Colorists are used to making images look beautiful, but almost never do they find themselves in front of the lens, serving as the subject matter for provocative pictures. An exception to that rule is provided by an intriguing series of portraits created by photographer www.monkeysonmars.com.>Dean George of colorists from www.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers facilities in Chicago, Dallas and Nashville. nnGeorge’s vibrant portraits are essentially character sketches that present the individual colorists in fanciful, highly manipulated environments. The portrait of Michael Mazur, from www.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers, Chicago, shows him in a pair of hip sunglasses behind the wheel of a sleek, black Ferrari. Behind him, a bolt of lightning illuminates a sky filled with heavy, blue clouds.nnMazur’s young colleague, Tyler Roth, by contrast, appears in a bright violet sweatshirt, leaning over a pinball machine, fist pumping, the words “Rising Star” emblazoned on the game’s deck.nnGeorge, who has a background as a photographer and motion graphics artist (and whose work has been featured in gallery shows in New York, Los Angeles and Europe), created the portraits with a mix of photography, 3D graphics and PhotoShop techniques. The mash up is so cleverly done, that it is virtually impossible to tell where reality leaves off and George’s mischievous imagination begins.nn”Sometimes, I’ll do something that is entirely practical, the room is real, the windows are real, the person is real, but then I’ll add a single object that is 3D and make it look like it is a part of the environment,” George explains. “Sometimes, everything but the person is 3D. If you are diligent about mixing the elements, the viewer’s eye believes what it sees.”nnwww.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers president Reid Brody plans to incorporate the colorist portraits into an ad campaign for www.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers‘ Digigog digital lab. The company recently spent more than a million dollars upgrading its color correction facilities to accommodate the industry’s switch to digital production, and the wild, digitally altered portraits capture the spirit of that change. nn”We’ve made the transition from the old world to the new world of color,” Brody says. More than ever, color needs to be part of the process. Data based acquisition for broadcast, mobile, and the web requires much more attention to color than film ever did. These photographs are one way to show that we keep pushing forward.”nnnnwww.monkeysonmars.com.>Dean George‘s work can be seen at www.monkeysonmars.com.nnwww.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers is located at 232 E. Ohio St. Penthouse, Chicago, IL 60611. For more information, call (312) 664-9333 or visit www.filmworkers.com.
Lisa Long Executive Producer www.filmworkers.com.>Filmworkers 312.664-9333 Contact Lisa via email
Contact:Linda Rosner ArtisansPR 310.837.6008 Contact Linda via email
Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More