Your company motto is…
The Work Flows
Tell us a bit about your company.
FrameRiver is a Post Production and Visual Effects Management Company that also has a facility component for both disciplines. FrameRiver opened in July 2019 to help increase the the Post Production infrastructure which has been lacking in our region.
How many staff members / freelancers do you employ?
We currently have four full time staffers and a few part timers. Our freelance crew scales up and down as required.
What are you working on right now?
FrameRiver is currently finishing Post Production on a film shot in Calgary called “The Order”, starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. The film is directed by Justin Kurzel and will be released Internationally by MGM/Amazon. We are also working on documentaries for Peter Klein and Susan Kucera. We are also excited to be readying a film starring Jenna Ortega for Paramount called “Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall” for its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June.
What is a favourite project that you’ve worked on, and why?
FrameRiver has enjoyed being involved in every project it has contributed to during its 4 1/2 year history. We’ve managed to work on a broad range of projects from MOWs to productions for all the streamers. We recently had the pleasure of working on Anna Kendrick‘s directorial debut called “Woman Of The Hour” which will drop on Netflix sometime this year. Anna was great to work with and FrameRiver provided the Post and VFX Producing Services, plus we did all the VFX and Titles in house. We also worked on a really cool Apple Original Series, the title of which we are not allowed to disclose, and we are hearing it will drop on Apple+ this summer. 90% of the Post and VFX work on that show was done in BC by many of our VPA members.
What percentage of your work is with local vs. international clients?
With the exception of a few documentaries most of our clients come from the US or Europe. Our team has strong connections to the Hollywood entertainment community so we tend to leverage those relationships.
Are you a Mac/PC/Linux shop? Or all of the above?
Primarily Mac.
What software/hardware/plugins can you not live without?
Well we’ve recently been auditing our software costs so I know there are quite a few things we can’t live without! As a company we are big fans of DaVinci Resolve and the direction it is heading in as a “Set to Delivery” solution. Our new Mac Studios are really amazing and increase our workflow efficiency and capacity. Our Synology NAS is a feature laden storage solution that gives us a lot of bang for the buck. We are also big fans of OWC local storage solutions and their smaller drives for shuttling files from the set. They are so fast. Photoshop, Illustrator, No Machine and Cine-X tools are a few others we use all the time.
Are Dolby Atmos/Dolby Vision capabilities something you have or are looking into?
We are actually in the process of adding HDR to our grading suite and will have HDR10+ and DolbyVision Grading as an offering in the very near future.
How difficult has the pandemic been for day to day operations?
Hopefully the Covid pandemic is in the rear view mirror for all of us. The new challenge is getting through the difficulties in our work cycles created by the strikes in Hollywood. FrameRiver has fared well but many of our colleagues have not and we’re hoping the upcoming negotiations between the Producers, IATSE and Teamsters can be resolved without another work stoppage.
How long have you been a VPA corporate member?
I believe since we started the company, if not then not long afterwards.
Any workflow improvements brought about by the need to work remotely?
Improvements are flexibility for workers quality of life and access to talent you might not ordinarily have access to employ. It also makes anyone in the world a potential client.
What do you miss most about “in person” client sessions?
Overhearing things that help you learn is a big one. Having time to chit chat and get to know people you work with to develop relationships is another. Running into colleagues on other shows you haven’t seen in a while. Having lunch with everyone on the team.
Is there anything else about your company that you’d like people to know about that we haven’t yet asked?
FrameRiver’s business model is unique as we bring many disciplines under one roof. This allows us to keep overhead costs low on a project and are able to pass that savings onto our clients. But this approach is not for everyone and we often manage shows for clients where we team up with other Post and VFX facilities our clients have relationships with around the world to complete the project. And other Post Producers and VFX Supervisors use our facilities services and we do not manage those shows. It’s important to address the needs of the production.
Lindsay Elizabeth Donovan has worked in the film industry in production, on set, in gear houses and for the last decade+ in post production. Her current position as VP, Sales for Company 3 Vancouver has given her the opportunity to focus on the Vancouver industry from a global perspective, promoting our local artists to worldwide audiences while fostering local growth with the support of the international community. She loves supporting artists, especially in the realm of mentorship and EDI efforts, and works to continue finding new ways to allow BC filmmakers’ stories and voices to thrive. When not working, you’re likely to find her at a comedy show, binging series and weird horror movies, or poorly but enthusiastically wailing along to her favorite punk music.
Kelsy, a 20-year veteran of the animation and VFX industry, is a firm believer in doing her part to create a more progressive and diverse professional community and to help pave the way for the next generation of filmmakers. She volunteers her time to several professional organizations and is an active mentor within the community.
Kelsy’s day job is as the Executive Producer at Mr. Wolf Vancouver. While there, she works on all sorts of shows (films such as Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Fast & Furious 7, 50 Shades of Grey, and TV favourites such as Lost in Space, Superman & Lois, Charmed, and The Mist) with all sorts of clients (Netflix, Marvel, EA, HBO, Paramount, Disney, Sinking Ship, Boat Rocker, Apple, and more). Kelsy is a very proud enabler of creative talent and technical innovators.
Eli started his sound career at an independent radio station in Istanbul and forged an international career in 18 years as a multi award-winning Sound Designer. He worked as a Supervising Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer on films screened at international festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, and Montreal.
Eli holds a Diploma in Sound Engineering from SAE and a Master’s Degree in Sound Technologies from Bahcesehir University. Besides his sound experience, he has been part of grassroots organizations and human rights advocacy groups for over a decade. He is the co-founder of a platform that aims to combat anti-Semitism. He believes in the importance of a collaborative community. He has been volunteering with the VPA for five years and co-chairing D&I Committee for two years.
Saeed is an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker, editor, and educator based in Vancouver. He studied filmmaking in Iran and further pursued his studies in film editing at the Film and Television Institute of India. With over 20 years of experience, his career spans various roles in the independent and professional film industry, including directing documentaries and short films and working in countless editing rooms. Through these experiences, he has gained valuable insights into the creative process and developed a nuanced approach to his work.
Saeed’s last short film, “We Were There” (2019), received accolades such as the Best Genre Award at the McMinnville Short Film Festival 2020, the Gold Remi Award at the Worldfest Houston Short Film Festival 2020, and the Best Drama award at the Southern Shorts Awards 2020, among others. When Saeed is not immersed in filmmaking or editing projects, he dedicates his time to mentoring young editors and filmmakers, supporting them on their journey in the industry.
Saeed’s aspirations include utilizing his position as a member of the VPA board to assist emerging creatives and immigrants in kickstarting their careers. He hopes to provide guidance and opportunities to those seeking to establish themselves in the industry, ensuring they have the necessary support to thrive and succeed.
Sepideh began her Post Production career after finishing her Motion Picture Arts Bachelor’s Degree at Capilano University. Sepideh’s passion for film started at a young age and after completing internships on high profile movie sets, she knew film and television production was the career path she wanted to pursue.
Sepideh has been working in the film and television industry in the Post Production sector in British Columbia for more than 10 years. She has supervised Post Production and Delivery of 100+ productions for different platforms, including feature films and TV movies for Warner Brothers, Universal, Paramount, Disney, Lifetime and Hallmark. Her TV series work includes both scripted and unscripted episodic productions for eOne, DirecTV and Corus, amongst others. The productions she has supervised have won Emmy awards and numerous Leo awards.
As Sepideh continues her career, she hopes to contribute as one of the board members of the VPA and help the new generation of talent find a rewarding path forward.
Arlein is a Mexican Canadian Filmmaker who has been an Editor for almost 20 years. Inspired by Mexican folklore, tall tales, and surrealism, Arlein credits her love of stories to her Grandfather.
Not long after she graduated university, she rose through the ranks at the National Mexican television network, where she quickly became the youngest senior editor within the company. After accepting an opportunity to study in Canada, Arlein moved to Vancouver, where she spent the next 13 years working in various Film and TV shows inside the Post Production field, along with teaching Post Production.
Arlein’s vast editorial experience in the Film and Television industry has inspired her to continue shaping her craft and share her knowledge. Her bigger focus in the Vancouver Post Production community is to find equal ground for everyone who desires to enter the Editorial department; guiding people and training them to find better opportunities within their careers.
When she isn’t working, Arlein enjoys boxing, cooking traditional Mexican food, and barbecuing with her wife. She is the crazy aunt to her niece & nephews, and doting mom to two spoiled cats.
Cindy Au Yeung is a Chinese-Canadian editor and filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. She has worked in post production for the past 7 years and has been a 1st Assistant Editor on various documentaries such as I AM JOHNNY CASH and scripted television series such as DATE MY DAD, HIT THE ROAD, LOUDERMILK S3, and DAY OF THE DEAD.
Most recently, she has edited an APTN Lumi webseries SHADOW OF THE ROUGAROU, produced and edited a stand-up comedy series COMEDY INVASION, and is currently editing her first feature-length film, JONAH. On the side, Cindy also makes her own documentaries involved with #Elimin8hate, an organization dedicated to eliminating anti-Asian racism through the power of film, arts, and media. Nevertheless, documentaries will always remain as Cindy’s first love into filmmaking!
Originally from Nova Scotia, Gregor moved west with music as his main passion.
Following a BA in jazz studies from Capilano University, playing and touring with bands segued into composing which eventually lead to an interest in sound design and post production for film.
In 2010 Gregor started Cinescope Sound, a boutique facility that serviced a broad array of feature films, TV series and documentaries.
In 2020 his company merged with Bionic Audio to form Maverick Post Group, a new facility built from the ground up to serve the needs of the Vancouver industry and beyond.
As a re-recording mixer and supervising sound editor Gregor is also involved in the day to day operations of running a full service post facility.
Vancouver has an incredible wealth of talent and Gregor welcomes the opportunity to play a role in advocating for this community as we continue to grow and push for new opportunities.
Caleb is a composer and musician. With an aptitude to create music that reaches diverse audiences, his range of work spans from independent projects and short films, to televised series and theatrical features. Frequently writing with his brother Brian, their work has been featured on many notable animated and live-action projects, including recent series with DreamWorks and Netflix.
Caleb has called Vancouver home since immigrating from Hong Kong in 1997 and holds a Master of Music Composition degree from the University of Toronto. He is pleased to join the VPA board to serve the growing industry in the city.
Don’s Post Production experience includes work as a Facility Owner/Executive, Post Supervisor and Editor for over 30 years with Finale Post (Picture Shop Vancouver) and its related companies. His credits include a wide range of feature, television, commercials, music videos, and cutting-edge documentaries.
He is actively involved in the Production and Post Production community in Vancouver, and frequently travels to LA for industry relations, marketing and sales initiatives with the major studios, networks and production companies.
Don currently sits on the Board of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association (MPPIA), the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia (Leo Awards), is a Founding Director of the Vancouver Post Alliance (VPA), Founder of the Vancouver Creative Lounge, and past Chair of the Whistler Film Festival.
He is also proud of the recent work he is doing as a member of the BC Motion Picture Industry COVID-19 Best Practices Coalition and as Chair of the BC Post Production Health & Safety Task Force.
Don is passionate about seeing Vancouver’s post production community reach its full potential, and looks forward to continuing to contribute to the success of its workforce and facilities.
Buket is a Post Coordinator/Supervisor who draws on her experience from working across multiple departments of Post Production for over 15 years.
Her interest in post started in the first year of university, when she followed her passion in picture and sound editing as well as post supervising. After freelancing and managing an award-winning sound studio in her hometown of Istanbul, she moved to Vancouver in 2013, where she has since worked on a wide range of projects both in management and editorial teams. Her most recent work is the first season of Snowpiercer.
Buket’s journey with the VPA began in 2015 when she volunteered for the Events Committee and joined the VPA board in 2018. During her time as a director, she continued to work with events, support the Membership Committee, and was an integral forming member of the Mentorship Committee as well as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Buket understands that the VPA provides a much-needed platform for our community to stay connected. As our growing community is becoming more and more diverse every day, she believes it is important to create equal opportunities for all genders, ages, ethnicities and abilities. She has a passion for promoting engagement with a more diverse community and giving voice to those who deserve greater representation.
When Trevor isn’t finding the magic in film footage from other film projects, he’s filming his own. Trevor is an award winning filmmaker who has vast editing experience in both feature films and television. He continues to shape his editing style through genre, action and drama films. Wherever you are located, Trevor can execute your project while keeping collaboration intact. Among his many career highlights Trevor has worked with editor Dede Allen (Breakfast Club, Dog Day Afternoon, Bonnie and Clyde). In addition to working on the membership committee with the Vancouver Post Alliance, Trevor also serves as the British Columbia chair for CCE (Canadian Cinema Editors).
A native of Toronto, Sabrina moved out to Vancouver to attend UBC’s film production program. After earning her BFA, she landed her first job in the industry working in Post Production back in 2006 and has since risen to become an established, award-winning Picture Editor within the film community.
When she’s not glued to her computer, she sidelines as a voice actor for cartoons as well!
Kerry McDowall has been involved in Vancouver’s post-production sector for almost 20 years, working closely with Netflix, Disney, CBC, AMC Studios and NBCUniversal. As an Associate Producer, she leads post production departments on both series television and feature length movies, overseeing everything from budgets to final deliveries (and everything that occurs in between).
She currently dedicates her time and energy at the VPA to uniting and promoting our talented post production community and advocating for equity and inclusion in the broader film industry.