About us | FIKA Entertainment

Who We Are

Fika Entertainment is an end-to-end virtual production company providing broadcast quality realtime animation content using our collaborative, design-focused, creative and technologically enabled pipeline.

Fika started in 2006 as a high-end research facility specialising in motion-capture technology at world-renowned Australian university, Deakin University. Since then, we’ve become a privately held company with a head office in Brisbane and a purpose-built virtual production studio on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and have produced high-quality content for some of the world’s leading entertainment and brand companies.

Our provides upfront creativity and control to deliver premium quality products which are time and cost effective and keep story at the heart of production. 

Fika is a proud member of Global City Group, a diverse and daring international network of high-performing businesses, talent and ideas.

What is the Fika difference?

When it comes to the production process, our focus is based on care, collaboration and creativity.

Our in-house innovative virtual production pipeline allows us to maintain high creative and technical standards. Fika clients can have peace of mind knowing our content is not only top notch, but ethically and effectively delivered.

On the global stage, Fika is the only virtual production company delivering premium creative content for a digital-first budget. Our quality is not only a mark of our skill, but also presents a lucrative opportunity for clients to on-sell digital-first content for a range of subsequent broadcast and streaming markets.

Check out Our Work

Facilities

Our Gold Coast Studio is fitted out for all of your virtual productions and motion capture needs.

Dimension of Stage: 12M x 8M

Vicon Cameras: 20 x V8s

OptiTrack Cameras: 32 x Prime v1s

Stage Software: Unreal, Shogun, Motive, MotionBuilder

Number of Faceware Headcams: 4

Number of Black Magic Studio Reference Cameras: 3

Number of Reference Screens: 4

Meet Our Team

CEO

Dr Jordan Beth Vincent

Meet Dr. Jordan Vincent, the visionary CEO of Fika, a leading virtual production company. With over 10+ years of experience working with cutting edge industry technology, Jordan is a true expert in the field. Her deep knowledge of virtual production has made her a sought-after guide for anyone looking to transform their animation experience.

Under Jordan's leadership, Fika is revolutionising virtual production with a focus on creating immersive, engaging content that captivates audiences. Whether you're a filmmaker, game developer, or content creator, Jordan's expertise is the key to unlocking the full potential of virtual production.

Chief Business Development Officer

Shanae Condon

Shanae has a strong background in 2D and 3D animation, live action production, and a proven track record as a Producer and Head of Production. Shanae has a deep understanding of the entire production pipeline and is excited to bring Fika's expertise to companies worldwide.

In this ever-changing landscape, Shanae is always at the forefront, staying ahead of the curve and bringing innovative ideas to the table. Her passion for this exciting space is evident in everything she does, and she's dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals through the power of virtual production. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, Shanae and the talented team at Fika have the knowledge and expertise to take your content to the next level.

Head of VFX and CG

Pete Divers

Peter is a co-founder of Fika and began his career in performance capture research and virtual production prototypes before transitioning to film and television work at companies including Weta Digital and The Third Floor.

Peter has worked on Academy award-nominated feature films, award-winning TV commercials, and state-of-the-art emerging technology-led television productions, gaining recognition for his creative vision and expertise in the CG and VFX industry. Peter remains a driving force in the industry, constantly exploring new creative avenues to bring his unique vision to the world of film and television.

Creative Director

Steve Trenbirth

Steve is an award-winning director with a pedigree in classic animation through Hanna Barbera (Snorks, Top Cat and Scooby Doo), Magpie Productions (Footrot Flats), and Walt Disney Animation Australia (Emmy Award winning television series Winnie the Pooh’s New Adventures). He became Unit/Animation Director on Disney’s series Timon and Pumbaa, Gargoyles, Jungle Cubs, Goof Troop and Bonkers, and later on video feature films Lady and The Tramp II, Aladdin and The King of Thieves and the Aladdin sequel The Return of Jafar.

Steve won a coveted industry Annie Award for his outstanding work on the sequel to The Lion King and directed his first Walt Disney theatrical feature and award-winning film The Jungle Book II in 1999, relocating to the US for development, pre-production and post. He now focuses on the creative direction of Fika.

Series Producer/Director

Natasha Pizzica

Natasha specialises in casting and captivating story telling. She is a highly regarded television producer who has worked across a range of genres including, Lifestyle, Children's, Documentary and Reality Television. She produced the food/travel series Sourced for online platform Tastemade, and eight series of the Logie Award-winning series Gogglebox.

Most recently Natasha was the Supervising Casting Producer on Limitless with Chris Hemsworth for National Geographic and Disney+ and Series Producer for children’s series Play School.

Strategic Sales Consultant and Board Advisor

Martin Hersov

Martin has over 25 years’ experience within the media industry in Australia and the UK including the acquisition of content, the monetisation of IP/rights and the identification and execution of growth strategies. He runs his own media consulting business with a strong focus on business development and providing strategic advisory services.

Previously Martin was Commercial Director at Channel Nine for 14 years where he was responsible for monetising its content around the world and across all platforms. He has an MA from Cambridge University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management in the UK.

CTO

Dr Greg Bowtell

Greg is the Chief Technology Officer at Fika Entertainment. He joined Fika as Senior Interaction & Education Designer in 2021 following a distinguished academic career in Australia’s university sector and roles in commercial design, game development and production in the creative industries.

Greg manages Fika’s technology infrastructure strategy, primarily supporting and enabling the advancement of Fika’s proprietary virtual production pipeline.

Head of Studio Operations

Deanne Czarnecki

Deanne is a co-founder of Fika having started at Deakin Motion Lab in 2016 after a successful career as a Production Coordinator and 1st Assistant Director for companies including the ABC and the Victorian Opera. She has worked closely with emerging technology including animation and VFX, Virtual Reality and LED Wall Production and has been involved in all Fika’s productions to date.

Deanne has qualifications in publishing, film and photography makeup and event management.

General Manager

Chloe Smyth

Chloe has a focus on the logistics of supporting its staff and business operations. She started her career as a Production Assistant on live action sets in Canada and worked her way through various roles there and in Europe including locations, logistics and health and safety.

Chloe has worked on several major productions including The Twilight Zone TV series and Ghostbusters Afterlife for production companies such as Lionsgate, Netflix, Sony and CBS Television. She is also an Associate Member of the Directors Guild of Canada.

Meet our Board

Ken Mahon

Ken works with early-stage ventures and research organisations as a commercialisation professional and is passionate about realising impact and value through the translation of research outcomes and intellectual property. He has worked across digital, robotic and autonomous systems, AI/ML, quantum, cyber-security, advanced manufacturing and materials, medical device, and immersive technology domains.

Ken was a Commissioned Officer and Technician for 19 years in the Australian Defence Force, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Science and Technology Commercialisation and has a Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics.

Jo Dillon

Jo is a leader and strategist with an international track record in the creative industries. Her passion for stories and reputation for identifying and backing outstanding creative talent has been central to her 20-year screen industry career, spanning roles in factual and drama development in the UK and Australia. As CEO of Global City Group, Jo invests in people, projects and businesses across media and entertainment.

Before taking this role, she was Chief Creative Officer at Screen Queensland where she created high-profile entrepreneurial partnerships and cemented a reputation as an industry leader on diversity and inclusion. She is a former UK national newspaper journalist.

Lee Rushton

Lee is an experienced investment management professional and a holder of both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) certification.

He has a background in disciplined and discretionary portfolio management, equity investment analysis, pricing and management of derivatives, quantitative strategy development, risk management and organisational compliance. Lee is responsible for overseeing the ongoing research initiatives and providing advice and portfolio management services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, independent financial planning firms, family offices and superannuation funds.