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REALTIMERS: Georgina Lowes, Production Manager

Name & job title:  

Georgie, Production Manager. 

Where do you fit in?  

At REALTIME, in the Episodic team. You’ll usually find me buried in a spreadsheet or ShotGrid, overseeing the day-to-day of a project, or managing some internal Production bits and pieces.  

The rest of the time, you’ll find me at a bar sipping on a martini, or in bed watching Friends – there’s no in between.  

How did you get your start in the industry?  

Honestly, I sort of fell into the VFX world. I had applied for lots of Entry-Level Film & TV positions coming out of University until Jellyfish hired me as a Studio Runner/Production Assistant. I was there for a few months before DNEG took me on as a Production Runner – that was my first big career step I’d say.  

Your superpower?

I would say I’m a pretty good multitasker, which comes in handy when you work in Production.   

What inspires you on the day-to-day?  

Stating the obvious, but my many talented colleagues and friends in this crazy business. I tell myself every day about how lucky I am to have such close relationships with people I work with, both past and present. I don’t really feel you get that same familiarity in other industries. Some would call it trauma-bonding, I would say it’s because we all love a good drink… 

My desert island film / TV show / animation / game / artform / piece of artwork is:  

Whenever I see this question, only one thing springs to mind and that’s the film Cast Away. So probably that for some tips and motivation at least… #JusticeForWilson.  

Your soundtrack whilst working:  

It depends on the day or my mood. Sometimes it’s whatever my sister’s Spotify has in store for me, sometimes it’s throwback hits. Other times it’s unashamedly Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast because I am a basic female Millennial, ok?! 

If you could work with anyone who?  

I love to work with strong and talented women, and I’ve always been a big fan of Jodie Foster. Any brilliant female actors, directors, and producers who I’ve often looked up to would definitely be up there. If we ever met, I think Sandra Bullock and I would be best friends.  

If not this, then what?  

I’ve always liked the idea of teaching someday.
I also love interior design, but I probably wouldn’t make a career out of it. I’m currently in the process of decorating and furnishing my new place, so that’s been keeping me busy. 

Why REALTIME? 

In every job, I’ve found it’s the people that make it for me. And luckily in REALTIME we have the loveliest and friendliest bunch of them. I’m really loving the projects we are fortunate enough to get to work on, too.  

Also, who doesn’t like working from home in baggy clothes or pyjamas five days a week? Being able to do my laundry in the middle of the day too is also a massive bonus. 

People would be surprised that…  

I don’t like glitter or Lotus Biscoff. I also have a Hollywood actor in my phone contacts. 

Advice you’d give yourself if you were just starting out?  

“There’s an old saying in show business: The show must go wrong. Everything always goes wrong, and you just have to deal with it.” – Andy Dwyer, Parks and Recreation.  

REALTIMERS: Doug Russel-Fisher, Production Coordinator

Name & job title:   

Doug Russel-Fisher – Production Coordinator

 

Where do you fit in?   

At REALTIME, I work in the TV/Episodic production team, helping coordinate the flow of work through the various pipeline steps and between internal and external teams. 

In life, wherever there is good music, good food, or good laughs  

 

How did you get your start in the industry?   

Same as everyone else… at the bottom! I’ve always wanted to work in film, but before I started, I was working in the city and hating every minute of it. I wanted something different, so I decided to give the film industry a proper go. With no formal education or experience in anything film-related, I wasn’t sure where or how I would fit, but I was lucky enough to get hired as a runner at a brilliant post facility in Soho. From there, I was immersed in all things post production and worked my way up to the production office, working with super talented and knowledgeable people on some awesome projects in both DI and VFX. 
 
Your superpower? 

Connecting with people: I like to find commonality with people in any way I can; whether through humour, shared interests, or just straight up empathy! I believe it not only helps build a better working relationship with someone, but also aids communication, which leads to better understanding and ultimately a better quality of work. It also makes work more fun!

 

What inspires you day-to-day?  

Oh man, what a question! So many things! In a nutshell; the people around me. At all levels, both professionally and personally, they’re doing and creating amazing things, which is a constant source of inspiration.  

 

My desert island film / TV show / animation / game /artform / piece of artwork is:   

Anything by the Coen Brothers or Paul Thomas Anderson, but if you had to push me for one: The Big Lebowski 

 

Your soundtrack whilst working:   

NTS Radio (if you know; you know!)—whether it’s their live channels, recorded shows, or their infinite mixtapes they have impeccable selections for all modes and moods. It’s nice to not have to think about what to put on, plus I’m always discovering so much amazing new (and old) music!

 

If you could work with anyone who?   

Spike Jonze – director, photographer, or maybe Hideo Kojima, legendary game director!

 

If not this, then what?   

I’d love to work in UI/UX design, maybe digital nomading out of a nicely converted van in some lovely country, getting out in nature whenever I please. That would be a swell existence. 

 

Why REALTIME?  

Initially, it was a case of right time, right place; I had been working with fairly basic 2D workflows but wanted a change, and RT luckily had room for me! I much prefer the depth of 3D/CG visual effects work; there’s so much to learn, and it’s always evolving as an artform, so your knowledge is constantly a work in progress. I also really enjoy getting to work in that sweet spot between art and science, where we use equal parts creativity and technicality to basically create magic.

 

People would be surprised that…   

I’m one of six kids (second youngest!) 

 

Advice you’d give yourself if you were just starting out?   

  1. Knowledge and experience can always be acquired; opportunities present themselves to those who make a good impression. 
  2. Don’t break yourself; you can’t fill from an empty cup! 
  3. Little wins become huge victories; celebrate yourself. 

 

REALTIMERS: Matt Gardner, HR Manager

This week, we meet our newly promoted HR Manager, Matt Gardner, who alongside being a HR whiz, is a trained butcher and fishmonger, with a degree in mathematics to boot!

Name & job title:

Matt Gardner, HR Manager

 

Where do you fit in?

My role spreads across the whole company, fitting in when and where needed. HR is there to oversee most parts of the employee lifecycle (with support from the fantastic Skills & Development and Talent Teams), from onboarding, to pay, to benefits, to offboarding and so on.

 

How did you get your start in the industry?

Although I’ve been in HR & Admin roles for quite a while, this is actually my first role in the VFX industry! I’m an avid gamer, so to be able to work in a role I love for a company that does something I feel so passionately about is extremely fulfilling!

 

Your superpower?

Definitely learning. I’ve always been the kind of person who is looking to learn new things, and I’ve previously been told my brain is like a sponge (I’m assuming this was a compliment)! After finishing university, I definitely felt like my brain was missing the stimulation, so I ended up studying through apprenticeships, learning more hands-on skills, and got into some random hobbies in my free time (this ranges wildly from things like learning to crochet to sitting and watching 3 hour videos about astrophysics, pandemics, or the god particle), and even recently studying Korean!

 

What inspires you on the day-to-day?

I’m a very empathetic person, so knowing that I’m making people’s lives better or easier or giving people the chance to feel listened to plays a big role in getting me motivated day-to-day.

 

My desert island game:

Any Final Fantasy game! If you drop in on me during my free time, I will be playing Final Fantasy, be it XIV online with friends or spending my free time playing 1–16 one after the other, that’s what I’ll be doing!

 

Your soundtrack whilst working:

I have a very varied (and questionable) taste in music! I can bounce between Kate Bush (Wuthering Heights, of course), to current pop, to bands like Rammstein, however, most of the time I just listen to whatever monstrosity of a playlist my Spotify concocts for me!

 

If you could work with anyone who?

Square Enix, of course! It’s my dream to see the ins and outs of a Final Fantasy game being created!

 

If not this, then what?

That’s a very difficult question! I very much love living in the moment, which has gotten me into some strange roles in the past! I’m always up for trying anything at least once, so I’m sure by now I’d be something like a part time astronaut or a professional dog washer if someone asked me in the right way!

 

Why REALTIME?

The moment I saw the Subnautica Below Zero trailer was something we’d worked on, I knew this was something I needed to be a part of! It’s a pleasure to be surrounded by such talented individuals who love what they do (and do it so well)!

 

People would be surprised that…

I’d say either that I’ve got a degree in Maths, or that I’m a trained butcher and fishmonger!

 

Advice you’d give yourself if you were just starting out?

At the risk of sounding cliché, don’t stop yourself from trying new things because you’re afraid to make mistakes, you’ll always make them; just learn to own them!