5 Minutes with… Jason Zukowski
Late last year, Fort York VFX made waves in the Canadian scene when it announced the arrival of Jason Zukowski as senior colourist. A talented artist with a notable reputation in Toronto, his arrival at the post-production company not only heralded the announcement of its new colour grading services, but signalled its intent to quickly push its craft to the top of the scene.
Notably, with Jason at the helm, the future is bright. A well-rounded veteran of the scene, who boasts experience as a former DP, editor and director, he’s spent over a decade in the chair bringing to life award-winning campaigns for the likes of Sapporo, Skittles, Huggies and Land Rover. Known for his consistent desire to learn, strive for better, and most importantly, enjoy the work he does, his skillset will be invaluable in building up the company’s colour offerings from scratch.
So, to discuss what this will look like, what inspired the move, and how the early days have been, LBB’s Josh Neufeldt sat down with Jason for a chat.
LBB> Starting at the top, the big news is that you just joined Fort York - congratulations! What inspired you to make the jump, and what does this opportunity represent to you?
Jason> I had crossed paths with many of the Fort York people over the years, so it felt like a good fit. A lot of cool work comes out of this shop, and I was excited to be a part of it!
LBB> Notably, your arrival coincides with it launching colour grading services for the first time. Can you offer any insight as to why this was the right moment to do so? And how are you helping Fort York navigate this area of post?
Jason> It makes a lot of sense having colour under the same roof as VFX, and moving into a new space provided a perfect opportunity to build a colour room.
In terms of what I’m doing, having worked at a few different colour houses over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t. All in all, it was an exciting prospect to build the colour department from the ground up.
LBB> As part of this, you’re working alongside Jose Torres. Tell us about this partnership! What makes you a strong team?
Jason> Since we started colour from scratch, we wanted someone with a good technical knowledge of colour grading and a good handle on post production workflow. Having worked with Jose in the past, he was a natural choice.
LBB> Obviously, you’re one of the most sought-after colourists in Toronto’s advertising scene. So, to what do you attribute this success?
Jason> I’ve always tried to operate like I have more to learn. I’m always striving to do better. And, I genuinely enjoy what I do. I’m sure all that doesn’t hurt.
LBB> Let’s talk a bit more about your career. Before doing what you do now, you spent time as director of photography, editor, and director. So, what made you want to work in the world of colour?
Jason> When I started out in the industry, I worked at a colour house by day and did freelance gigs by night. However, I would often need a colourist to help out with my projects. One day, a colourist wasn’t available so I took a stab at it. Eventually, I realised I preferred the colour part of the job!
LBB> And specifically, how have these experiences influenced the way you approach your craft today?
Jason> I think having a good understanding of what happens on set, and in other parts of post-production, can be a real asset. You don’t have to know how to do everyone’s job, but the more you understand about the process, the better.
LBB> Building on this, what are some of the biggest projects of your career? And why do they best represent your style and aesthetic approach?
Jason> I would say my ‘style’ is to find what works best for the picture. Every project is different, so I like to play around and see what kinds of looks I can come up with. From there, I like to treat the look like it’s the film stock and try to get everything to fit into the world we’ve created. Some of my favourite projects would be the Sapporo ‘Return the Favour' campaign from a few years back, or the more recent Lexus or Silverado spots.
LBB> On a personal level, where are you trying to take your work going into 2024? Are you planning to evolve your style and craft in any way? Or just see where the year takes you?
Jason> It would be cool to do some more spots with a large VFX component. Working at Fort York, I’m sure that will be in the cards.
LBB> For any aspiring colourists in the industry, is there any advice or words of wisdom you'd like to offer? What would you tell your past self about what it takes to succeed in the industry?
Do it a lot. It seems obvious, but it’s really the only way to learn and develop your eye. Learn to read scopes. Play around with looks. Delete it all and try again. Have fun!
LBB> Finally, what do you do to unwind outside of work? Do you have any favourite hobbies or pastimes?
Jason> I love movies, concerts, playing music, cooking, and eating.
