Leading production and post house Optimus today announced it has promoted Joanna Woods to executive producer (EP). Woods joined Optimus from Beast/Company 3/Method Studios as a senior producer in 2018 along with Editors Angelo Valencia, Matt Glover and Emily Hayes and VFX Supervisor Ryan Wood.
Woods has post-produced campaigns for brands including Allstate, AutoZone, BCBS, Burt’s Bees, GE Healthcare, Kerrygold, Kingsford, Pepsi, Tostitos, Tyson and Whirlpool. Woods also post-produced Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers, a LeBron James- and Maverick Carter-produced docuseries from UNINTERRUPTED, currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
“This is such a well-earned promotion,” said Optimus EP/Managing Director Brian Hrastar. “Joanna is incredibly smart, intuitive, passionate about her work, and concerned about the wellbeing of her peers, her team and our clients. A savvy communicator with an unparalleled work ethic, she brings poise, positive energy and thoughtful new ways to approach projects.”
Originally hailing from Kentucky, Woods moved to Chicago to pursue her interests in live music. Before entering editorial post-production, she worked in various roles with Music Dealers, Another Country Studios and Chicago Recording Company.
Her passion for all things creative has kept her active in the post community, such as co-emceeing the annual Camp Kuleshov event, and hosting various jam sessions and art nights in her home. In 2020 she welcomed her first child, Olivia, and moved with her husband to Sauganash (the necessity of space!).
“I am ecstatic to join Optimus’ elite team of EPs,” said Woods. “Jon and Tracy are legends in the industry with their expertise and client relationships, and Brian is an inspirational leader and mentor. I’m honored to partner with all of them and the entire team at Optimus. I am looking forward to being able to connect again in person (zoom only goes so far!) with all my friends and partners in this industry that I love!”
“As anyone who knows Joanna already knows, her enthusiasm is infectious and her dedication to the work is unmatched,” added Hrastar. “We are fortunate that she is formally joining the EP ranks and rounding out our already formidable team.”
About Optimus
Optimus is a leading production and post-production house located in Chicago. A true one stop shop, Optimus and its production arm One at Optimus offer a full suite of creative services, including production, editing, color correction, visual effects and design, audio mixing and finishing. For more information, please visit optimus.com, design.optimus.com and oneatoptimus.com. Connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Optimus161.
