Face to Face with... Jon Collins

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shots recently opened an office in NYC and Framestore NY is one of the companies helping us celebrate that fact by being the main sponsor of the shots NYC party on 1 June. Taking place at the Ace Hotel from 7pm til late, and co-sponsored by our friends at Interrogate and Furlined, we intend to announce our arrival in style. Here Jon Collins, Framestore NY president, talks to us about his own move from London to NY, the cultural differences and his favourite party moments. For more information about the shots NY party please email amelie@shots.net.

You moved to New York from London; what are the main differences –if there are any - in both the social and business side of living in NYC?

There are plenty of differences: NYC is more direct - it's not such a 'mannered' society as London... so people say what they think a lot more often. Rather than saying the opposite of what you think on the assumption that the person you are talking to understands the hidden meaning.

Also, Manhattan is physically smaller but taller so there's a whole different energy here. A city constructed for the purpose of business - but they know how to have fun.

Was it hard to establish Framestore in New York?

I knew it would be a challenge as people would expect the huge Framestore mothership landing in Manhattan and actually when we started there were only three of us in the back of someone else's office. As I was told when someone saw the first office 'You only get once chance to open in New York'. Their face said '... and you've just blown it'.

What pieces of work are you most proud of having work on in your time there?

I was proud of the Pepsi Sumo wrestling chickens that was one of the first jobs that we did with BBDO (Paul Hunter directed). It as a hard one to visualise and it was our first job with BBDO. I like the FedEx Stick spot (BBDO/Traktor) that we did for the Super Bowl and I especially like the Pepsi Penguin spot (again BBDO/Traktor). I know it's CG but the first few shots of the penguin in the snow look real to me, and beautifully done.

I have huge affection for the Geico gecko that The Martin Agency brought to us to help with the re-brand in 2005. Not only was it huge for us at the time but we subsequently launched our directing division on the back of nine spots that we shot for a Geico campaign. Also, the VFX work on the movie Salt. We were the lead house and we effectively opened a film VFX department on the back of doing this job.

How has the post market changed during your time working in it?

Well, I've been working in it for 25 years so it's changed a lot. I think the two biggest changes were the move from analog to digital in the late 80s/early 90s and the current proliferation of platforms to work on. Also, it's a lot more structured now. Years ago I used to throw a project to two or three CG generalists (or 3D as they were then) and come back several weeks later to get a sequence of a dancing carrot. You can't do that now... which is probably why I don't produce any more.

New York knows how to throw a party; what’s the best NY party you’ve been to?

The best party that I have ever been to was thrown by Drew Barrymore for her then boyfriend (The Strokes' drummer, Fabrizio Moretti). My wife and her sister were dancing next to Drew and Heather Graham and I was later escorted out. What happened inbetween is my business.

And your drink of choice?

In summer it's a margarita; winter it's an Old Fashioned.

Do you subscribe to the view that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere?

That's up to you... (But, yes.)