TBWA\Media Arts Lab is the global network dedicated to Apple advertising.

The agency was founded on the core premise of “media ideas, artfully told” and was born out of a desire for a confidential, bespoke advertising network focused solely on creating iconic work for our only client.

Today, our relationship with Apple is over 40 years old and Media Arts Lab now has 8 hub offices around the world managing advertising in 20+ markets.

Our client relationship has never been stronger and our scope continues to grow at an industry-defying rate — the challenge now is for MAL Tokyo to embrace the creative opportunities afforded to us.

Purpose of the role

MAL Tokyo Producer acts as the hub office leading Apple’s advertising efforts for Tokyo.

Our team handles flawless localisation of global campaigns emanating from our LA head office, as well as concepting and producing our own original work for our region.

Producer will be responsible for producing across both localisation and origination campaigns, ensuring that productions flow efficiently, within budget, and that we reach the level of creative excellence required for our client.

This role is a tailor-made for a maker…. someone whose passion lies in bringing work to life and sharing it with our audience.

In order to achieve this, the Producer will act as the hands-on lynchpin, managing each step in the production process and collaborating between internal agency departments, with the client, and with external, best-in-class productions vendors.

The enhancement of our production capabilities is a critical step in our regions journey to greater autonomy and creating deeper partnership with our client.

Key responsibilities

Core

Lead high calibre productions demonstrating excellence in creativity, process management, collaboration, inclusivity, financial management, legals and security.

Have the flexibility to work across tv, digital, social, live action, still, content and integrated projects, pulling in expertise along the way.

Localisation:

• Liaison — be a main point of contact for the LA production department. Obtain project status updates and disseminate them as necessary through the Tokyo office and wider APAC region. Provide a clear communications channel back to LA production and account teams with working with the team in Tokyo.
• Cultural Context — provide an APAC regional perspective to LA producers ensuring local market opportunities, insights, context and culture are well represented.
• Localisation Process — manage the localisation production process, including master asset hand off, scheduling, maintaining trackers, budgeting, versioning for multiple markets, internal approvals and delivery.
• Post-Production — partner with security approved vendors and provide the studio with a clear brief to ensure that all necessary editorial and/or technical finishing is undertaken and delivered to the highest possible standard.
• Business Affairs — work closely with the business affairs team to ensure all legalities, compliance and clearance matters are managed effectively.
• Project Wrap — finalise all wrap documentation and ensure master storage, final uploads and completion reports are entered into Pipeline.

Origination

• Creative Development — play an active part in the creative development process from a production perspective — vet possible executions but also contribute creatively-stimulating production opportunities, be they via suggested new technologies, inspirational directors or brand appropriate influencers.
• Content — use your knowledge of social platforms, trends, best practices and formats to help the creative team bring the very best ideas to life, offering solutions that will enhance their big idea.
• Testing — work with creatives to prototype and/or test shoot potential executions in order to provide proof of concept assets that will enable to agency to sell the work to local Geos and WW clients.
• Project Management — manage all overarching project processes including production scope, deliverables, timing plans, budgets, through to shipping finalised assets. Ensure these are clearly communicated to all stakeholders throughout the project.  
• The MAL Production Process — support all aspects of the production process from testing through final production including: pre-pro meetings, casting, shooting, recording, editing, music, optical, colour, effects, and final client approval.
• Risk Management — manage internal and client expectations, as well as identify and head-off potential risks and disruption throughout the project.
• Production Ecosystem — develop and maintain a strong network of key external vendors, including production houses, directors, influencers, recurring talent, photographers, developers, location scouts, talent and casting agents, insurers.
• Remain curious — constantly seek out and share new trends in social, digital, vendor capability and creative technology that may influence and benefit the agency's production approach.

Financial Management

Work with the local account teams and production finance department in LA to manage all aspects of the financial process including:

• provide ballparking against initial known scope
• bidding on the job with chosen production vendors
• review bids and all production costs with Executive Producer
• submit estimates for client approval
• continually monitor costs and stay on top of Production Budget Projections
• ensure all Budget Change Notifications (BCNs) are submitted correctly and on time
• actualise costs and ensure financials are tracked in AX in line with agreed process

General

• Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Ensure timely delivery of all assets, all of the time.
• Be client-facing, as necessary.
• Work to continuously refine the workflow to optimise the copy editing/ proofreading process.
• Attend shoots and undertake international travel, as necessary.

The Person

• A person who is Fluent in Japanese and English
• Proven experience delivering advertising campaigns for more than 3 years.
• Someone who shares production values for high standards, possesses creative ambition and who is a team player with a sense of collective purpose.
• Must be able to meet deliverables and maintain production budgets and resources.
• Someone living in a just not television but also in a mobile, social/digital world and is an avid consumer of the latest content, able to infuse this into their work.
• Bring a new perspective and a creative mindset to our very ordered production process.
• Process-driven and task-orientated, with a passion for organisation, prioritisation, process and successful delivery of tasks and projects.
• Able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
• A pragmatic and natural problem solver, able to think quickly on their feet and adapt to whatever the production process throws at them.
• A person willing to get their hands dirty and who draws satisfaction from going the extra mile for the good of the work.
• Remains calm under pressure with the ability to see the big picture while also focusing on the smallest detail.
• A collaborator and influencer with the ability to effectively integrate with a number of different departments, across multiple time zones.
• A continuous improvement mindset to support the development of efficient workflow and process, as well as the maintenance of all style guides and glossaries.
• Possesses a sensitivity to different cultures, languages, communication styles and business practices.

WHAT’S THE VISION…WHAT WILL SUCCESS IN THIS ROLL LOOK LIKE?

• Learn the MAL-Apple production process and build a definitive understanding of what is required to deliver projects seamlessly — regardless of project scope/ classification and media type.
• Build a trusted relationship with the LA Production department and work to change the perception of the Tokyo office from a production perspective. Instils a sense of confidence in the LA team that the APAC region can stand on its own two feet.
• Hustle — collaborate with all departments and find ways to make work happen for the benefit of selling creative and the final execution.

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