Meet Mark Kaplan
Mark Kaplan recently joined Goldcrest Post as Executive Vice President with a mandate to help the company grow…in size, services and stature. Formerly an executive with Technicolor, Los Angeles, Mark brings keen insight, passion and an infectious sense of humor to his role. Over the course of his remarkable career, he has functioned as a sales and marketing executive, producer, director, post-production supervisor, talent manager and serial entrepreneur.
We recently sat down with Mark to discuss his move and his future.
How's it going?
Mark Kaplan: It's wonderful. Everyone here is fantastic. We have a great team from front of house to the engineers to the talent and management. It’s one of the most gratifying experiences of my career.
What's on your agenda? What do you hope to accomplish?
Mark Kaplan: One big thing I’m focusing on is Fancy FX, our visual effects partner. I’m working to expand their presence in long form. They are very successful in advertising, but we want to do more features and television. Their skillset is extraordinary and deserves a wider audience.
Secondly, I want to increase the awareness of the Goldcrest brand so we are a first call for clients to service everything from the beginning-to-end of the post process. Very few boutiques offer that in one building. We support clients from offline through picture and sound finishing to visual effects. You can walk from the edit room to the conform suite to the mix stage while VFX is happening on another floor. It truly is a one-stop post production stop for the client.
We are also looking to expand the company, first in New York and then to other markets in the U.S. and abroad. This company has a bright future.
Goldcrest Post is affiliated with Goldcrest Films, an award-winning distribution, production, post production and finance company. What are the advantages of that connection?
Mark Kaplan: The advantage is that we are a company built by filmmakers. Very few post facilities can say that. There is ILM on the West Coast, which, obviously, was built by a filmmaker and provides end-to-end service. We don’t claim to be the ILM of the East Coast, but if you want a model, that’s it.
You've been involved in post for quite a while. How do you assess the status of production and post in New York?
Mark Kaplan: Being new to the New York market I am surprised by how it’s thriving. Streaming production is driving a lot of it, but New York’s 30 percent tax credit is also important. It’s more effective than California’s program which operates on a lottery basis.
Are you excited to be in New York?
Mark Kaplan: I'm thrilled.
Upending your life and moving across the country sounds a little risky. Why are you doing it?
Mark Kaplan: Number one, I don’t think it’s risky. I went to school in New York, Sarah Lawrence College, so I’m returning to my roots. When the opportunity arose to join Goldcrest as executive vice president, I jumped. I expect to spend many years here and I am excited to help the company grow. That’s my forte, my passion, and I get to do it in New York City, the greatest city in the world.