Post-production finishing for the sixth season of HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series Game of Thrones recently wrapped up at Chainsaw, a SIM Group company. The facility handled visual effects integration, editorial conforming, final color grading and deliverables for the show.

Chainsaw assembled a veteran team for the series, led by Colorist Joe Finley (The Descendants¸ 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line), Online Editor Jim Eberle (Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3, Fast & Furious), Visual Effects Compositor Boyd Stepan (Seeking Justice, The Education of Charlie Banks), Assistant Editor Mark Cendejas and Post Production Producer Ainsley Dietz. The team works under the supervision of Game of Thrones Producer Greg Spence, Associate Producer Melissa DeMino and Post Production Supervisor Allison Hooper.

“This has been a great opportunity for Chainsaw to build a team around this amazingly successful show and to demonstrate our ability to grow and adapt with new technology and crucially time-sensitive workflows,” said SIM Group President of Post Production and Chainsaw Founder Bill DeRonde. “It is a great privilege to have this exceptional series that continues to win awards season after season.”

Post-production for Game of Thrones is challenged by a demanding schedule, a complex workflow and the series’ unparalleled standards for quality. Chainsaw’s team manages the arrival of media from sources located around the world. “We interact 24/7 with the production and editorial teams and multiple visual effects vendors,” noted Chainsaw Vice President of Business Development Michael Levy. “We worked on multiple episodes simultaneously and supported the production as they continued to refine the show right up to the point of delivery.”

Chainsaw masters the show to HDCAM SR 444 and from there creates multiple HD delivery files according to HBO specifications. It also creates DCP theatrical projection files for premieres and special screenings.

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 Factory NY 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 Factory NY is considered one of the East Coast’s top independent post-production facilities.  For more information, visit simgroup.com