MPC Adds Ed Koenig as New Executive Producer

Ed Koenig has rejoined the global visual effects and post production studio MPC as an Executive Producer. Formerly EP, Colour 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 palette of remote services beyond colour grading.

In addition to announcing Koenig’s appointment, MPC also announced two new additions to its official 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 the studio’s list of 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”

Adds Justin Brukman, Managing Director of MPC’s New York and L.A. offices, “Our VFX and colour executive producers on both coasts are thrilled Ed is out there carrying our flag. We’re already seeing an influx of exciting projects and opportunities thanks to his contacts, outreach and expertise.”

Koenig’s return to MPC reflects more than just picking up where he left off. “We’re not merely looking to connect with top performers in major markets around the country,” he 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 not only high-end colour grading, performed by colourists in both its L.A. and New York offices, but also 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,” Koenig notes.

“A big part of what I’m doing is bringing wide-ranging projects into MPC through our remote partners,” he continues. “While remote colour 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’d 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 colour,” he says of their new relationship. “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 Colourist Clark Jackson notes the efficiency this will provide typically time-challenged agency clients: “They can finish off a colour 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.”

Hero Post Partner and EP Molly Baroco in Atlanta also sees the value of offering MPC’s talent to her agency clients. “Having access to their colourists is a great option for our market,” she says, 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 Colourist Mark Gethin, now Creative Director for Colour in the US, set up the studio’s colour 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 Colour in Los Angeles, and Dani Zeitlin, EP Colour in New York, as well as with other producers in both offices, to ensure that the studio is assembling the best 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 colour grading and effects and my time spent at other studios, I think I can serve as a valuable resource for clients.”