Trainer Profiles
Ana Sabolić
Head of World Design, Final Pixel
Ana is a World Designer, Unreal Engine Team Lead and filmmaker working across VAD, VFX and Art. She creates cinematic real-time worlds for film and TV, bridging creative vision with technical expertise and setting high standards for visual quality. With over 10 years’ experience, Ana has led art teams and delivered virtual productions across the UK, Europe and US. She has spoken at IBC and London MPTS, collaborated with MIT on AI projects, and most recently served as Head of World Design on the first live-action LEGO film.
James Codling
VP Technical Director, Final Pixel
James is a Virtual Production Technical Director at Final Pixel and Lead Trainer at Final Pixel Academy. He works across LED volumes, camera tracking, Unreal Engine, ICVFX and real-time production workflows, bringing hands-on industry experience directly into his training. At Final Pixel Academy, James develops and delivers practical virtual production training for filmmakers, artists and technical teams, with a focus on making emerging production technologies accessible, relevant and ready for real-world use.
Tai Ball
VP Technical Artist, Final Pixel
Tai is a Technical Artist, Virtual Production Operator, and Unreal Engine Trainer with extensive experience across both production and education. He designs and delivers Unreal Engine and Virtual Production training for artists and production teams, combining structured learning with hands-on, production-ready workflows. Alongside his training work, Tai specialises in building cinematic-quality real-time content in Unreal Engine, creating environments, assets, shaders, tools, and cinematics using Maya, ZBrush, Substance 3D, and Unreal Engine, with a strong focus on performance and scalability.
Laura Carney
Head of Operations, Final Pixel
Laura oversees Final Pixel Academy whilst maintaining a hands-on role across the business's operations. Her eight years in live events managing AV and LED supply for both outdoor and indoor productions, plus on-ground execution, gives her insight across the complete production spectrum. Working closely with the OSVP and VAD departments, Laura combines operational leadership with direct knowledge of studio facilities, equipment hire, and crew management. This blend of production insight and events background informs the academy's training approach, ensuring courses remain grounded in real-world workflow and industry standards.
Michael McKenna
CEO, Final Pixel
Michael is CEO and co-founder of Final Pixel, the entertainment studio pioneering a new model of filmmaking where cinematic storytelling meets real-time production technology. Michael is a Showrunner of LEGO Friends: Heartlake The Musical, the LEGO Group's first-ever live-action show, made alongside fellow Executive Producer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical).
Hanah Draper
CCO, Final Pixel
Hanah’s work spans the entertainment and media industry as a writer, director and producer. Hanah Draper is the Showrunner & Executive Producer of LEGO Friends: Heartlake The Musical, the LEGO Group's first-ever live-action, made alongside fellow Executive Producer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical).
Rob Brooks
Unreal Trainer, Final Pixel Academy
Game developer/programmer with a strong interest in what is currently being referred to as "Game Feel" or "Juice". His main skills are in programming and is an expert in Unreal Engine.
Elias Rodriguez
Unreal Generalist, Final Pixel
Elias is an Unreal Engine Generalist at Final Pixel, specializing in cinematic real-time environments, lighting, and shot design. Bridging the gap between physical and digital worlds, he combines advanced Unreal Engine workflows with over four years of on-set VFX capture experience, including LIDAR and photogrammetry. From previs to final pixels, Elias is driven by a passion for technical precision and next-generation real-time storytelling.
Becky Thompson
Head of Production, Final Pixel
Becky started out wanting to be a graphic designer, but after university the world of advertising quickly called her name. She spent the next 10 years working as a PM and Producer across a huge variety of projects and some very big brands, learning pretty much everything there is to know about making things happen.
Now she’s found her place as Head of Production at Final Pixel, running the show and building the best team to support whatever comes through the door. She’s the queen of finding a solution to any problem, keeping calm when things get chaotic and somehow always making it look like everything is completely under control.
Dougal MacKenzie Smith
Production Manager, Final Pixel
Dougal's exceptional tea-making abilities made him a likeable runner on feature films, and from there he worked his way up to Production Manager. Over a decade working in film & TV production, he's worked on major productions for studios such as Apple, HBO, Amazon and BBC.
He joined Final Pixel to bring that experience into the world of virtual production and emerging filmmaking technology, combining traditional production knowledge with new ways of bringing ambitious ideas to screen. Known for staying calm when things don’t go to plan, Dougal is happiest somewhere between a beautifully organised schedule and the controlled chaos of a shoot day.
Anna Peduzzi
Production Manager, FInal Pixel
Anna studied Graphic Design before realising she preferred bringing other people's big ideas to life rather than attempting to come up with her own. Eight years in commercials and music videos followed, working with brands like Apple, Nike and Google, and artists including Ed Sheeran, Fred again.. and The Weeknd.
Now a Production Manager at Final Pixel, Anna brings her on-set experience, quick thinking and love of extinguishing fires to the team. Problem-solver, plate-spinner and occasional miracle worker, she's happiest juggling moving parts and tackling whatever the day brings. Whether it's a last-minute curveball or a plan that's changed five times before lunch, Anna likes to make the impossible look easy.
Flora Grant
Production Coordinator, FInal Pixel
Flora trained as a dancer and spent 10 years working professionally across stage and screen, giving her first-hand experience of the creative process from the other side of the production desk. Alongside performing, while freelancing across a broad mix of roles she's worked as an actor and model, to movement director (Amazon and VOGUE) and stand-in (House of the Dragon).
She first joined Final Pixel as a Choreography Coordinator and has now landed as Production Coordinator, working across the creative side of production and the wider business. Whether she’s running rehearsals, managing talent, supporting the team or getting stuck into socials, she’s always up for the next challenge.
Madara Mendis
Assistant Coordinator, Final Pixel
Madara is an Assistant Production Coordinator at Final Pixel, with a background in television and creative agencies across Australia and the UK. Previously at Warner Bros, Sky News, and Entropico, she has managed studio operations, international campaigns, and complex logistics. At Final Pixel, she streamlines production processes, ensuring resources and teams work seamlessly from initial prep to final delivery.
Joe Kelly
Head of Finance, Final Pixel
Joe took the less-travelled path from audit to production finance. He started his career in general audit before moving to focus on the film and tv industry, with a particular specialism in UX tax credits. These days, he oversees Final Pixel’s production finance processes: from assisting with budgets in development, ensuring our invoicing and payroll systems run like clockwork during prep and shoot, and supporting production audits and tax credit claims during wrap. Away from production, he also manages the company’s internal finances.
Alice Gardiner
EA & Office Manager, Final Pixel
Alice is an Executive Assistant and Office Manager with over a decade's experience across advertising, fashion, film and entertainment. She's worked with major brands including Nike, Warner Bros and Marks & Spencer as an Account Manager on global campaigns, and supporting executives at Wieden + Kennedy, AKQA and Spring Studios. That combination of hands-on creative industry experience and operational expertise gives her rare insight into what creative teams need to do their best work. She joined Final Pixel to bring both sides to a fast-growing studio, keeping ambitious projects running smoothly so the focus stays on making brilliant things.