View Full Version : DC's looking for a letterer
eltonpruitt
06-13-2007, 11:48 AM
I saw a bulletin on comicspace about this and thought I should post it here in case any of you guys are interested. It didn't give any contact info though so I don't know how helpful this is...
Letterer
Time Warner Division DC Comics
Location United States - New York - New York
Requisition # 82254BR
Position Type Full Time
Posting Job Description
DC Comics seeks a Letterer for the DC Lettering department. Position is responsible for performing in-house computer lettering and SFX for comic books and special projects. Coordinates with Director/Lettering Supervisor and Editorial as to creative expectations of each assignment. Responsible for delivery and tracking of lettering proofs through approval stages. Handles delivery of final lettering files for print. Other duties and projects as assigned.
Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent required. A degree in related field or equivalent work experience required. Prior computer or production experience preferred. Previous comic book experience a plus. Design experience helpful. Knowledge of up to and including the most recent version of Illustrator (Macintosh) required. Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress a plus. Typing and typography skills required. Must be able to meet deadlines under strict time constraints. Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Must show attentiveness to detail. Must have proficient proofreading skills. Design skills preferred.
Hmmm...is two hours too far to commute?
Phatman
06-13-2007, 12:21 PM
Kep:
You should try for this job-even with the two hour commute. Who knows, once you get a foot in the door they could let you work from home down the way. Give it a shot.
Ok, you talked me into it, my resume is in. The reality is it has to go through the HR department...which is never a good thing for a creative...SO! If anyone here happens to know the chief letterer at DC, please let him know I'm interested, qualified, and nearby. Thanks.
steveo
06-13-2007, 01:46 PM
Letterer
Time Warner Division DC Comics
Location United States - New York - New York
Requisition # 82254BR
Position Type Full Time
Posting Job Description
How much could this possibly pay?
SteveO
e3w
More than nothing, less than my wife.
steveo
06-13-2007, 01:57 PM
More than nothing, less than my wife.
In that case, I'm applying!
My wife works for Six Flags which was once owned by Time Warner. Have to use her contacts at corporate to get this gig.
The job was updated back on Friday the 8th of June...hopefully the position wasn't filled yet.
Best of luck to you, Kep!
:)
SteveO
e3w
Thanks kindly. Wish me luck.
Digital-CAPS
06-13-2007, 03:00 PM
I wouldn't live in NYC for all the [insert cliche here] in the world! :mad: Them and their in-house :mad:
Good Luck, Kep :thumbs:
Jason Arthur
06-13-2007, 03:25 PM
not sure I really understand the need for anyone to be "in-house" anymore.
I'm sure they have their reasons, but it just seems unnecessary.
-- J
steveo
06-13-2007, 03:30 PM
I wouldn't live in NYC for all the [insert cliche here] in the world!
Me either, that's why I'd take the bus.
SteveO
e3w
steveo
06-13-2007, 03:30 PM
not sure I really understand the need for anyone to be "in-house" anymore.
I'm sure they have their reasons, but it just seems unnecessary.
-- J
Maybe until you've been there a little while to prove you can get the job done.
I'll guess we'll find out shortly.
SteveO
e3w
Jason Copland
06-13-2007, 03:34 PM
Good luck to all the DW'ers that apply! (I meant that sincerely, btw :) )
Gonzogoose
06-13-2007, 03:35 PM
Man, if it wasn't in-house I'd be all over it! I'd at least try...
Jason Arthur
06-13-2007, 04:15 PM
I'd love to apply, but there's ZERO chance that I'd want to relocate to NYC.
-- J
Actually, I'd LOVE to move to NYC...but the wife is QUITE anti-city. sigh. But at least on the train I could write...a lot.
rcosgrove
06-13-2007, 04:42 PM
not sure I really understand the need for anyone to be "in-house" anymore.
I'm sure they have their reasons, but it just seems unnecessary.
-- J
Maybe until you've been there a little while to prove you can get the job done.
I'll guess we'll find out shortly.
SteveO
e3w
I'm a production editor on a magazine for coming up to 10 years, and continually have to work with people who work from home on a regular basis.
It can cause havoc.
Publishers can't get in touch with editors, advertisers can't get in touch with editors, getting a decision or a clearance to do something that should take 30 seconds takes an entire day because people don't answer their phone or check their emails. People can't see what the designer's doing and brief them on changes as the work's ongoing, which leads to unnecessary redesigns. And people can be difficult to contact when we need to speak to one of them immediately (which often happens). Mobile phones and emails are great, but turning to your left and having the person you need right there is much faster.
For some jobs working at home is a possible. But for design-related jobs where you're working in a team, I've had nothing but problems.
And good luck to the applicants.
- Richard
Digital-CAPS
06-13-2007, 06:03 PM
All that's fine, but not in NYC. It's already crowded enough there without having somebody standing over me watching me work. I could tolerate it perhaps in a smaller city, like Dallas or somewhere, but not there. And yes, good luck to the applicants. And NEVER let them hear you say "I probably won't get it." I'm sure confidence still counts for something.
That's why I'm the best damn letterer out there :slap:
Peace and chicken grease...
Hmmm...is two hours too far to commute?
Well, think about gas prices. But you could try public transportation, many people do that.
I was tempted, but I do want to start drawing more. ;)
More than nothing, less than my wife.
:laugh: :laugh:
This is what I have read about in-house, not sure if it's true though.
Very often the in-house letterer corrects mistakes, or just makes changes to the files that the freelance letterers have done. And they work on last minute jobs as well. Again, I have read about this, but maybe Clem would know more about the job description of this position. ;)
Jason Arthur
06-13-2007, 09:51 PM
If that's the case then I can't imagine that it pays any better than a standard letterers page rate. Possibly provides more work though and more consistently?
-- J
JeffPowell
06-13-2007, 10:47 PM
This is what I have read about in-house, not sure if it's true though.
Very often the in-house letterer corrects mistakes, or just makes changes to the files that the freelance letterers have done. And they work on last minute jobs as well. Again, I have read about this, but maybe Clem would know more about the job description of this position. ;)
This is what I have read about in-house, not sure if it's true though.
Very often the in-house letterer corrects mistakes, or just makes changes to the files that the freelance letterers have done. And they work on last minute jobs as well. Again, I have read about this, but maybe Clem would know more about the job description of this position. ;)
Actually, a majority of DC's books are lettered in-house. DC purchased the licenses for most of Comicraft's font catalog so they're pretty much self-sufficient. Before the digital lettering age, in-house letterers did exactly what raya said, performed corrections on the book's main letterer's work -- misspellings (not typos), script changes, etc while mimicking the main letterer's style. I can still do a mean Chris Eliopoulos and an okay Bill Oakley. They also designed cover copy, logos, and did the occasional overnight rush job which basically meant you had to bang out 6-22 pages in a few hours.
Jaymes, why so down on NYC? It's not a bad place to live. Brooklyn is much better. You can tolerate someone over your shoulder watching you work in Dallas but not NYC?
:carrot:
Digital-CAPS
06-13-2007, 10:58 PM
I'm from Dallas. Sorry I left that out :whistlin:
I'm not so down on NYC... it's just the atmosphere of "busy"... oh and that big bullseye the place seems to have on it anymore. I like small town living waaaaay too much: they know my name at the hardware store, the comic book guy at the flea market holds certain books for me every week and I can't grow Clemson okra in NYC. Aside from that, I prefer to work alone and at home. I get a lot more done that way and I can pop in the DVD of my choice, listen to my ham radio... do whatever. No office junk and listening to people whine about needing a smoke :yuk:
Privacy rules!
Digital-CAPS
06-13-2007, 11:06 PM
And don't get me wrong... I'd give ANYTHING to put my touch on something DC does... Hell, I'd settle for Dark Horse or any regularly printed series, but nah, I just don't want to work in NYC. Oh and I live in South Carolina right now... small town as it can be... used to live and was born in Dallas :-) Kind of want to go back to Texas, too.
Clem Robins
06-14-2007, 03:53 PM
the only down side of their in-house department is that they've got very specific ideas about what they want. you'll need to work their way.
they use layered balloons.
their whole methodology is geared around efficiency. and it works. their people are required to average sixteen pages per day, but most of the time, they produce more than that.
they're all nice people, and they do good work.
the money's not fantastic. certainly not what a freelance letterer used to make from DC, not even close. i don't know exactly how much they're paid.
but you couldn't help but learn a lot of stuff, working there.
Clem Robins
06-14-2007, 03:57 PM
and as far as their in-house people correcting freelancer's errors, i have never heard of that happening. freelancers are responsible for any corrections (or more often, revisions) that happen to be needed.
i had to leave town for a few days last month, in the middle of the final round of corrections for the Smallville animatronics. the in-house people were available to do whatever had to be done while i was gone, but it turned out nothing else was needed.
that's the closest i've ever come to having my work corrected by their in house department.
droog811
06-14-2007, 04:37 PM
Actually, we're required to do 13 pages a day--you're close, Clem. We now do the majority of DC's books in-house...probably 80% of their books. We're not told how to letter a certain book...if it's a new book, the person lettering the 1st issue actually gets to art direct the 1st issue. With approval by the Editor, of course. We're paid what's compairable to what Freelancers make--you have to figure in benefits also. Hope that answers some of your questions.
Pat--
Digital-CAPS
06-14-2007, 04:43 PM
Awesome! What kinds of benefits?
Jason Arthur
06-14-2007, 06:23 PM
They get to read all 47 Superman monthly titles for free maybe?
-- J
Actually, we're required to do 13 pages a day--you're close, Clem. We now do the majority of DC's books in-house...probably 80% of their books. We're not told how to letter a certain book...if it's a new book, the person lettering the 1st issue actually gets to art direct the 1st issue. With approval by the Editor, of course. We're paid what's compairable to what Freelancers make--you have to figure in benefits also. Hope that answers some of your questions.
Pat--
So this job does sound perfect for Kep, he has the experience, especially if you have to make editorial decisions.
A few people told me they correct letterer's mistakes, I need to ask where they got that info from now.
Actually, a majority of DC's books are lettered in-house. DC purchased the licenses for most of Comicraft's font catalog so they're pretty much self-sufficient. Before the digital lettering age, in-house letterers did exactly what raya said, performed corrections on the book's main letterer's work -- misspellings (not typos), script changes, etc while mimicking the main letterer's style. I can still do a mean Chris Eliopoulos and an okay Bill Oakley. They also designed cover copy, logos, and did the occasional overnight rush job which basically meant you had to bang out 6-22 pages in a few hours.
Jaymes, why so down on NYC? It's not a bad place to live. Brooklyn is much better. You can tolerate someone over your shoulder watching you work in Dallas but not NYC?
:carrot:
That may have been an old article that I read. And I had a book about how to break into the business, with all of these contacts. And I think they said that as well. But yeah, they don't seem to do it anymore.
I'm actually wondering if they ever updated that info in the book, they tend to publish it almost every year. And yes, once again, my brother took it, unfortunately I don't have it anymore. I will have to ask him what it's called. ;)
Actually, we're required to do 13 pages a day--you're close, Clem. We now do the majority of DC's books in-house...probably 80% of their books. We're not told how to letter a certain book...if it's a new book, the person lettering the 1st issue actually gets to art direct the 1st issue. With approval by the Editor, of course. We're paid what's compairable to what Freelancers make--you have to figure in benefits also. Hope that answers some of your questions.
Pat--
OFFICIAL FORUM MODERATOR: I knew if we kept talking about you you'd show up, Pat. Welcome! :happy:
OFFICIAL GUY LOOKING FOR A JOB: So, what can I do now to get you to call me in for an interview? :whistlin:
They get to read all 47 Superman monthly titles for free maybe?
-- J
And four months before you do! :laugh:
droog811
06-15-2007, 02:11 PM
Hey, guys--I can't really go that much more into detail about the job at DC. With DC being owned by Time Warner, I've probably already said too much already anyways...Isn't Corporate America great? ;) Most of what's required for the job is listed in the 1st post...and if anyone here is interested in the job, just go to the Time Warner website and apply for the job there. That's how I got my job at DC, plus already knowing a few people there helped too. Good luck to anyone that applies and I hope this posting helps you guys out!
Pat--
Piekos
06-15-2007, 03:04 PM
I know I've said this a million times, but it's a damn shame DC won't let Pat use the font of his hand lettering. It's hands-down my favorite hand-lettering of all time.
Just look at this:
http://www.comicspace.com/droog811/uploaded/5030/1173046479_ztoIPT3YWJ.jpg?1179960824
~N
I know I've said this a million times, but it's a damn shame DC won't let Pat use the font of his hand lettering. It's hands-down my favorite hand-lettering of all time.
Just look at this:
http://www.comicspace.com/droog811/uploaded/5030/1173046479_ztoIPT3YWJ.jpg?1179960824
~N
Man, that is gorgeous!
Hey, guys--I can't really go that much more into detail about the job at DC. With DC being owned by Time Warner, I've probably already said too much already anyways...Isn't Corporate America great? ;) Most of what's required for the job is listed in the 1st post...and if anyone here is interested in the job, just go to the Time Warner website and apply for the job there. That's how I got my job at DC, plus already knowing a few people there helped too. Good luck to anyone that applies and I hope this posting helps you guys out!
Pat--
Thank you kindly! After much nudging of the crowd here (see this thread and about 10 emails) I have applied. Sadly, most of the people i know at DC are writers...but I'll make sure they sing my praises as well. Thanks again for the info!
eltonpruitt
06-15-2007, 03:56 PM
Thank you kindly! After much nudging of the crowd here (see this thread and about 10 emails) I have applied. Sadly, most of the people i know at DC are writers...but I'll make sure they sing my praises as well. Thanks again for the info!
Best of luck to you, Kep!
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