Freefolk launches new colour department

Freefolk has launched a new colour department with the arrival of five artists to its roster.

Duncan Russell, Marty McMullan, Matt Turner, Peter Oppersdorff and Vic Parker will operate as a freelance collective for the VFX and post-production house. 

Russell has been a colourist for over two decades, with stints at MPC, Glassworks and Freefolk; McMullan is a senior colourist with over a decade of experience spanning campaigns for Guinness, Nike, Audi, Škoda, Warburtons and Dyson, alongside promos for Stormzy, Burna Boy and Raye; and Turner has 25 years of experience grading commercials, long-form and music videos, holding senior roles at The Mill, Framestore, Company 3, Absolute (Partner) and No.8. 

Meanwhile, Oppersdorff has over 15 years experience in the industry, working at MPC, The Mill and Absolute; and Parker has over 20 years working on commercials, narrative and music videos for the likes of Chanel, Versace, Apple, Porsche and Nike. 

“The move to this curated collective is a new direction for us, and we think it’s an answer to a lot of the industry’s current problems” says Freefolk CEO Fi Kilroe, “To have five artists of this calibre on one roster is a no-brainer, but it also gives our clients a fantastic range of talent to collaborate with. Each brings their own distinct signature, and a catalogue of industry leading work too. That not only allows us to match any brief that comes our way, but a bespoke offering will set us apart in a time where agility is proving to be a super power in the industry.” 

Vittorio Giannini, Director of Business Development at Freefolk, states: “The move to this new model is an expression of Freefolk’s proudly independent position. Established, in-demand talent, that is nimble enough to flex with capacity. The department can now scale to the project and the schedule as required, in a way that more rigid studios cannot.

“Our clients therefore get freelance level flexibility, with the backing of cutting-edge facility support. At the moment, that combination seems to be getting harder to find, especially as the industry consolidates. That’s the gap that Freefolk now fills.”

Russell said: “Put five colourists of this calibre in one building and something happens to the work. We’ve all built our own signatures over our long careers, and we’ve all got a different answer to the same shot. Being able to lean on that, and to push each other, is not something most of us have ever had access to. It’s a bold new direction, and one that will put us right at the cutting edge of the industry.”

McMullan said: “The thing that most excites me about this move to a collective is the collaboration. The ability to continue working alongside Duncan and Vic, while also benefitting from the added expertise of Peter and Matt is a real rarity. Not only does it mean we can pick the right artist for the work every time, but couple that with the calibre of projects each artist is bringing to the table, and it’s a really exciting new chapter for everyone here.”

Turner said: “Freefolk is one of the few genuinely independent, owner-run facilities. With the post-production landscape changing so dramatically over the last couple of years, I think the time is right for a different kind of model.

“What particularly appeals to me is the balance between independence and collaboration. I retain the freedom and flexibility of working as a freelancer, while having the opportunity to work with Freefolk on projects and benefit from the support, infrastructure and creative environment of a great facility. Having that backing without losing the independence that comes with being a freelancer is invaluable.”

Oppersdorff said: “You get the independence of freelance and the backing of a proper facility, which is a combination most of us have spent our careers choosing between. The support is there, the pipeline is there and we still get to move nimbly when a schedule changes. It’s a rare thing, and I don’t think it’s an accident that it’s one of the leading independent post houses doing it.

“We want Freefolk Colour to become a benchmark department globally, a place where talent can thrive and where clients want to be. I’ve admired and built an excellent rapport with the rest of the team over the years, so I cannot wait to get cracking on this new exciting chapter.”

Parker said: “The scripts landing here are ambitious, and ambitious work is the only thing worth grading. Our department has been evolving, working on award-winning projects that demand the best of the team, and that’s what’s coming through Freefolk’s door in spades. It’s a studio putting out work at a level that stands up anywhere, and the addition of Pete and Matt to the department will only drive this further.”