If you’ve worked in this industry long enough, you’ve likely run into Martin Parsons at some point, whether it was when he was an engineer at The Mill, head of imaging at MPC or running his own training company, Image Eyes. Or it might have been at a trade show in Vegas, Amsterdam or beyond. postPerspective was lucky enough to call Martin a friend, sharing kebabs, beer and laughs over the years, and being the recipient of his technical know-how while he made us smarter.

Martin (center) during one of HBA’s lunches, with Joachim Zell right above him.

We weren’t the only ones who were taken and touched by Martin.

Joachim “JZ” Zell: “Martin Parsons was a friend, colleague and industry professional. During this global pandemic, we switched our in-person HBA (Hollywood Beer Alliance) lunches to virtual Zoom ones, where Martin became a regular, dialing in from London to give us the ‘London COVID-19 report’ on a weekly basis. He also became the main entertainer on our calls, telling us jokes in ways we had not heard them before. Every one of us traveling from around the world to London has a story to tell about working with Martin or meeting Martin during an industry function in Soho.

“We remember Martin fondly for his inquisitively kind nature and always wondering if we could do it another way. Many of us spent a good amount of time with Martin at MPC or at the surrounding pubs in Soho. We met him at international conventions like the NAB in Las Vegas or IBC in Amsterdam.

“It was actually Martin’s job to find the pub in Amsterdam for us to host our annual HBA IBC meetings. Martin you will be missed…”

The HBA crew (including Bruce Harris, bottom left) toasting Martin this week

Bruce Harris: “Martin was, in fact, a friend. He was a close co-worker and one of the creatures of Soho London, where I hung as a visual effects compositor and he a color scientist. Later on, when I ran Assimilate Europe and was teaching, training and implementing Scratch as a colorist tool, Martin busted my butt to prove that it did what it said it would do. Then he gave me the best compliment that I have ever received: that I proved from a colorist-artist standpoint that a tool can give you exactly what you want.

“He was in many ways an outside mentor in my early days of color. That being said, Martin was one of my regular Soho pub creatures that gives the place that lovely life it has. Many, many late hours were spent in pubs, from The Ship on Dean Street to The Blue Posts on Berwick, sharing tales of visual effects, color science and, more importantly, tales of our travels and fun around the world.

“Not many people know this, but Martin, as big a man as he was, loved to travel to destinations like India on public transport. I can only imagine him squeezing through a tightly packed train, laughing and smiling with the locals and making friends. His is a face that I am sad will not be seen in the pubs of Soho and its pub culture. RIP, my friend Martin. You WILL be missed.

Gary Thompson (far left) and Martin Parsons (far right) at an IBC event in Amsterdam.

Gary Thompson: “I first met Martin many years ago when I was a young engineer working in Soho post houses. I also spent some time in the Ship with him and others from MPC, Mill, Rushes, etc. Once I left London, I would always look forward to meeting up with Martin at various trade shows, (NAB, IBC) and shooting the shit with him and other colleagues over a beer or two.

“I remember Martin fondly for his inquisitively kind nature and always wondering whether we could do it another way. He will be missed.”

Ron Prince: I first met Martin when we were both working at Moving Picture Company, London, and quickly discovered him to be one of the brightest and best post production engineers in the high-end business – a workflow and color management mastermind.

Nacho and Martin

“His brilliant intellect combined with a lovely sense of humor and general bonhomie made him both well-liked and much-admired by a great many across our industry. It is so very sad to hear of Martin’s passing, and I send my sincere condolences to his family, loved ones and friends.

Nacho Mazzini: “It’s sad to write this. I remember meeting Martin while he was making bloody marys at the MPC bar. Martin had a good heart, and through the years, he has helped me grow my business in Soho. I will keep him in my memories — BBQs at the 179 Wardour St. rooftop, in Amsterdam and so many fun nights during IBC and NAB. Much love to his friends and loved ones.”

Late night in Amsterdam: (L-R) Kevin Baillie, postPerspective’s Dayna McCallum, Martin Parsons, Lucy Cooper and postPerspective’s Randi Altman

Randi Altman: “Martin was an incredibly warm and welcoming human being. After meeting him for the first time, it felt like we had known each other for years, and I know that wasn’t only my experience with him. He was that kind of person; he made you feel welcome from the get-go. I really enjoyed spending time with him, being silly and then alternately picking his brain on technology when we were in work mode. He has contributed to postPerspective over the years, both as a voter for our Impact Awards and as a writer reporting from BVE. He will be missed on all levels.”