Today marks the 11th edition of SIM’s Digital Technology Showcase in Toronto, one of two major production equipment technology showcases in Toronto this winter. Here, Playback catches up with SIM COO John DeBoer to get a preview of what’s in store, or if you can’t make it out, what you’re missing. 

On this year’s buzz-worth tech: The Dolby Atmos [sound-mixing technology] is the big one on the post side [which SIM subsidiary Tattersall now has for its mixing stage]. And on the camera side, it’s the new Varicam from Panasonic. It’s been out for over a year now, but it’s just starting to take off. Dolby Atmos is just more and bigger surround sound. The Varicam is the first camera that actually has two native ISOs, which means basically you can shoot at an 800 ASA, or you can shoot at a 5,000 ASA, which means you can almost shoot in the dark with it and it will still be a clean picture. We’re starting to see more and more shows look at it as an alternative technology.

On 4K: This year, one again, there [will be] more 4K – everyone is going 4K. It’s driven by broadcast, Amazon and Netflix  – they acquire all their stuff in 4K and are now broadcasting 4K. Rogers and Bell broadcast their first games in 4K just this past weekend. We’re just seeing more and more drive towards 4K.

On lighting: The LED lighting system from ARRI. It’s been a lot of LED lights over the past few years. They require less cabling, less power. The technology has changed so much over the past four years and matured that it’s getting to the point where its usable on set. For example, The Expanse used a lot of LED lights.

On workflow and the Canadian dollar: Toronto is going to be amazingly busy this year, as is Vancouver. Because we have a lot of U.S. operations as well, we’re constantly moving gear. If [equipment isn’t being used] down there, it comes up here, and we use it up here. We follow the business.