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www.postmagazine.com 5 POST MAR/APR 2024 BITS & PIECES VOYAGER OPENS NEW POST STUDIO LEAP YEAR BROOKLYN, NY — Production company Voyager (http://voyager.tv) recently announced the launch of a new venture — a post production company named Leap Year (www.leapyearpost.com). Co-founders Charles Frank and Andrew Hutcheson say the standalone studio has a curated roster of talent, and is avail- able for work with outside collaborators, including other production compa- nies, agencies and brands. "Leap Year's evolution from an internal post solution at Voyager to a broader, independent-studio offering was driven by our extensive experience and network in both production and post equally," explains Frank. "Recognizing its potential beyond our walls, what started as a conversation about enhancing our offerings in a more substantial way quickly transformed into a vision of col- laboration with other production companies, agencies and clients we admire, shaping a new era of creative partnership." Voyager was co-founded as a production house back in 2015, and has regu- larly shepherded their productions through post production in-house, complet- ing numerous film and commercial projects. The evolution into a standalone post production boutique was a natural progression. Voyager senior editor Austen Deery organically transitions to Leap Year's creative roster, and is accompanied by editors Nico Frank, Kauai and Jeff Watterson, who all come on-board for commercial representation. "Handing off projects after shooting felt like a disservice to the sto- rytelling essence our agencies and partners sought," notes Hutcheson. "Leap Year emerged as a natural extension of that, aiming to enhance part- nerships and support directors in crafting compelling narratives. For us, the process is as crucial as the outcome, and Leap Year is dedicated to amplifying that focus." The Leap Year team also includes managing director/EP Kira MacKnight, whose tenure at audio post studio One Thousand Birds included spearheading Super Bowl campaigns for Squarespace, Crown Royal, Bud Light and TurboTax. Additional credits include the Academy Award-nominated Traffic Stop, and the Emmy-winning Zion. "My passion lies in building frameworks and processes for teams to be able to grow, adapt and thrive," notes MacKnight. "Joining Leap Year at this pivotal moment and being able to do just that in support of providing the best pos- sible experience for our insanely-talented roster of editors and our clients is a dream come true." The studio's official launch took place on February 29th. Leap Year is based at Voyager's headquarters in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood, and offers realtime remote and in-person sessions via their new edit suite. COLORIST SOCIETY CHAPTER ESTABLISHED IN CANADA TORONTO — Colorist Society (CSI) has launched a new chapter in Canada (coloristsociety. com), which will be led by Abe Wynen, CSI, senior colorist at Redlab, Toronto, and Eric Whipp, CSI, co-founder and head of color at Alter Ego, Toronto. The chapter is open to col- orists across Canada working in film, television, advertising and other media. The group will plan networking, training and social events, both in-person and virtual, to support the devel- opment of a community of colorists in Canada, and promote the art and science of color. "We want to bring colorists in Canada under one roof and show them how much fun it is when we share ideas and experiences with our colleagues," says Wynen. "We want to encourage participation from both experienced colorists and those who are new to the pro- fession. It's about building a better culture and forming friendships." Wynen is relatively new to Canada, having relocated to Toronto in 2022 after six years at boutique color and finishing studio Crayon in Melbourne, Australia. His aim in co-found- ing CSI's Canada chapter derives from his experience as a member of the organization's Australia/New Zealand chapter. "The ANZ chapter was well organized and very successful in building a community of col- orists from cities across Australia and New Zealand," he explains. "It was a great way to meet and learn from other colorists, and to celebrate our craft." Whipp also moved from Australia to Toronto, where he co-founded Alter Ego. He became a colorist in the 1990s and collaborated with George Miller on his Oscar-winning film Happy Feet. He reunited with Miller for the ground-breaking film Mad Max: Fury Road. Recent cred- its include The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Last fall, Wynen and Whipp hosted a 'Colourist Catch-Up' as a precursor to the formal launch of the Canada chapter. Held at Danu Social House, it brought together Toronto's top colorists and other industry professionals for an evening of socializing. "It was so lovely to finally get the colorists in town in one room," Wynen says. "We are planning more events soon." Redlab's Abe Wynen Alter Ego's Eric Whipp