How would you explain your job to someone who doesn’t know VFX?
I usually explain my job using a football analogy. If a VFX project were a football game, I’d be the defensive coordinator for the Rams. I’ve been a Rams fan for over 10 years—ever since I met my wife and learned her whole family bleeds blue and gold—so it kind of became part of my story.
Like a defensive coordinator, my job isn’t to score touchdowns but to read the field, anticipate problems, and make sure the team is protected so everyone else can focus on their game. Everything starts with communication. There’s a lot of back and forth with the client to understand exactly what they need—whether it’s for internal deliveries or what’s going to the post house. Once I clearly understand their goals, I align those expectations with our internal workflows and look for ways to automate and streamline the process. That way, we minimize room for error and make everything more efficient for everyone involved.
On the color side, I decide on the right color management (ACES or another approach), match shots from different sources, rebuild missing looks, and make sure the final material feels consistent across sequences and departments. For image science, I determine the best resolutions and formats to keep things moving smoothly, whether it’s IMAX, HDR, SDR, or a mix of legacy and modern workflows.
And because technology evolves so fast, there’s always some R&D involved—testing new cameras, integrating new color spaces, or even building tools to solve unique challenges. One of my favorite examples was a Wes Anderson project with exquisite color work that shaped how I approach R&D to this day.
In short, my job is to stay ahead of the play: connecting with the client, setting the strategy, and making sure the entire show runs efficiently and smoothly so the creative team can shine, in a way, a project manager on the editorial side specialized in color and workflow.
What does a day in the life look like?
A day in my life starts simply: the wife and I walk our dog Nina and share a bit about our morning.
My weekdays are mainly focused on keeping workflows and color pipelines running smoothly.
In the evenings I switch to a more creative gear, mostly focusing on marketing ideas for the wife’s real estate business or diving into AI advertising. On weekends I help her with work but I also try to have at least a little “ma journée pour penser” time. Even if it’s not a full day, just doing nothing for a while helps clear my mind and lets ideas breathe. That balance keeps things fresh and brings new insights into my work.
What are some of your favorite projects? Why?
Some of my favorite projects are definitely the ones that pushed our color pipeline to the next level. For example, a project like "Black Mirror" really raised the bar and inspired us to develop new R&D and improve our workflows. Also, motion pictures like "The Conjuring 4," "Weapons," or "Fly Me to the Moon" added layers of complexity that led us to propose new methods and more sophisticated processes.
In my heart, I always keep projects like "Him," where we had a lot of R&D due to the use of thermal camera, and "Abbott Elementary," which I genuinely enjoy working on. These projects all have a special place because they each brought unique challenges and a sense of pride in how we evolved our craft, but in essence I'm honored by everything I get to collaborate on with so many talented people.
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Weapons | Warner Bros.
What's something you wish people knew about what you do?
One thing I wish people knew about what I do is that while my work is very technical and often involves wearing many hats, both within Ingenuity and in personal projects. I've learned over time that excellence in your craft is just one part of the equation. For me, building long-term relationships and having the right attitude is what truly moves you forward. Sometimes the next step isn't just about going up or ahead, but stepping sideways to keep growing.
I’ve found that no matter if I'm doing color grading, developing workflows, or troubleshooting a brand-new show, the most valuable skill I bring is problem-solving. It’s a universal soft skill that connects everything we do. At the end of the day, no matter what role I’m in, the ability to troubleshoot and maintain good relationships is what I consider the key to moving forward. So that’s something I’d love people to know about what I do: it’s not just about the technical excellence, but about the relationships and the mindset to tackle any challenge.
What is something that excites you about your career?
What excites me most about my career is how it blends technical challenges with the ability to anticipate solutions in everyday life. Earlier on, I was motivated by seeing my name in credits and counting the 200+ projects I had worked on. But over time, what truly excites me is this “anticipation brain”. I'm always thinking ahead to prevent issues, whether I’m working on a film or just cooking at home. It’s a skill that goes beyond the job and into everyday life.
And of course, the people I meet are a huge part of it. I’ve learned from incredible colleagues who taught me to look for "the note behind the note," always understanding the deeper need behind any request. That insight and those relationships keep me passionate about what I do.
Are you learning anything new?
Absolutely! I’m always picking up something new, both for work and personal growth. My job naturally keeps me learning because color spaces, cameras, and specs are always evolving, which means I’m never standing still. But beyond that, I love to dive into at least one new area every year. When I started at Ingenuity, I took a blockchain course out of pure curiosity. Then I studied Python with UBC, initially just for fun, and later used it to help my wife with some projects. I’ve also gotten into topics like home economics to follow global markets and understand a bit of finance. Those are skills that aren’t always taught in school but are incredibly valuable. This year, I’m focusing on AI advertising and other AI tools for storytelling, which keeps things exciting and fresh.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I really love exploring new places and just enjoying the experience of discovering new things. One of my favorite things is cooking. When I have time to really dive into it, I love making a serious meal. I also do yoga every day, and that’s something I really enjoy. I’m a big foodie too, always up for trying new flavors and having new culinary experiences.
And honestly, I just love doing things with my wife—whether we’re bouncing around ideas, exploring together, or just having fun. For me, that’s a big part of feeling like I’m really enjoying life.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard is to stay humble. Humility keeps you grounded and open to learning from everyone, even if it’s not always easy to practice. Another important lesson that stuck with me is that you’re not what you do—you do what you are. It’s easy to get caught up in defining yourself by your job, but who you are as a person ultimately shapes everything you do. Those two ideas, staying humble and knowing your worth goes beyond your job, have been the lessons that guide me the most.
SPOTLIGHT
Andy Gomez Zamora
Lead Technical Colorist
SPOTLIGHT
Andy Gomez Zamora
Lead Technical Colorist
How would you explain your job to someone who doesn’t know VFX?
I usually explain my job using a football analogy. If a VFX project were a football game, I’d be the defensive coordinator for the Rams. I’ve been a Rams fan for over 10 years—ever since I met my wife and learned her whole family bleeds blue and gold—so it kind of became part of my story.
Like a defensive coordinator, my job isn’t to score touchdowns but to read the field, anticipate problems, and make sure the team is protected so everyone else can focus on their game. Everything starts with communication. There’s a lot of back and forth with the client to understand exactly what they need—whether it’s for internal deliveries or what’s going to the post house. Once I clearly understand their goals, I align those expectations with our internal workflows and look for ways to automate and streamline the process. That way, we minimize room for error and make everything more efficient for everyone involved.
On the color side, I decide on the right color management (ACES or another approach), match shots from different sources, rebuild missing looks, and make sure the final material feels consistent across sequences and departments. For image science, I determine the best resolutions and formats to keep things moving smoothly, whether it’s IMAX, HDR, SDR, or a mix of legacy and modern workflows.
And because technology evolves so fast, there’s always some R&D involved—testing new cameras, integrating new color spaces, or even building tools to solve unique challenges. One of my favorite examples was a Wes Anderson project with exquisite color work that shaped how I approach R&D to this day.
In short, my job is to stay ahead of the play: connecting with the client, setting the strategy, and making sure the entire show runs efficiently and smoothly so the creative team can shine, in a way, a project manager on the editorial side specialized in color and workflow.
What does a day in the life look like?
A day in my life starts simply: the wife and I walk our dog Nina and share a bit about our morning.
My weekdays are mainly focused on keeping workflows and color pipelines running smoothly.
In the evenings I switch to a more creative gear, mostly focusing on marketing ideas for the wife’s real estate business or diving into AI advertising. On weekends I help her with work but I also try to have at least a little “ma journée pour penser” time. Even if it’s not a full day, just doing nothing for a while helps clear my mind and lets ideas breathe. That balance keeps things fresh and brings new insights into my work.
What are some of your favorite projects? Why?
Some of my favorite projects are definitely the ones that pushed our color pipeline to the next level. For example, a project like "Black Mirror" really raised the bar and inspired us to develop new R&D and improve our workflows. Also, motion pictures like "The Conjuring 4," "Weapons," or "Fly Me to the Moon" added layers of complexity that led us to propose new methods and more sophisticated processes.
In my heart, I always keep projects like "Him," where we had a lot of R&D due to the use of thermal camera, and "Abbott Elementary," which I genuinely enjoy working on. These projects all have a special place because they each brought unique challenges and a sense of pride in how we evolved our craft, but in essence I'm honored by everything I get to collaborate on with so many talented people.
Weapons | Warner Bros.
What's something you wish people knew about what you do?
One thing I wish people knew about what I do is that while my work is very technical and often involves wearing many hats, both within Ingenuity and in personal projects. I've learned over time that excellence in your craft is just one part of the equation. For me, building long-term relationships and having the right attitude is what truly moves you forward. Sometimes the next step isn't just about going up or ahead, but stepping sideways to keep growing.
I’ve found that no matter if I'm doing color grading, developing workflows, or troubleshooting a brand-new show, the most valuable skill I bring is problem-solving. It’s a universal soft skill that connects everything we do. At the end of the day, no matter what role I’m in, the ability to troubleshoot and maintain good relationships is what I consider the key to moving forward. So that’s something I’d love people to know about what I do: it’s not just about the technical excellence, but about the relationships and the mindset to tackle any challenge.
What is something that excites you about your career?
What excites me most about my career is how it blends technical challenges with the ability to anticipate solutions in everyday life. Earlier on, I was motivated by seeing my name in credits and counting the 200+ projects I had worked on. But over time, what truly excites me is this “anticipation brain”. I'm always thinking ahead to prevent issues, whether I’m working on a film or just cooking at home. It’s a skill that goes beyond the job and into everyday life.
And of course, the people I meet are a huge part of it. I’ve learned from incredible colleagues who taught me to look for "the note behind the note," always understanding the deeper need behind any request. That insight and those relationships keep me passionate about what I do.
Are you learning anything new?
Absolutely! I’m always picking up something new, both for work and personal growth. My job naturally keeps me learning because color spaces, cameras, and specs are always evolving, which means I’m never standing still. But beyond that, I love to dive into at least one new area every year. When I started at Ingenuity, I took a blockchain course out of pure curiosity. Then I studied Python with UBC, initially just for fun, and later used it to help my wife with some projects. I’ve also gotten into topics like home economics to follow global markets and understand a bit of finance. Those are skills that aren’t always taught in school but are incredibly valuable. This year, I’m focusing on AI advertising and other AI tools for storytelling, which keeps things exciting and fresh.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I really love exploring new places and just enjoying the experience of discovering new things. One of my favorite things is cooking. When I have time to really dive into it, I love making a serious meal. I also do yoga every day, and that’s something I really enjoy. I’m a big foodie too, always up for trying new flavors and having new culinary experiences.
And honestly, I just love doing things with my wife—whether we’re bouncing around ideas, exploring together, or just having fun. For me, that’s a big part of feeling like I’m really enjoying life.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard is to stay humble. Humility keeps you grounded and open to learning from everyone, even if it’s not always easy to practice. Another important lesson that stuck with me is that you’re not what you do—you do what you are. It’s easy to get caught up in defining yourself by your job, but who you are as a person ultimately shapes everything you do. Those two ideas, staying humble and knowing your worth goes beyond your job, have been the lessons that guide me the most.