Avengers Campus uses new hiring method

[TLand2055]

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/03/youll-need-a-secret-identity-and-super-powers-to-get-a-job-in-disneys-new-marvel-land/

An interesting read, one that gives me some hope for the new land. I wonder if this method will be used for other new attractions and lands in the future.

[Stormy]

It's behind a paywall for me.

Can you give a brief synopsis?

[mickdaddy]

Bob will slash it before it actually happens as it sounds like it would require actors rather than normal low paid employees. Just like Galaxy's edge.

[biggsworth]

it would be great if they went all out with role playing. SWGE should be a reminder of how much role playing they will actually do.

[TLand2055]

It's behind a paywall for me.

Can you give a brief synopsis?

"Disneyland took an unusual approach to assembling the team charged with opening the new Avengers Campus themed land by combining Marvel comic book storytelling and role playing games to illuminate qualities in job candidates like leadership, problem solving and teamwork."

[Steven Fonzi Brown]

It's behind a paywall for me.

Can you give a brief synopsis?

You’ll need a secret identity and super powers to get a job in Disney’s new Marvel land

Disneyland took an unusual approach to assembling the team charged with opening the new Avengers Campus themed land by combining Marvel comic book storytelling and role playing games to illuminate qualities in job candidates like leadership, problem solving and teamwork.

By BRADY MACDONALD | [email protected] | Southern California News Group
PUBLISHED: February 3, 2020 at 8:45 am | UPDATED: February 3, 2020 at 8:47 am

Apply for a job in the new Marvel themed land at Disney California Adventure and you could be working alongside superhero apprentices with aliases and code names like Lockjaw, Low Bar, Vortex and Speckled Bull.

Disneyland took an unusual approach to assembling the team charged with opening the new Avengers Campus themed land by combining Marvel comic book storytelling and role playing games to illuminate qualities in job candidates like leadership, problem solving and teamwork.

The first phase of the new superhero themed land will open this summer at the Anaheim theme park with a Spider-Man attraction, Doctor Strange show, Ant-Man and the Wasp restaurant and Marvel character rooftop shows. Ride testing began in October on the new Spider-Man attraction coming to Avengers Campus.

Disney used a novel job hiring process to select the 35-member Avengers Campus test-and-adjust team that works with Walt Disney Imagineering to prepare the attractions for opening day and train the Disney cast members who will work in the new Marvel land.
The Disney team tasked with selecting the crew that will open Avengers Campus decided to throw out its run-of-the-mill hiring routine and add an unprecedented level of storytelling to the process.

“We wanted to break that formula so that we can get the best of the cast and really showcase what is special about them,” said Disneyland project manager Michelle Sico, who helped develop the Avengers Campus application and interview process. “We typically get a lot of the same thing over and over because of this formula that we’ve put together for recruiting people. We thought maybe if we make this more fun and we make this more story-driven, then maybe we’ll see more character in the résumés and interviews. I think we were successful in that.”

Sico was briefly hesitant about having Spider-Man swing by the information session kicking off the hiring process for Avengers Campus. Would the internal job candidates freak out or play along? But working at Disney’s Anaheim theme parks is different than most jobs. Spider-Man was seen as just another coworker.

Avengers Campus job candidates were asked to wow the hiring team with their Marvel-themed résumés.

“For Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge we received hundreds of résumés and they all looked exactly the same,” said Sico, 34, of Fullerton. “So for this one, we really pushed them to show us how they were different. We received some unbelievable résumés.”

Karli Bull created a résumé that looked like a dossier for an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Marvel worldwide law-enforcement organization. It was stamped “Top Secret: Classified” and included details about her secret identity and super powers.

Avengers Campus job candidates who made it to the interview stage of the hiring process were assigned code names. Bull was Agent Armadillo.

“The interviews were overwhelming, but in a good way,” said Bull, 26, of San Diego. “You come in and you can’t be yourself. You have to be somebody else. They put you into character right at the front door.”

Job candidates arriving for interviews were brought into a briefing room where they received details on the secret mission they were being considered for. The job candidates were instructed to only address each other by their code names. The first assignment: Dream up a superhero identity for yourself and create a backstory for your character.

“You were immediately brought into this superhero world,” Sico said.

Mark King Jr. grew up reading comic books where superheroes always saved the day. Creating his own superhero identity and backstory allowed him to truly express his passion for Avengers Campus and his desire to work in the new land.

“You had to truly dig down and dive deep,” said King, 26, of Lynwood. “What connects you to this land? Why do you want to do this? I can truly live out my superhero dream by joining this land. That’s what attracted me.”
Avengers Campus test-and-adjust team members Mark King Jr., left, and Karli Bull strike superhero poses. (Photos courtesy of Disney)

Imagining themselves as superheroes brought out honest truths and core beliefs about the job candidates.

“When you are talking about yourself as a superhero you feel more empowered to say things about yourself that maybe you would be too timid to say otherwise,” Sico said. “They were creative and thought about how they are superheroes in their real life. And if they were to have a superpower, what would that be and how would they use it for good?”

Bull chose a superhero identity that celebrated her family surname and her freckles: Spotted Bull.

“We take pride in being bulls,” she said. “We are very strong leaders. We are rooted in the ground and we’re there for anybody who needs us. Our door is always open. I take pride in always being that sturdy post that somebody needs to stabilize their life so that we they can actually take that next step to keep moving forward in case they falter.”

Spotted Bull carries a bow and quiver of arrows like Hawkeye, the Avengers superhero. Just like Hawkeye, Bull prefers to observe from afar. She only intervenes when necessary — to provide support, mediation or motivation. Her super powers: Mind reading and sarcasm.

King’s superhero alter ego reflects his personality. Vortex uses his vacuum powers to suck up negative energy and replace it with positive vibes. He’s someone you can lean on when times are tough. His super powers: Optimism and enthusiasm.

“Vortex is a superhero who is able to bring somebody out of a negative state of being and bring them into a positive one,” Kind said. “I am someone who likes to make sure that everybody feels sincerely appreciated, valued and welcomed in each and everything that they do. Everybody doesn’t need advice. Sometimes they just need a shoulder. And that’s what I like to pride myself on.”

Like Spider-Man, Vortex perches on top of buildings and keeps an eye out for trouble.

“I’m there when you when you need me,” King said. “When my spider sense starts tangling, I go out there.”

The next task in the unorthodox hiring process: Break into the interview room. The Avengers Campus job candidates were instructed to work together to solve a series of Marvel-themed puzzles that would reveal a key code to unlock the interview room door. How many Infinity Stones do you see? Count the number of Avengers A’s you can find. The clues helped solve the riddles and unlock the room.

“We’re complete strangers and we just get thrown into this to solve it together,” Bull said. “Right off the bat without even knowing each other’s names.”

Once they were inside, the interview room was strewn with comic books, action figures, movie posters and other Avengers memorabilia. Captain America’s shield was leaning against the wall in the corner.

Up next: A Marvel Cinematic Universe quiz to test the job candidates’ superhero IQ. Are you Team Captain America or Team Iron Man? Explain your choice. Which Spider-Man was your favorite: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland? Why? There were no wrong answers, but every response revealed something about each job candidate’s personality.

“I don’t think that we needed them to be Marvel experts, but we wanted them to be excited about superheroes and super powers,” Sico said. “It was obvious going through these interviews that everyone can relate to one of these characters in some way.”

Sico has sat through hundreds of interviews with job candidates who are shaking and nervous. The Avengers Campus hiring process helped people calm down and reveal more about themselves, she said.

“We laughed a lot in these interviews,” Sico said. “I don’t ever remember interviewing people where we had so much fun. I feel like even the people who weren’t selected left the experience thinking that they had gotten something from it. They’re going to be better in their next interview.”

The novel hiring process helped illuminate qualities about the job candidates that might have otherwise remained hidden. Who excels at problem solving. Who thinks before they act. Who works well with others. Leaders emerged from the pack of applicants. Heroes responded to the call.

“I feel like we definitely got the best of them because there was this icebreaker,” Sico said. “Each person who interviewed had a story about how they could connect with one of these characters.”The Avengers Campus cast members, Disney-speak for employees, will help theme park visitors live out their own superhero dreams in the new Marvel land.

“We wanted a special group who felt very passionate about bringing to life these superhero stories,” Sico said. “We wanted a team that can bring it alive for the guests. They had to really believe it. And that’s what we got.”

Bull hopes her secret identity will help her immerse theme park visitors in the heroic story being told in Avengers Campus.

“Everybody knows these stories from the comics and now on the screen,” Bull said. “Now it’s actually right there in front of them in the real world and it’s our job to help them become a part of it. I want them to feel that they can be a part of this world and that they are themselves their own superheroes.”

King remains true to the ethos of his alter ego as the Avengers Campus test-and-adjust team prepares to open the new land.

“Since we are a recently formed team, we’re taking the time to truly understand everyone’s superpower and their abilities and how they’re all going to mesh together to truly bring this experience alive for our guests,” King said.

[Stormy]

Thanks!! Very interesting read. You'd have to have a great imagination and great 'spur of the moment' skills!

[Spongeocto4]

Bob will slash it before it actually happens as it sounds like it would require actors rather than normal low paid employees. Just like Galaxy's edge.

Chapek is the one actually pushing for Cast Member backstories. This is what happened at Galaxy's Edge, where he kept pushing for backstories for CMs, thinking it was enough for the land.

[Eagleman]

Bob will slash it before it actually happens as it sounds like it would require actors rather than normal low paid employees. Just like Galaxy's edge.

I agree....I do not expect a lot -just like SW/GE
imo

[mickdaddy]

Chapek is the one actually pushing for Cast Member backstories. This is what happened at Galaxy's Edge, where he kept pushing for backstories for CMs, thinking it was enough for the land.

Everything I have read is he killed the backstories and character CM's in galaxies edge because that would mean hiring actors that require more pay and benefits.

[biggsworth]

Everything I have read is he killed the backstories and character CM's in galaxies edge because that would mean hiring actors that require more pay and benefits.

The problem is you can ask CMs to create a backstory which is fine. But if you want talent that is Star Wars or Marvel quality you need to pay and train for it. If you want actor quality then you really need to up the ante and hire actors. A manager telling CMs you need to create a backstory and by the way here is minimum wage and not a full time job with 40 hours really won't create the best on stage performance.

To help the CMs out would be to bring in actors to live and breath in these worlds. That would enhance the CMs experience and the guests. Evermore in Utah has achieved the level of Role Playing that is needed at SWGE and Marvel.

[CM08]

There is always a fine line though with being an actor vs. hourly entry level Attractions CM. If they push it too much then Entertainment department/union might demand higher pay. Since the CM's have to spend so much more effort on resume, role playing, auditioning, etc...

Just my .02 cents. I know it's a free market and anyone can apply.

[mickdaddy]

The problem is you can ask CMs to create a backstory which is fine. But if you want talent that is Star Wars or Marvel quality you need to pay and train for it. If you want actor quality then you really need to up the ante and hire actors. A manager telling CMs you need to create a backstory and by the way here is minimum wage and not a full time job with 40 hours really won't create the best on stage performance.

To help the CMs out would be to bring in actors to live and breath in these worlds. That would enhance the CMs experience and the guests. Evermore in Utah has achieved the level of Role Playing that is needed at SWGE and Marvel.

Exactly my point, Sure I can show up with some self made up back story but that will not have nearly the impact of Disney creating these and having trained actors delivering it.

[CM08]

The problem is you can ask CMs to create a backstory which is fine. But if you want talent that is Star Wars or Marvel quality you need to pay and train for it. If you want actor quality then you really need to up the ante and hire actors. A manager telling CMs you need to create a backstory and by the way here is minimum wage and not a full time job with 40 hours really won't create the best on stage performance.

To help the CMs out would be to bring in actors to live and breath in these worlds. That would enhance the CMs experience and the guests. Evermore in Utah has achieved the level of Role Playing that is needed at SWGE and Marvel.

Exactly! To be honest, I think all they would have to do is mix in Entertainment CM's to provide more atmosphere. Yes it would cost more, but at least the attractions CM's could focus more on actual safety, attraction operation, queue management, fast pass, etc...