location or prop store to solve a specific shot. You should also have the experience to distinguish an ambitious but achievable idea from one that will collapse under its budget.
• The ability to work collaboratively and iterate closely without becoming precious about an initial solution.
• Willingness to travel frequently and occasionally work irregular production hours.
• Strong written and spoken English.

Useful but not essential

• Experience as a DP and/or editor
• A background in comedy, music videos, internet culture, or technology.
• Production-design or art-direction experience.
• Existing relationships with crews and production partners in the United States, UK, and Europe.

To apply, please send the following to careers@stareable.com with the subject line “Creative Producer / Director — YouTube & Branded Comedy”:

• Your directing reel 
• Links to 2-3 projects most relevant to this role. For each:
  • A treatment, storyboard, reference deck, or shot list that you produced
  • A clear explanation of your exact contribution to the project
• Your location, current availability, and preferred employment arrangement
• A short note about why this combination of comedy, internet culture, and visual filmmaking interests you

We care more about the quality and relevance of the work than formal qualifications. Selected candidates will be invited to complete a short paid creative-development exercise, followed by a paid trial project.