After four years with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Lara Hopkins is set to return to Framestore as head of studio in Melbourne.
At Framestore Melbourne, she will focus on cultivating the team, maximising the opportunities of Framestore’s global network and opening new creative possibilities for both talent and clients.
It marks a return to the company for Hopkins, for whom she has worked at numerous points throughout her 30 year career. She initially joined Framestore in 2001 as a senior producer in the London advertising division, before moving to a CG manager role in the film and episodic division, which is where she started her career in VFX management.
In 2005, Hopkins returned to Australia to Rising Sun Pictures Sydney studio and then joined Dr D Studios, until a call to help staff up for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty brought her back to Framestore in 2012, this time in the New York studio, growing the film division and working with Framestore’s management team to establish studios in Framestore Montreal, Los Angeles and Chicago. She then moved back to Sydney in 2013, consulting exclusively for Framestore and continuing to build and manage the teams in LA, New York, London and Chicago.
Hopkins was one of the first two employees at ILM Sydney, which opened in 2019, most recently as director of talent management.
“Joining Framestore feels like coming home,” said Hopkins.
“I’m excited and honoured to be returning to Framestore, and for the opportunity to continue to build on the excellent work of the Melbourne team. I’m also looking forward to working closely with other Framestore studios to deliver stunning work.”
Method Studios Melbourne was formally integrated into Framestore’s global network in July 2022, following Framestore’s global acquisition of the VFX company and post-production business Company 3 in November 2020.
Fiona Walkinshaw, CEO film and episodic, said: “Lara has built her career around her passion for unearthing the best talent, building teams and creating cultures that make people want to stay. We have a hugely talented team in Melbourne who have delivered award winning work from Elvis, Christopher Robin and Fury Road. Lara will continue to build on this so clients can benefit from the creativity, expertise and scale available across Framestore.”