Senior Producer & Studio Operations Lead

Cheryl Vanderbilt: Color Correcting Video

Producer. Artist. Builder.

I have always believed that the best producers are, at their core, master builders.

Whether I am orchestrating a $47.3M studio portfolio, translating massive, complex scientific datasets into award-winning planetarium features, or pattern-drafting a structurally complex costume for a film premiere, my brain runs on the same engine: demystifying complex systems and bringing them to life. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, my career has been defined by bridging the gap between raw, highly technical pipelines and high-impact emotional storytelling.

Cheryl and Team Visiting SETI

The Creative Nexus: Art Meets Systems

My journey started at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I earned my BFA in Animation & Visual Effects. While studying traditional animation, I quickly found my true calling wasn't just sitting behind a drawing tablet—it was clearing the path for other artists to do their best work. I stepped up to manage independent film projects, building a vital bridge between the university and independent filmmakers to give students their first real-world credits.

That "whatever-it-takes" mindset became my signature style. In the years since, I’ve led teams through feature animation, immersive spatial installations, and real-time software captures. I am the type of producer who doesn’t just manage a spreadsheet; if a project is under a tight deadline, I will happily jump into the pipeline myself to edit, composite, or animate alongside my team.

Cheryl Taking Team out for Ice Cream

The General Manager’s Grit

One of my greatest secret weapons as a media producer comes from outside the entertainment industry. For over a decade, I ran the operations of small businesses—directly managing payroll, accounts payable, HR, contract pricing, project bids, and even tax preparation.

This hands-on business education gave me a rare, highly practical perspective on studio production. I don't look at budgets as abstract numbers; I look at them as puzzles to be solved. Working closely with Development and Government Grants departments, I have helped secure over $10.3M in competitive grants and co-production alliances, ensuring that bold creative visions are backed by bulletproof, fiscally responsible architecture.

Cheryl prepping for wood-burning

The Maker Behind the Screen

When I step away from digital pipelines, my creative engine doesn't stop—it just transitions to the analog world.

I come from a four-generation family of contractors, and that builder DNA runs deep. I have personally designed, rendered in 3D, and project-managed three of our home remodels, working side-by-side with my father and grandfather through architectural drawings and strict building codes to transform physical spaces.

WDW Jolly Holiday - Halloween

My off-screen time is spent engaging in tactile, high-craft disciplines that keep my problem-solving skills sharp:

Textile Engineering: I am an avid crafter who loves knitting, crocheting, and sewing. I frequently pattern-draft and hand-make my own clothing and complex, high-fidelity cosplays for comic conventions.

Performance & Timing: I have been a pianist since childhood. For over three decades, I have had the privilege of arranging, performing, and archiving holiday music to accompany an annual gathering, for sometimes up to as many as 80-singers.

Art & Exploration: I am a passionate art collector with over 150 independent pieces in my home. When I’m not traveling—usually embarking on a Disney cruise or visiting the parks—you can find me in the garden tending to my succulent collection or enjoying a witty comedy or classic silver screen movie with my husband and family.

Disney Cruise formal Night

Whether managing an animation pipeline, writing grant proposals, or constructing an exhibit, I believe that great production is about structure, timing, and a relentless curiosity for how things are built.

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