tv-bay questions

Bob Pank#

Author: Bob Pank#

Published 1st August 2011


Who are you? (about yourself and who you work for)?
I am a freelance colourist working mainly in London and LA. I am the founder of the UK’s first datalab MYTHERAPY. I am also working on behalf of several manufacturers in research and development of colour science for digital film cameras; I am a demo artist for Iridas and Master Colourist at ICA International Colourist Academy – responsible for stereoscopic training.
What do you do? What does your company do?
I spend most of my time colour grading feature films, commercials and some TV documentaries. My specialty is the finishing of stereoscopic 3D projects, where I grade colour but also grade z-depth. I have graded the BAFTA award-winning ‘Flying with Monsters’; the world’s first 3D opera ‘Carmen in 3D’; China’s first 3D feature ‘Don Quixote 3D’; 3D commercials for Panasonic, Red Bull, Nintendo, and Royal Mail; and have versioned several features for international and 3DTV distribution such as ‘Streetdance 3D’ and ‘Bugs! 3D’.
Tell me a little about your previous experience, what you've worked on and with up to your current position?
I started my career in post with a job at Apple, and then later moved to Sony, working on the technical development side of the latest post-production tools. I then managed the Avid Hire department at VMI for some time before finally launching MYTHERAPY, an LA style grading boutique, datalab and d-cinema mastering facility here in Soho.
What specific project(s) do you have in the works?
Currently I am working with top photographers and directors on the implementation of colour grading on set, where I take my grading system to the set and grade, create looks and colour manage monitors. This way, I enable clients to see what the finished product is going to look like there and then. I have just successfully completed such a shoot for Christian Dior with the world’s leading fashion photographer David Sims and his DOP John Lynch.
What new technology are you working with?
I am working with DaVinci Resolve, and I am beta testing version 8. It is a huge step forward in terms of operational speed, workflow and functionality, and frankly the only system out there that gives me the exact tools I need for my work. My system was custom-built by Jigsaw, who went into great length to design, test, build and support a system that is capable of performing 4K stereoscopic in realtime on the Mac platform, while remaining fully compatible with its smaller, portable brother running on a MacBook Pro.
What new products/technology are you looking forward to the most?
I am looking forward to Thunderbolt interfaces and storage, as well as Grade I class stereoscopic 3D monitor.
During your career in post what was the biggest “turning point” into new technology?
For the past 12 years, I have always been riding the wave of the new and latest technologies, and it is hard to pick one “turning point”. But, certainly, what has had the biggest impact on colour grading technology was the successful implementation of colour grading algorithms onto GPU and onto technologies like CUDA.
What is your favourite / least favourite things about working in post?
My favorite thing is working with inspiring, creative and demanding industry professionals around the world. My least favorite thing is that the ‘render progress bar’ keeps moving very slowly.
What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?
Morning run, cold shower and a thought of the finest blend of fairtrade-sourced coffee beans, roasted and brewed to perfection into a single cup of macchiato by my favorite coffee shop in Great Portland Street.

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