Post Factory NY is on a tear. Over the past year its New York branch has embarked on a serious upgrade to staff, snatching top talent from the likes of Company 3 and Deluxe. Facilities get suites filled with the latest gear too.
“Post FactoryNY is transforming from a local hospitality business to a world-class finishing facility,” says Alex Halpern, the LA-based company’s founder.
New CTO Liam Ford, for example, began at Company 3 in 2004 as a DI Systems Manager, rising through the ranks to become VP of Technology at that top house by 2013. Meanwhile David Feldman comes in from posts as Director of Feature Sales for Company 3 and Deluxe; he’s now Post Factory’s Senior Vice President for Features and Television (full releases on both appointments follow below).
Good news that the City can add another healthy post house that aims for the top of the market. The 30-percent tax set aside for postproduction passed a couple of years ago helps.
Post Factory has the resources to follow CEO Halpern’s vision: it’s backed by Toronto-based investment firm Granite Partners. Granite is an interesting operation, pegging its investments towards “profitable, well-managed, mid-market manufacturing and service companies with sales in the $10 million – $100 million range.” The investment firm, which also
Here are the two new staffing announcements.
Post FactoryNY Appoints Liam Ford as CTO
Post FactoryNY announces the appointment of Liam Ford as Chief Technology Officer. Ford joins the company with more than a decade of post-production engineering and IT experience, most recently as Vice President of Technology at Company 3, New York. At Post FactoryNY, Ford will assume the lead role in technology operations, strategy and planning. His first task will be to guide the technical aspects of a major expansion of the facility’s color grading and finishing services for theatrical and television projects.
“We’re thrilled that Liam has joined our team as Post FactoryNY transforms into a top tier finishing facility that will be able service our clients from the first frame of capture to final delivery of product,” said Post FactoryNY founder Alex Halpern. “Liam is going to help us build the right infrastructure to support the vision I’ve had for Post FactoryNY as a bespoke facility with the capacity to tackle the most complex and challenging projects. Our environment is designed to allow creative thinkers comfort and latitude in their approach, while providing them with the best talent across all delivery mediums. In his role as CTO, Liam will aggressively lead that talent to develop innovative and cost effective solutions in today’s ever changing technological environment.”
Ford originally joined Company 3 as a DI Systems Manager in 2004. He was promoted to Director of Technology in 2010 and to Vice President of Technology in 2013. In the latter role, he had oversight for technology operations at facilities in New York and Atlanta. He began his career with Title House in Hollywood.
Ford said that he is eager to help Post FactoryNY build its color and finishing resources, and develop the infrastructure needed to support the most demanding theatrical and television projects. “We want to provide film and television producers with a premium finishing experience, so that they can focus on content and story knowing that we’ve got the rest of the post process handled. My role is to craft a technology environment that is tailored to the very unique needs of filmmakers and their projects. It’s a very exciting, and interesting process to be a part of.”
Post Production Exec David Feldman Joins Post FactoryNY
Post FactoryNY, a SIM Group company, has appointed David Feldman as Senior Vice President for Features and Television as part of the facility’s ongoing effort to broaden and enhance its service offering. Feldman, previously Director of Feature Sales for Company 3 and Deluxe, New York, will lead sales and customer relations for newly expanded features and TV finishing services at Post FactoryNY. He will also liaise with other SIM Group companies to provide film and television producers with packaged services covering multiple aspects of production and post.
David Feldman, Post Factory NY’s new Senior Vice President for Features and Television.
“Post FactoryNY is transforming from a local hospitality business to a world-class finishing facility,” said Alex Halpern, the company’s founder. “We’re expanding our menu of services and the pedigree of our staff to provide filmmakers the tools and support they need to realize their visions. Whatever medium, genre, or location filmmakers choose to give life to their stories, we will support them with the most complete toolset possible.”
Feldman said he was attracted to Post FactoryNY by the opportunity to help build a new world class finishing division for filmmakers. “I wanted to join a company where people come first, a company with a good moral compass. Today, every facility has the technical firepower to meet emerging needs, but what is in short supply are people with talent and a commitment to provide world¬-class service.”
Current film projects for Post FactoryNY include Collateral Beauty (New Line), Keeping Up with the Joneses (Fox), Gifted (Fox Searchlight), Mena (Universal), The Wall (Universal) and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (TriStar).
“Like most of our team, David was a filmmaker first, which is key to understanding the needs of clients in helping achieve their goals. His passion for the craft of filmmaking and the community of artists he’s worked with will help our team, facility and clients maximize their talents to create the best work they can,” added Halpern.
Feldman brings 20 years of post-¬production experience in executive¬-level sales, operational, and production roles. At Company 3 and Deluxe, he managed relations with studios, networks, independent producers and others for post services ranging from dailies through digital cinema delivery. Previously, as Senior Digital Intermediate Producer for Company 3 and Encore Hollywood, he supervised post-production finishing work for scores of studio and independent features. Earlier in his career, he worked as an assistant editor with credits on films for 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Disney and others.
Feldman added that he is particularly excited by the possibilities of partnering with other SIM Group companies including SIM Digital, which supplies cameras and related gear, Bling Digital, a specialist in dailies and workflow management, and Chainsaw, a Hollywood post facility. “We can handle projects, large and small, from beginning to end,” he said.
About The SIM Group:
Backed by Toronto-based investment firm Granite Partners, the SIM Group is a leading supplier of production equipment, workflow and post-production solutions. With offices spanning North America, the SIM Group provides stellar products and services for features such as the recently released “Warcraft,” to the hugely successful “Game of Thrones,” to the Oscar-winning film “Spotlight.” From reality shows including “American Idol,” to blockbusters “Deadpool” and hit series “Mr. Robot,” SIM Group has collaborated with producers, directors, cinematographers, post-production supervisors and studios to bring their vision to life.
Toronto and Vancouver provides grip and lighting from PS Production Services and can be complemented with SIM Digital cinematography and playback equipment from any of its offices in Canada, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Bling, Chainsaw, Pixel Underground, Tattersall Sound and Picture and Post FactoryNY provide an array of services from dailies, to online and offline editing, to final color/DI and visual effects, to sound editorial and mixing.
Bling provides a comprehensive workflow solution in the US, Canada and abroad, as well as off-site service through POD (Post on Demand). Chainsaw provides creative editorial and extensive finishing services with some of the top colorists in the industry. Pixel Underground is a Toronto-based post-production company that also provides physical and file-based media fulfillment and encoding/distribution services, while Tattersall Sound and Picture is a provider of sound editorial and mixing for motion pictures and television. Post FactoryNY is considered one of the East Coast’s top independent post-production facilities. For more information, visit simgroup.com
