The Refinery has officially expanded into Joburg with a brand-new Bryanston studio bringing top-tier colour grading, VFX, online and final mix together under one roof and yes, it’s properly kitted out. Fully connected to their Cape Town mothership, The Refinery Joburg is geared to deliver high-end finishing across commercials, branded content, long-form and music videos. Whether you’re polishing a 30-second TVC or putting the final touches on your next Netflix contender, they’ve got the gear and the people to make it happen.

Johannesburg-born colourist Liam Traynor is leading colour at the new studio. After honing his craft in London and working with directors and DOPs across the UK, Europe and LA, he’s brought that experience home. Welcome home, Liam.

Liam’s worked with some pretty impressive names along the way, including directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah of ‘Bad Boys for Life’ fame and DOPs like Robrecht Heyvaert and James Richard Parsons. One of his recent highlights is grading Will Smith’s latest music video ‘Beautiful Scars’, done remotely between Joburg and LA. His reel also includes campaigns for brands like Williams F1, Qatar Exec, Corona, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Booking.com.

Will Smith & Big Sean ‘Beautiful Scars’ feat. OBanga (Official Video)

Back home, Liam’s already been busy grading work for agencies like Odd Number, Ogilvy and Jumpship, with brands including Jungle Oats, Gordon’s Gin, Castle Lite, Tropica and Xiaomi on the roster. He’s also brought his touch to several Netflix originals like Mabaso Family Reunion, Nkabi Lite and Piano Love, all of which made the platform’s Top 10.

With Johannesburg often forced to rely on a handful of colourists in Cape Town, The Refinery’s Bryanston studio offers world-class options right here in Gauteng.

“Right now, every Joburg production is fighting for the same few colourists in Cape Town,” says Alastair Orr, CEO of The Refinery. “That means delays, bottlenecks, and added costs. By bringing someone like Liam onboard, backed by a world-class facility, we’re giving Gauteng agencies and brands a serious alternative. They can now finish at the highest level at a calibrated cinema within the city”

One of the things Liam is best known for is getting skin tone right, especially on darker skin, a skill he’s refined over years of working with diverse casts and complex lighting setups. “For me, it’s about making the image feel rich and alive without overworking it,” says Liam. “I’ve graded everything from high-speed car ads to intimate documentaries, but the goal is always the same. Find the emotion in the frame and pull it out.”

“For me, it’s about making the image look rich and alive without feeling overworked,” says Liam. “I’ve graded everything from high-speed automotive spots to intimate documentaries, but the goal is always the same – finding the emotion in the frame and pulling it out.”

The Refinery’s Bryanston studio isn’t just about colour. The facility also integrates VFX, online and final mix, fully connected to their Cape Town pipeline. That means agencies and brands can handle everything from grade, visual effects to online and sound, all in one streamlined workflow. 

“We’ve built this studio to make high-end post-production in Joburg frictionless,” adds Alastair. “One facility. One team. No compromises. Whether it’s a 30-second spot or a long-form campaign, we can deliver it all under one roof.”

With Liam heading up colour and a facility purpose-built for high-end finishing, The Refinery Bryanston is positioning itself as Joburg’s new go-to post hub for agencies, production companies and brands who want top-tier work without leaving Gauteng.

Need colour, VFX, online or final mix in Joburg? The Refinery’s got you covered. And so does Liam.