B-Reel, 真正意義上的整合型創意制造工場，TheFWA上榮登首位的贏家，連續兩年榮獲Adage/Creativity Online年度最佳創意制造公司的榮譽。接著上一篇《專訪創意制造工場極客創意總監Riccardo Giraldi》，今天我們非常榮幸能夠邀請到創意制造工場B-Reel公司的團隊成員：

來自B-Reel紐約的創意技術開發工程師Simon Cave,
來自B-Reel倫敦公司的Producer Mei-lin Rawlinson,
還有來自B-Reel斯德哥爾摩的美術指導David Hammarstr?m，

感謝他們與我們一起分享在B-Reel工作的情況與心得，更與我們分享了諸多優秀好用的日常工作工具軟件和方法，很多很棒的資源分享。（順便預告個小秘密，這一精彩話題并沒有就此結束。敬請期待。

采訪: Vivian Peng
翻譯: Cici Lu
(原創內容，轉載請注明來自數英網)

Simon Cave
Creative Technologist，B-Reel紐約

數英網：請簡單介紹下B-Reel。

Simon: B-Reel是一家整合型制作公司，在洛杉磯、紐約、倫敦和斯德哥爾摩都有辦事處，專門從事于數字互動、移動設備，多媒體裝置和創意執行及制作。

數英網：請簡短地介紹下自己，包括何時及如何加入B-Reel，您覺得在這里工作感覺如何？

Simon: 我來自澳大利亞悉尼，通過朋友，讓我知道了B-Reel，并在2009年的時候加入其倫敦辦事處開始在此工作。在過去的幾年里，我曾先后去過斯德哥爾摩和倫敦，現在我在紐約。

我喜歡在這里工作，因為每個項目都能讓我遇上全新的挑戰。目前為止，我已經參與了一些網站、游戲、裝置和移動應用程序的開發。擁有特立獨行及富有冒險精神的客戶讓我們感到很幸運，他們的目標就是創造一些獨特而新穎的東西。

例如，2010年我們與廣告代理商180 Los Angeles和以機械擅長的JLB設計一起合作，為三菱汽車打造了一款特別的體驗裝置 *（具體案例請參見：創意制造：B-Reel — Mitsubishi Live Drive案例解析與思維碰撞）。

通過在汽車上裝配攝像機和全球定位系統，三菱的粉絲們就可以在互聯網上感受新車的駕駛情況，同時他們還能從司機的視野看到風景的變換。這是一個充滿挑戰，令人激動而有意義的項目，證明了只要有想象力可以使團隊強大，一個強大的團隊一切皆有可能。

我在B-Reel紐約工作有將近一年的時間，有很多機會與優秀的客戶一起工作。這個行業的工作充滿了樂趣，因為很難預測下一個項目會帶來怎樣的驚喜。

數英網: 請介紹下您在項目團隊中扮演的角色，簡單地談一下你們團隊工作的基本流程。

Simon: 作為一名Technologist和Programmer，我喜歡從一開始就參與項目。我最初是作為Developer，但是在過去幾年里我更多地參與到創意過程中，這意味著需要大量的寫作(Writing) 和概念設計(Concepting) 工作的涌入。

有時候客戶會有完整的創意，而有時他們會一點想法都沒有。在這兩種情況下，我都會試著和整個團隊一起，保證在滿足客戶的需求下創造出新穎的東西。我們努力讓每一個項目都成為全新的挑戰。

數英網: 工作中最令你愉悅的部分是什么？你最討厭什么部分？

Simon: 最開心的就是當項目開展了一段時間，我們在概念和創意上越過瓶頸期的時候。當創意(ideas)、設計(designs)和原型(prototypes)付諸實施成為一個真正的產品的時候，非常讓人興奮。

工作中最糟糕的就是看著好點子被浪費。有時候不論這是多好的概念，客戶總是希望往不同的方向上走。當然幸運的是，這并不常見。

數英網: 除了工作，你如何得到靈感？

Simon: 我會在網上進行大量的不同領域的閱讀，我不局限在自己的領域中，而是對于各個領域里的新技術都充滿興趣。我居住的城市也帶給我靈感，能夠住在這么多不同的地方我感到很幸運。但是最能激發我思維的是和我一起工作的人們，和這么多才華橫溢的人一起工作真是太棒了。

數英網：您個人更喜歡用PC還是Mac？為什么？請各列舉3樣喜歡使用的軟件和設備。

我用的是Mac，我喜歡是因為這是唯一可以同時安裝各種Mac Apps、Windows Apps和Unix的電腦，這對于測試不同瀏覽器兼容性是非常重要的。我也喜歡使用Mac軟件。Mac操作系統和第三方應用程序的細節不是很完美，但肯定相對而言更好。

在開發方面，我用WebStorm和Sublime, 寫提案或寫技術理論研究時，我喜歡簡單的ByWord.

我在工作中使用iMac，它很贊！我的下一臺電腦一定是MacBook Pro或者MacBook Air。我有一副Beyer Dynamic耳機，一般邊工作邊聽音樂。還有iPhone，我喜歡嘗試各種新的應用程序。手機和平板電腦的應用程序開發是一個非常有創意的領域。觸屏移動設備代替臺式電腦無論是在現今還是在將來，都已是大勢所趨。

數英網：你一周通常工作多少時間？

Simon：保持健康合理的工作時間是非常重要的，但當你熱愛你的工作時就可能會忘記這點。我每周保持工作40小時，2011年至今只有一次例外。享受周末和夜晚的生活能讓你在工作時保持清醒的頭腦。我們常常做很具挑戰性的項目，要求長時間工作。慶幸的是，B-Reel的項目總是值得我們這樣去做。

數英網：是什么讓你對B-Reel 以及你的團隊感到滿意？什么情況下你會感覺不滿意，期待著它改進？

Simon：非常感謝能夠在B-Reel工作，我曾在B-Reel的兩個海外公司辦事處工作過，所有的團隊都很棒。如果不能每天和有新創意新想法的人一起上班，我也許就會為自己另謀一份工作了。

現在最重要的事情可能就是協調B-Reel在全球各個地區的相互之間合作協調。我們保持團隊的獨立和自主這一點很好，但是每個辦事處都有不同的工作經驗和知識可以一起分享。今年我們計劃開展各個辦公室的交流，互相學習。

Mei-lin Rawlinson
Producer，B-Reel倫敦

數英網：請簡單介紹下B-Reel。

Mei-lin：B-Reel是一家數字制作公司，在全球擁有四個Office。每個Office都由創意總監、制作人、開發人員、動畫設計師、美術指導、設計師和監制組成。我們的項目涵蓋了網絡、移動設備、裝置等。事實上，我們還剛剛啟動了一個新的研發公司——B-Reel Products 產品開發部門。

數英網：請簡短地介紹下自己，包括何時及如何加入B-Reel，您覺得在這里工作感覺如何？

Mei-lin： 我在B-Reel倫敦擔任Producer已有兩年半的時間。在加入B-Reel之前，我曾在一家位于英國曼徹斯特的數字代理機構magneticNorth工作過。當我搬到倫敦時，B-Reel就成為我理想工作的首選。他們的聲譽、一流的作品和富有瑞典氣質與文化的工作環境都深深吸引著我，所以得到這份工作的時候，我欣喜若狂。B-Reel里到處都是極具天賦，勤奮和善的人，這一切都使得B-Reel成為一個極其優秀的工作之處。

數英網: 請介紹下您在項目團隊中扮演的角色，簡單地談一下你們團隊工作的基本流程。

Mei-lin：作為 Producer，我要做的就是帶領整個團隊，每天與客戶進行交流，保證完成項目的時間和預算。為了讓團隊做到最好，我們還需要解決相當數量的問題，回避各種風險，努力工作。(編者: 在我們國內, 貌似這個角色更多的被我們稱之為是項目經理 Project Manager, 而之前提及的監制也許就是PD?)

數英網：工作中最令你愉悅的部分是什么？你最討厭什么部分？

Mei-lin：在擁有如此多項目的地方工作，我一直在學習新的東西，面臨不同的局面。每天都與極具創意的團隊一起工作讓我感覺非常棒。
另一方面，作為Producer，需要與客戶進行艱難的交涉，這沒有任何樂趣可言！(哈哈哈??)

數英網: 除了工作，你如何得到靈感？

Mei-lin: 倫敦總是會有一些新的演出或者展覽，我在那從生活中汲取靈感。我也喜歡捕捉這些畫面放在我的博客上。

數英網：您個人更喜歡用PC還是Mac？為什么？請各列舉3樣喜歡使用的軟件和設備。

Mei-lin: 當然是Mac，無論什么方面，它都表現的優越的多！
軟件：Aperture、 Chrome和WordPress.
設備：富士FinePix X100、MacBook和Kindle.

數英網：你一周通常工作多少時間？

Mei-lin: 我的工作時間會隨著項目的不同而產生變化，有時多有時少。

數英網：是什么讓你對B-Reel 以及你的團隊感到滿意？什么情況下你會感覺不滿意，期待著它改進？

Mei-lin: 目前B-Reel在全球所有辦公室加起來大約有近一百名同事了，這里的公司文化以及業務水平都讓我們感到驕傲自豪，我們都堅持B-Reel是一個非常棒的工作地。

當然，B-Reel仍有一些需要改進的地方，目前急需提上議程的就是建立digital production的作業標準和流程。在項目過程中我們不可避免的會與客戶、代理商產生很多分歧和各種糾結的事，所以在這方面我們必須不斷改進加強，才能最終做出更好的作品。關于典型的標準流程應該是這樣的，在這個網站中可以看到更多資料: www.stndrd.org。

David Hammarstr?m
Art Director，B-Reel Stockholm 斯德哥爾摩

數英網：請簡單介紹下B-Reel

David：這是一家能讓我體驗到產業中最具開創性的挑戰，以及能夠與最優秀的同事一起工作的整合制作公司。
（B-Reel是一家整合型公司，在我與最優秀的同事一起共事的同時也體驗到了這個行業中最具開創性的挑戰。）

數英網：請簡短地介紹下自己，包括何時及如何加入B-Reel，您覺得在這里工作感覺如何？

David：我童年的時間幾乎都花在了玩弄各種模擬媒體、素描、油畫、雕塑和建筑這些東西上，如果沒有這些，我可能就是在玩電子游戲了。對游戲的興趣引領我進入數字世界，2001年秋天，我進入大學獲得交互媒體和游戲開發的學士學位。在此期間，虛擬多媒體與數字媒體的相互結合與發展，讓我深陷其中。2004年初，我在B-Reel進行實習，那時就有很多理由讓我喜歡B-Reel，例如之前提及的挑戰和同事。

數英網: 請介紹下您在項目團隊中扮演的角色，簡單地談一下你們團隊工作的基本流程。

David：作為美術指導，不論我們的團隊面臨怎樣的困難，都要保持團隊的活力及很強的適應力，同時也要做到以美學的眼光、概念化的思維和一雙巧手進行創作(aesthetic eye, mind on the concept and hands on the production)。B-Reel的工作流程是開放和“扁平化”的，我們的目標是盡可能保持團隊在所有領域及整個流程中的參與和整體運作。

數英網: 工作中最令你愉悅的部分是什么？你最討厭什么部分？

David：其實，令我開心和討厭的事情是一樣的，正所謂讓我歡喜讓我憂，我喜歡面臨各種困難，有時它們也會讓我感到十分沮喪，但解決或者掌控一個大問題的那種感覺令我覺得這一路走來的各種跌跌撞撞十分值得。

數英網: 除了工作，你如何得到靈感？

David：放松自己，盡情享受，盡可能讓自己的思維擴散，讓所有新想法都進入我的大腦中。

數英網：您個人更喜歡用PC還是Mac？為什么？請各列舉3樣喜歡使用的軟件和設備。

David：我喜歡在Mac上工作，唯一的原因就是一開始就知道這是最好的。我也曾經用過幾次PC，但是在使用中我從來不曾喜歡過。
我最喜歡的三個軟件也許就是我使用率最高的Email、Safari和Adobe Creative Suite。
說到喜歡的設備，也就是使用率最高的筆記本電腦、智能手機和手表。

數英網：你一周通常工作多少時間？

David：四十小時。

數英網：是什么讓你對B-Reel 以及你的團隊感到滿意？什么情況下你會感覺不滿意，期待著它改進？

David：我喜歡公司里的氛圍和同事就像我喜愛挑戰和一樣。很難說有什么是B-Reel目前需要改善的，現在的B-Reel就如同生如夏花般絢爛。

****************************************

Simon Cave
Creative Technologist，New York

Q：One sentence to describe B-Reel shortly please

B-Reel is a hybrid production company in Los Angeles, New York, London and Stockholm creating digital productions for web, mobile, physical installations and other media.

Q：Can you shortly say something about your background? And, when and how you joined B-Reel?  How do you like working here? Why?

I’m originally from Sydney, Australia but over the past few years I have lived in Stockholm, London and now New York City. I got to know B-Reel through a friend and started working with the London office in 2009.

I like working here because there’s always a new challenge with every project. So far I have helped create web-sites, games, installations and mobile apps. We’re lucky to have some very smart and adventurous clients, and their goals are always to create something unique and original.

For example, in 2010 together with advertising agency 180LA and robotics experts JLB Design we built a spectacular installation for Mitsubishi Motors. By rigging a full-sized car with robotics, cameras and GPS tracking we allowed Mitsubishi fans to test drive their new car over the internet while seeing a live video stream from the driver’s seat. This was an immensely challenging, exciting and rewarding project and it shows that with a bit of imagination and a great team almost anything is possible.

I’ve been in the New York City office for nearly a year and already have had the opportunity to work with many fantastic clients. This industry is very fun to work in. It’s hard to predict what surprises the next project will bring.

Q：Can you describe your role in a team when working on a project?  Tell us shortly about the basic process of your team working?

I’m a technologist and a programmer. I like to get involved in projects from the very beginning. My primary role is as a developer, but over the past few years I have been getting more involved in the creative process. This means a lot of writing and concepting.

Sometimes clients come to us with complete ideas and sometimes they come to us with a blank slate. In both cases I try to work with the team to make sure that we’re fulfilling our clients needs while also creating something new and original.

We try to make each project a new challenge.

Q：What is the most enjoyable part of work to you? And what is the worst part you hate much?

I think the most enjoyable part of any project happens some time around the middle when we cross the barrier between concept and creation. It’s very exciting when a collection of ideas, designs and prototypes transitions into a real working product.

The worst part of our job is seeing good ideas go to waste. Sometimes, no matter how strong a concept, the client will want to go in a different direction. Luckily, this is not something we have to deal with regularly.

Q： How do you do to get inspirations besides work?

I do a lot of reading on the Internet. I’m very interested in learning about new technology in all areas, not just my own. I’m also very inspired by the city I live in. I feel very lucky to have been able to live in so many different places. But mostly I’m inspired by the people I work with. It’s great to be surrounded by such talented people.

Q：Which do you prefer to use personally, Mac or PC? Why? Please list 3 pieces of software and 3 pieces of hardware that are to your personal favorite?

I use a Mac. I prefer it because it is the only computer that allows you to have Mac apps, Windows apps and Unix on the same screen. This is very important when you need to test for compatibility in many different browsers. I also prefer using Mac software. The attention to detail in the Mac operating system as well as third-party apps is not perfect, but definitely better.

For development I use WebStorm and Sublime. For writing project proposals or tech treatments I love the simplicity of ByWord.

I use an iMac at work. It’s a great computer, but my next one will definitely be a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. I have a pair of Beyer Dynamic headphones which I use to listen to music while working. I have an iPhone and I love trying new apps. Mobile app development on phones and tablets is a very creative area. Using touch-based mobile devices instead of desktop computers in our daily lives is a trend that will continue to grow for a long time to come.

Q：How many hours do you work each week generally?

Maintaining a healthy work week is very important. When you’re passionate about your work it can be very easy to forget this. I try to stick to a 40-hour work week and so far in 2011 I have only gone over once. Having weekends and evenings to relax and enjoy life allows you to have a clearer mind at work. Often we do very challenging projects that call for long hours. It should always be because the project is worth it. Thankfully, at B-Reel it almost always is.

Q：What makes you satisfied with B-Reel / or with your team at B-reel? And what makes you feel it is not doing so well and expecting its improvement at B-Reel?

I’m very grateful to be working at B-Reel. I have worked in two B-Reel offices now and both have been fantastic teams to work with. If I couldn’t come to work every day and collaborate with the smartest people I know, I would need to find a new job.

Perhaps the biggest thing that we need to work on is collaboration between offices. We keep our teams separate and autonomous. This is a good thing, but with each office doing slightly different work there is a lot of knowledge and experience that we could be sharing. This year we plan to open up the communication between offices and learn from each other in the process.

Mei-lin Rawlinson
Producer， B-Reel London

Q：One sentence to describe B-Reel shortly please

B-Reel is a digital production company with 4 offices around the world. Each office is made up of Creative Directors, Producers, Developers, Motion Designers, Art Directors, Designers and Executive Producers. Our projects span web, mobile, installations and more. In fact, we just launched a new R&D company - B-Reel Products.

Q：Can you shortly say something about your background? And, when and how you joined B-Reel?  How do you like working here? Why?

I’ve been working at B-Reel London as a Producer for 2 and a half years. Previously, I worked at Magnetic North, a digital agency based in Manchester, England. On moving to London, B-Reel was top of my list of prospective employers. Their reputation, high-end productions and Swedish culture appealed to me. I was over the moon when I got the job. B-Reel is full of incredibly talented, hardworking and kind people, all of which make it a pretty good place to you!

Q：Can you describe your role in a team when working on a project?  Tell us shortly about the basic process of your team working?

As a Producer, my role is to lead the team, be the day to day contact with the client and ensure that we deliver the project on time and on budget. There is also a fair amount of problem solving, risk dodging and working hard to get the best out of the team.

Q：What is the most enjoyable part of work to you? And what is the worst part you hate much?

Working on such a wide variety of projects is great as I’m always learning new thing and thrown into different situations. It’s fantastic working with a team of highly creative people every day.

On the downside, now and then Producers are required to have difficult discussions with the client which is never fun!

Q：How do you do to get inspirations besides work?

I get inspiration from life in London – there’s always a new play or exhibition to see. I also enjoy taking snaps and posting them on my blog.

Q：Which do you prefer to use personally, Mac or PC? Why?

A mac. It’s just superior!

Q： Please list 3 pieces of software and 3 pieces of hardware that are to your personal favorite?

Software – Aperture, Chrome, WordPress

Hardware – Fujifilm finepix x100, Macbook, Kindle

Q：How many hours do you work each week generally?

It completely varies depending on the project – there are peaks and troughs.

Q：What makes you satisfied with B-Reel / or with your team at B-reel? And what makes you feel it is not doing so well and expecting its improvement at B-Reel?

The size of the offices (cosy at about 80 people around the world), culture and the calibre of the projects that come through the door all contribute to making B-Reel a great place to work. There are always things that can be improved and one thing that is high on B-Reel’s agenda is establishing standards and processes in digital production. You can find out more about it here. It’s an ongoing struggle with some clients/agencies and is definitely something that we need to keep pushing and will ultimately result in better productions.

David Hammarstr?m
Art Director，B-Reel Stockholm

Q：One sentence to describe B-Reel shortly please

An integrated production company giving me the benefit of working with the most amazing colleagues on some of the most groundbreaking challenges in the industry.

Q：Can you shortly say something about your background? And, when and how you joined B-Reel?  How do you like working here? Why?

I pretty much spent my whole childhood playing around in all kinds of analog media, drawing, painting, sculpting and building stuff, if not that I was probably to be found playing video games. My interest for games led me in to the digital world in the fall of 2001 when entering the university, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media and Game Development. During this time the analog and digital married in a sweet combination and I got hooked. In early 2004 I did my internship at B-Reel and I’ve pretty much hung around ever since, as two of many reasons for that I’d mention the challenges and the great colleagues.I pretty much spent my whole childhood playing around in all kinds of analog media, drawing, painting, sculpting and building stuff, if not that I was probably to be found playing video games. My interest for games led me in to the digital world in the fall of 2001 when entering the university, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media and Game Development. During this time the analog and digital married in a sweet combination and I got hooked. In early 2004 I did my internship at B-Reel and I’ve pretty much hung around ever since, as two of many reasons for that I’d mention the challenges and the great colleagues.

Q：Can you describe your role in a team when working on a project?  Tell us shortly about the basic process of your team working?

My role as an Art Director at is pretty dynamic and adapts to the team and whatever challenges we are facing, but it’s always done with an aesthetic eye, mind on the concept and hands on the production. The general process at B-reel in general is quite flat and open, meaning that we aim to keep the whole team as involved as possible through out the whole process, in all areas possible.

Q：What is the most enjoyable part of work to you? And what is the worst part you hate much?

It’s one and the same, I love the problems as much as I sometimes can find them rather frustrating, but the feeling of solving or mastering a great problem is worth each and every hard bump along the way.

Q: How do you do to get inspirations besides work?

Enjoy myself and try to keep my mind as open as possible for all new impressions I can come across.

Q：Which do you prefer to use personally, Mac or PC? Why? Please list

I like working on a Mac, the sole reason being that’s what I started off with and know the best. I’ve worked quite some time on a PC as well but never really got in to it during the time being.

Q： Please list 3 pieces of software and 3 pieces of hardware that are to your personal favorite?

My three favourite softwares are probably the ones I use the most, Mail, Safari and the CS suite. When it comes to hardware I’d say the ones I use the most as well, my laptop, my smartphone and my watch.

Q：How many hours do you work each week generally?

40