The SIM Group, a leading supplier of production and post-production equipment and services to the motion picture and television industry, has entered into an agreement today to merge with Post Factory NY, one of New York City’s largest independent providers of post-production services.
The move significantly enhances the SIM Group’s East Coast presence. The company’s Bling Digital unit recently opened a facility in Brooklyn, offering dailies, off-line editorial and finishing services. Post Factory NY has two Manhattan facilities, comprising of 38,000 square feet, with more than 60 editing suites, two color grading suites, a DI theater and post production sound. Future plans call for further development of finishing services, both for feature films and dramatic TV series.
“It’s the perfect marriage to help us service the New York post-production market,” said SIM Group CTO Chris Parker. “Our companies share a common culture that is customer-centric and service-focused. It’s the people at Post Factory NY who set it apart and that was what really attracted us to them.”
"This addition will allow us to more effectively address the needs of clients on the East Coast and throughout North America,” said SIM Group CEO Rob Sim. “It provides a great path for both companies to grow and to offer a more comprehensive mix of services. We are very excited to welcome Post Factory NY to the SIM Group family.”
Post Factory, which will continue to operate under its current name and management, gains expanded resources and geographic reach through the ability to align with Bling and other SIM Group companies, including SIM Digital, PS Production Services, Chainsaw, Pixel Underground and Tattersall Sound & Picture.
Post Factory Founding Partner and CEO Alex Halpern said that his company, too, was seeking a path for growth. “We were looking for a partner who we felt understood our philosophy and roots and would help us accelerate our growth while preserving our culture,” he said. “We wanted a path to service our clients on the West Coast, without diminishing our presence at home in New York. As an independent company, that’s challenging. Now, we have not only gained a West Coast presence, but also an international presence. That will enable us to better service our clients working around the world. It’s fantastic.”
“The companies in the SIM Group have a great reputation,” added Post Factory COO Kim Spikes. “We are very excited to introduce our clients to them. We expect to find a lot of opportunities to share and collaborate between the East and West coasts.”
Post Factory’s clientele includes HBO, Fox, ITV and Paramount, as well as many independent producers. It has a strong record for supporting filmmakers in New York and beyond.
Caryn Horowitz, the company’s Managing Partner, said that the company hopes to deepen its relationships with filmmakers by tapping into the SIM Group network. She cited Bling Digital’s expertise in dailies processing as an example. “I found Sim’s facilities in Toronto and LA very impressive and the added services we can offer to our NY clients, with Bling’s skilled staff, really enhance and complement what we offer our customers,” she said.
“We’ve been thrilled by the rapid success of our Bling Digital office in Brooklyn,” Parker added. “There has been tremendous demand. There is also growing need for our other specialty services such as the live events handled by Chainsaw. New York is unique in that it produces all types of programs including movies, TV series and live events, and our unique blend of services addresses that demand.”
Alongside the added physical resources, Halpern said that he looks forward to being part of a larger creative team. “Both companies are very collaborative,” he said. “It’s exciting to have more resources and more brain power.”
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 across the US, Canada and China. Our diverse services can be utilized on any production at any stage. In Canada, our offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax service grip and lighting from PS Production Services and can be complemented with SIM Digital cinematography and playback equipment for any production’s needs. Bling, Chainsaw, Pixel Underground and Tattersall Sound and Picture 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’s services, which include a comprehensive workflow solution, are offered at all offices across the US and Canada, as well as off-site service through POD (Post on Demand). Chainsaw’s full-service facility in Hollywood provides creative editorial and extensive finishing services with some of the top colorists in the industry. Rounding out the family of companies are Pixel Underground, a Toronto-based post-production company, and its associated service, StationEX, which provides physical and file-based media fulfillment and encoding/distribution services, and Tattersall Sound and Picture, a provider of sound editorial and mixing for motion pictures and television. For more information, visit simgroup.com
