Why I 🖤Sapphire: Michael Negron, Digital Content Producer

Michael Negron is a Bronx-born New Yorker who has worked in production for over ten years. The former WWE producer made the leap to the PFL (Professional Fighting League) over two years ago and relies on Boris FX Sapphire plugins in his Adobe Premiere Pro workflow.

In 2022, he traveled to Africa with one of the PFL’s Champions and created a 10-episode series based on his experiences. Follow him on Instagram. 

You work for the PFL as the Digital Content Producer. What does your role entail?

My role entails all aspects of production. From brainstorming to planning to capturing content and finally to post-production. I work directly with fighters and have in-cage access to capture a fighter's raw emotion. With this exclusive footage, I create promos, series, shorts, and any other type of content to promote our brand across all social media platforms.

What type of tasks do you look to a plugin like Sapphire to help with daily?

When building promos, Sapphire takes my edits to the next level, both the transitions and the video effects. I use Hyper Pull and Hyper Push almost daily. Notable mentions are SwishPan and Filmroll.

How did you first discover Sapphire, and how long have you been using it?

I first discovered Sapphire working at WWE in 2015. I have used it since. Both professionally and personally. I even convinced PFL to invest in Boris FX, and the users have loved it.

What Sapphire features do you use most — and why? 

I use transitions the most. They allow me to creatively move from one story to the next. I recently applied them to a series called “This is My Year”. I used the transitions here to separate the piece like chapters in a book. 

What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on — and why?

My favorite project I’ve ever worked on was a career recap package for a professional wrestler named Rob Van Dam. He was being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame after a 20+ year career. I researched his entire career and created a 3-minute retrospective that brought him to tears. It was an unforgettable moment for me because Rob was there and reacted positively to the piece. Sapphire was heavily involved in this career-defining project.

If you could have only one Sapphire effect, which would it be?

SwishPan. You can change the time, place, tone, or anything… in an instant.

What are your top 3 reasons why digital content producers like yourself should use Sapphire?

1. Sapphire is an all-in-one package that can help you answer questions about your edit that you didn’t even know you had.
2. Adding graphic layers to your edit will always raise the production value.
3. Never take simplicity for granted. Sapphire gives you a lay-up for you to slam-dunk.

What’s your best pro tip to artists new to Sapphire? 

Try every single Sapphire feature. I’m even gonna go back and see what I’ve overlooked.

What feature requests do you have for the Boris FX product designers? 

Even more transition options would be intriguing.

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