11 Dollar Bill in Chicago and Hero Post in Atlanta join MPC’s remote partners.
Ed Koenig
MPC announced that Ed Koenig has returned to the company as an executive producer. Formerly EP, color in MPC’s Los Angeles office, he was one of the first hires the company made when it opened there in 2008. He brings a broad range of post-production experience to his new post, where he’s tasked with continuing to grow the studio’s network of official partner facilities and expand its range of remote services beyond color grading.
In addition, MPC also announced two new additions to its partner facility roster -- 11 Dollar Bill in Chicago and Hero Post in Atlanta. They join Charlie Uniform Tango in Austin and Dallas, The Work in Detroit and Ditch in Minneapolis as MPC partner facilities.
“Having Ed focused on finding new ways for clients to work with us beyond the confines of our New York and L.A. studio locations represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for MPC,” says Graham Bird, global managing director for MPC Advertising. “Ed’s knowledge of the industry, combined with the technology to remotely connect clients with our creative talent, is incredibly powerful.”
“Our VFX and color executive producers on both coasts are thrilled Ed is out there carrying our flag,” adds Justin Brukman, managing director of MPC’s New York and L.A. offices. “We’re already seeing an influx of exciting projects and opportunities thanks to his contacts, outreach and expertise.”
“We’re not merely looking to connect with top performers in major markets around the country,” Koenig explains, “but to redefine how these independent companies work with a studio as multifaceted as ours. I’ll also be functioning as a kind of roving advance scout for MPC, finding ways clients anywhere can take full advantage of what we have to offer in a way that works best for them.”
Koenig cites as an example the work they’ve done with Ditch since adding them to the partner roster last year. MPC has provided several of the boutique’s clients with high-end color grading, performed by colorists in both its L.A. and New York offices, as well as compositing, finishing, Flame work and a range of other VFX services, all performed by artists based many miles from the Twin Cities. “In these instances, we just point our signal toward Minneapolis and we’re collaborating with Ditch owner and editor Brody Howard and his entire team,” says Koenig.
“A big part of what I’m doing is bringing wide-ranging projects into MPC through our remote partners,” he adds. “While remote color has become an accepted part of the post-production mix, our push to expand into a broader roster of visual effects capabilities puts us out in front.”
Del Feltz, EP at 11 Dollar Bill, says the studio, which recently opened an office in Boulder, met Koenig through its newly-named Boulder managing director, Lisa Effress, who had worked with him when she was an executive producer at Crispin Porter + Bogusky. “Everyone here is really excited about it, both in the areas of VFX and color,” he says. “To have access to a resource like MPC opens up lots of opportunities for us in Chicago, and brings a lot of experience to our market.”
11 Dollar Bill senior colorist Clark Jackson notes the efficiency this will provide typically time-challenged agency clients: “They can finish off a color session here, check in on their graphics and effects work and handle their edit – all of which is being done at a very high level.”
“Having access to their colorists is a great option for our market,” says Hero Post partner and EP Molly Baroco, noting that Hero’s relationship with MPC will focus on grading. “They’re super talented, and we and our clients are excited to have this resource available here in Atlanta.”
As one of its first hires in L.A., Koenig helped colorist Mark Gethin, now creative director for color in the U.S., set up the studio’s color department. He spent six years there before leaving in 2014 to join Nice Shoes as an EP. He later was a founding partner and head of new business for Smith Design Office.
He sees his job as marshalling the studio’s capabilities in ways that make it easier and more efficient for clients to tap into them. To this end, he’s working closely with Meghan Lang, EP Color in Los Angeles, and Dani Zeitlin, EP Color in New York, as well as with other producers in both offices, to assemble teams to meet the needs of each project.
“A big part of our growth will come from truly working with our remote facilities as partners,” Koenig adds. “Between my history with MPC, my work with color grading and effects and my time spent at other studios, I think I can serve as a valuable resource for clients.”
Source: MPC
