Fix It in Prep: Why Mission Digital Does Things Differently

Alec Garner - DIT nd Senior Lab Technician

Interview with Alec Garner – Senior Digital Lab Technician and DIT, Mission Digital

When it comes to digital workflows in film and TV, some companies do enough. At Mission Digital, we go deeper, designing workflows that are tailored, flexible, and built around people who understand every step of the process, from prep to post.

We sat down with Alec Garner, one of Mission’s talented DITs and lab technicians, to unpack what really sets the team apart and why that difference matters on fast-moving, high-pressure productions.

🎛️ “We don’t just push buttons.”

“A lot of facilities still treat lab work like a mechanical process. Someone hands you a drive, you hit some buttons, and you pass it on. But that’s not how we work at Mission. From day one, our technicians are trained to understand what’s happening on set. We either are the on-set team or we’ve been there. So when something changes last minute, or a weird camera shows up, we’re ready.”

At Mission, the people working in the lab aren’t siloed away. They understand the full imaging chain. Alec explains that Mission technicians are often trained across departments - DITs who understand the lab process, lab operators who’ve been on set and that insight leads to smarter decisions, faster problem-solving, and tighter creative control.

🧩 Bespoke Workflows That Fit the Production

“Because we often manage everything from on-set capture to dailies and beyond, we can build workflows that are completely bespoke, tailored to the needs of the production. The kit, the data pipeline, the drive speeds, the colour pipeline, even the Google Docs, everything’s designed to work seamlessly together.”

That integration creates fewer bottlenecks and better communication across departments. There’s no need to email three people to request a file transfer when Alec can do it himself in minutes.

🤝 Trust and Team Dynamics

“I’ve known Anthony [Dias, DIT] for years. We talk every day when we’re working on the same job. If there’s anything he needs me to double-check in the lab or tweak for continuity, it’s just a text. And because we both know the Mission kit and software inside out, it’s never a guessing game.”

It’s not just familiarity, it’s shared systems, tools and training that allow the team to hand off work confidently and efficiently. And when you’re delivering dailies to editorial in the middle of a fast-paced shoot, that trust matters.

🔁 A Seamless Imaging Pipeline

For many productions, including Sexy Beast and Too Much, the Mission team supported the production across:

• On-Set Live Grading (DIT)

• Data & Metadata Management

• Dailies Lab (Remote, Nearest or In-House)

• Video Playback + offsite streaming.

• VFX Pulls via Origami Platform

  
  

For one recent production, when additional units in New York needed to match what had been shot in London, the process ran like clockwork.

“Anthony provided the looks and metadata, I gave them camera roll IDs and colour pipeline guidance. It just clicked into place. No hiccups, no last-minute panics. That’s what happens when one team owns the whole workflow.”

💡 Fix It in Prep, Not in Post

“We’re always thinking ahead. We look at the shooting schedule, anticipate challenges, and make sure everything’s set up to run smoothly. You don’t want to wait until everything’s on your desk in a mess and try to untangle it after the fact. That’s not how we operate.”

This philosophy—fix it in prep, not in post—is baked into every job Mission handles.

Whether it’s ensuring colour continuity across splinter units or managing tight turnarounds on high-volume shoot days, the team is always ready to act early and avoid unnecessary costs or delays.

🎓 Training That Raises the Bar

Mission’s approach to training is another key differentiator.

“James Ian Gray [Mission’s Head of Workflow and Talent Development] has built a really solid training programme. Everyone on the team gets exposure to different roles and understands the full context of their work, not just how to do a job, but why and how it fits in the bigger picture.”

That breadth of knowledge leads to more thoughtful technicians, better decisions on the fly, and a more cohesive service offering from prep to post.

💸 The Mission Difference

By designing joined-up workflows, training smart technicians, and proactively solving problems before they happen, Mission helps productions deliver faster, smoother, and more cost-effectively, while preserving the director and DoP’s creative intent from the very first frame.

Want to learn how Mission can support your next production?

 📩 Contact the team on production@missiondigital.co.uk.