Kim Aubry
Biography
Kim Aubry is an American post-production executive, producer, filmmaker, and technology specialist best known for his long association with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and the production company American Zoetrope. Recognized for his expertise in film restoration, digital post-production, and home media production, Aubry has played an important role in preserving and presenting some of the most celebrated films in cinema history. He is the founder and owner of ZAP Zoetrope Aubry Productions, a San Francisco-based post-production company.
Early Life and Education
Details about Kim Aubry's birth date and early personal life have not been widely published. Before entering the feature film industry, he worked in radio broadcasting and audio production. He studied communications and developed extensive experience in journalism, sound engineering, and broadcast technology, building a strong technical foundation that later supported his career in film post-production.
Career
Kim Aubry began his professional career in radio as a journalist, sound engineer, and production trainer. He also worked as a documentary film sound mixer and helped design broadcast studios for several public and community radio stations in the United States. His background in audio engineering and communications made him an early advocate of emerging digital production technologies.
In 1986, Aubry first worked with Francis Ford Coppola during the post-production of Gardens of Stone. The collaboration led to a long professional relationship, and in 1989 Coppola appointed him Vice President of Technology and Post Production at American Zoetrope. Over the next 19 years, Aubry supervised the post-production of numerous Coppola films while helping introduce new digital workflows and editing technologies into the filmmaking process.
Among the major productions he worked on are:
- The Godfather Part III (1990)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)
- The Godfather Restoration project
- Numerous documentary features and special editions created for home video releases.
In 1999, Aubry established the Zoetrope DVD Lab, overseeing the creation of critically acclaimed DVD releases featuring restored picture quality, enhanced sound, and extensive bonus features. His work helped set new standards for high-quality home video presentations.
ZAP Zoetrope Aubry Productions
In 2005, after American Zoetrope scaled back its post-production operations, Aubry founded ZAP Zoetrope Aubry Productions (ZAP) in San Francisco. The company specializes in:
- Digital film restoration
- Color grading
- Picture finishing
- Audio post-production
- Documentary production
- Blu-ray and DVD authoring
- Post-production services for independent filmmakers
Under Aubry's leadership, ZAP has completed restoration and finishing work for classic films as well as contemporary documentaries and independent productions.
Contributions to Film Technology
Throughout his career, Aubry has been recognized for his contributions to post-production technology. He has collaborated with developers of non-linear editing systems, supervised the design of advanced post-production facilities, and delivered lectures on digital filmmaking and film restoration at international conferences. His work helped bridge traditional filmmaking techniques with modern digital production methods.
Selected Film Credits
Producer
- Apocalypse Now (restoration and later editions)
- Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)
- The Legend of Suriyothai (2001)
Post-Production and Technology
- Gardens of Stone (1987)
- The Godfather Part III (1990)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- The Godfather Restoration
- The Outsiders – The Complete Novel
- Numerous documentary and restoration projects.
