Cuppa with UNIT’s newest hire Maikel Popic – the new Head of Grade Assist & Workflow
Maikel recently joined the UNIT team from Harbor but previously worked at Technicolor. He joins a growing talented UNIT team working on such high profile work as Mobland, Mountainhead, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Midas Man and Stags.
We sat down for a chat with Maikel to discuss all things UNIT. Here’s what he had to say…
- What first got you interested in post-production, specifically grade assist and workflow?
I have always been a Film and TV fan. I’ve loved the worlds created and how you can get immersed in the images and stories – so when I was young I focused my studies on filmmaking, specifically into the camera and post production part of the industry (I was always curious about technology).
I started working as an editor for documentaries and I would try to use the visual adjustment tools available on the editing software to make the footage smoother, but I did not know much about grading – it was not such a big thing yet but I wanted to know more about it.
Later, I worked at Technicolor, which was a historic company with very famous projects and talent and I had the opportunity to learn and be part of teams that would handle the delivery of cutting edge projects from start to finish.
I witnessed how grading would enhance any show, giving an extra level of immersion to the story, sometimes more subtle and sometimes more dramatic, but always enhancing the feel of the image.
There is an army of people that work behind the scenes to deliver a high quality show, and I just love being a part of it – to be able to collaborate with different people to deliver projects that people can enjoy.
- What’s the most rewarding part of supporting a seamless post pipeline?
When things run smoothly and we can focus on creativity. Every project is different and has its challenges, but if the foundation of the workflow is good and everyone understands it or their part, then every challenge or problem has an easier solution and we can focus on ways to improve the stories that we are trying to tell.
- How has it been joining the UNIT team? Any standout moments so far?
It has been good, I had already worked with a good part of the team here at UNIT so it has been like reuniting with old friends, and made easier by the good vibe of the rest of the team that I had not met before.
- What’s something about your role that most people wouldn’t expect?
I guess the scope of our work and the long time that takes a project from beginning to end. We would hopefully be involved at the beginning of production for the pipeline and lut setup, doing tests and checks during the shoot and then we would be for the conform, grade and final delivery which would occur throughout months.
- What advice would you give to someone starting out in post-production today?
Be proactive, be respectful and try to get involved in any project you can find, either personal or from someone else. It does not matter if it is big or small, as long as you learn something from the experience. The best way to learn is by creating something, and the more you do the more you learn, but it takes time.
