In a dynamic world where animation and visual effects push creative boundaries, finding the right talent for the right role can be as much an art form as the projects themselves. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Paullina Weeks, Netflix's Senior Talent Manager for Feature Animation (and judge for our Secrets of the Luminara #KB3DChallenge), to explore her unique perspective on the industry. With nearly fifteen years of experience in animation and VFX, Paullina has made a career out of connecting artists with opportunities that align with their passions. Her journey from roles at Gnomon and Scholar to her current position at Netflix has equipped her with a wealth of insights into what it takes to thrive in this competitive field.
Our conversation covered everything from the essential qualities that make artists stand out to Paullina’s advice for newcomers, her thoughts on the Secrets of the Luminara challenge, and even a few of her personal favorites in mythical adventure films. Join us as we dive into Paullina’s world, where fostering creativity and discovering new talent is all part of the magic!
Thanks for joining us Paullina, we’re excited to share your experience with our community! For those who might not know, you’ve had quite a diverse career in the Animation and VFX industry, with roles at Gnomon and Scholar before joining Netflix. Can you share a bit about your journey and what led you to focus on talent management in the animation field?
Early in my career, I learned I love helping people get from point A to point Z, which I'm passionate about. I don't consider myself creative, but I felt a spidey skill, if you will, of mine is being able to help guide a creative and understand what they want to do. After a lot of different hats in workplaces, Talent Management and Recruiting are where I landed to continue that path of helping people.
As a Senior Talent Manager at Netflix, you play a key role in finding the right artists for different projects. What do you find most rewarding about helping to shape teams for animation productions?
Knowing that audiences for generations to come will be influenced by the small amount of work I did to help connect someone to an opportunity to help shape the future of kids and family content is enriching and fulfilling. It keeps me going!
Working with artists across various stages of production, you must have a unique perspective on industry trends. What are some of the biggest changes or trends you’ve observed in animation and VFX over the past few years?
Right now, I'm seeing a huge push toward community within the industry. It feels like it's really needed. For technology trends, I've been seeing a huge push toward real-time engines and teams using Previs workflows in various ways, which is pretty rad. Blender, and of course, the push of AI and its pros and cons!
You’ve seen many portfolios throughout your career. Beyond technical skills, what do you think sets a portfolio apart in today’s industry, and how can artists effectively convey their unique personalities and strengths?
It might be cliche to say, but I believe that having an amazing portfolio that includes a great range of skills and showcasing who you are as an artist and what you bring to the table professionally will make you stand out!
Many artists don't always showcase their personality behind their portfolio (examples: this can be a cheeky bio or a section of personal work) or exactly what they can do professionally (great breakdown of work and range of skills).
It's important to showcase who you are and what you can do as an artist. A recruiter or hiring manager doesn't always want to guess, and that always stands out to me when someone takes the guessing work out for me!
For artists aspiring to enter the fields of 3D, VFX, or gaming, what five foundational practices or mindsets would you recommend to help them build a successful career and stand out in a competitive market?
1. Understand who and what you are as an artist!
2. Showcase the who and what you are in your portfolio/resume/reel.
3. Network!
4. Practice your craft a lot and often!
5. Get comfortable receiving feedback and providing it to others! This really helps you grow!
You’ve dedicated nearly 15 years to the animation and VFX industry, helping connect artists with the right roles. What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding, and how do you stay motivated by the impact you have on artists’ careers?
What I love most about my job is that I get the opportunity to help people and connect them to opportunities they are passionate about! I feel so fortunate to spend my day understanding different types of art and/or production needs and connect someone to that opportunity! I love the people I work with and the projects I get to be a part of!
As someone who works closely with artists across different stages of production, what do you believe is the most important quality for an artist to cultivate?
Flexibility! Flexible in skills and flexible with change.
You’re passionate about helping artists find the right opportunities. What advice would you give to artists looking to build meaningful connections and networks in the industry?
Be yourself. Add personality to what you do—your work, website, reel, resume, and, most importantly, conversations. Network a lot! Talk to others. Be brave and introduce yourself to someone you've been wanting to meet. Keep these connections going by checking in every so often. Keep the connections meaningful; check-ins don't always have to be business-related.
The Secrets of the Luminara challenge invites artists to explore and innovate. As a challenge judge, what are you most looking forward to from the participants?
I'm excited to see everyone's interpretation of the challenge! I can't wait to see the variety everyone brings!
Thank you, Paullina, for sharing your insights, passion, and invaluable advice with us! Your dedication to helping artists find their creative path is truly inspiring and a gift to the industry. We’re thrilled to have you as a judge for the Secrets of the Luminara challenge and can’t wait to share our community’s imagination with you. Happy KitBashing!
Interview conducted and article written by Carmen Moreno.
