Post-production in film – what it is and why it matters

Post-production is a stage of filmmaking that involves a large number of skilled professionals. It’s possible that building trust between those professionals is more important at this stage than at any other. These are the very last steps, and they serve as the literal glue that binds your movie together. So, what exactly is post-production in film? Who does it involve? And, what do you need to consider before you begin? Let’s dive in.

 

Post-production basics

The process of post-production requires the participation of a large team of experts. This includes editors, sound engineers, foley artists, colourists, and others. Fear not, we’ll cover many of them in this article. However, if you’d like to take a deeper dive into post-production job roles, check out this excellent ScreenSkills resource!

There are some standard procedures to follow to achieve consistency across all visual mediums, including television, movies, and other visual formats. However, the post-production process will be different depending on the scale of the project. For example, the available funds or the medium in which you are working (television, film, or even video games) e.t.c. It’s an obvious fact, but one that’s still worth noting because it’s important!

Now that we are familiar with the meaning of Post-Production, let’s delve a little bit deeper into the workflow. 

 

The post-production process

When you finish shooting your film and the production ends, post-production begins! You will take part in at least a few of the stages regardless of whether your role is that of a director, producer, or editor. And post-production includes a good number of steps!

 

Prioritising the safety of your footage

Make sure that you have dependable storage as soon as you have finished shooting and before you do anything else! That is, a safe place to store all of the footage that you just spent a significant amount of time shooting. It could be anything, from a hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD), or even a RAID system (a combination of drives). 

 

RAID system

You have the option of installing RAID directly into your computer or by using an external device. Editors use RAID because it improves the performance and reliability of standard data storage. This is perfect when you have to work with a substantial amount of footage. Make sure that there is also safe and secure storage in place before you agree to hire an editor. Likewise for when you agree to work with an external company.

 

 

The 9 steps of post-production in film

 

Step One – Picture editing (post-production in film)

First up is perhaps the most important step of them all: the process of editing. Technically, this is the editing of the pictures.

Before you hire an editor, you should make sure you’re familiar with their previous body of work. The process of editing can now get underway. 

Your editor can begin working their magic as soon as they have finished reading the script and looking at the dailies (or rushes) of the footage shot on that particular day. They will probably create an Edit Decision List (EDL), and then cut the film in a way that they believe is going to be most beneficial to the narrative. 

This is a pretty big responsibility, so make sure that whoever you hire is familiar with the mood and atmosphere of the movie before production begins. However, don’t be afraid to let them use the skills that you hired them for! Finding the right balance between the two will be essential to creating an engaging visual narrative. Consider editing the video using software such as Adobe Premiere, Avid, or Final Cut Pro. 

Be warned, the compilation of footage is a time-consuming process that can take anywhere from a month and a half to a number of months. You should refer to the initial draught of the movie as a Rough Cut. You can call the version you will show in theatres an Answer Print. The director will “lock the picture” when they are satisfied with how the visuals turn out. Sound editors will then begin to work on the sound.

 

Step Two – Sound editing (post-production in film)

When you have finalised the picture, the next step is to edit the sound. Make sure to hire the best sound editor you can afford because it involves a significant amount of work! They are in charge of putting together the audio tracks for your movie, editing the dialogue tracks, getting rid of the background noise, and even adding sound effects to your movie to improve it. Who you hire will depend entirely on the specific sound requirements of that particular project. 

A foley artist’s duties frequently include the creation of sound effects. You will call in foley artists to re-create the sound if you determine that the pre-recorded sound from the set doesn’t sound very good!

For example, in a studio, they might watch the film and recreate the sound of footsteps by walking on tile floors or sometimes wearing certain types of shoes to capture certain sounds. This is done so that they can accurately recreate the sound of footsteps. They devise ingenious strategies to ensure that doors slam and bones are broken!

ADR stands for ‘automated dialogue replacement‘. This refers to the process in which actors return to the recording studio to re-record their lines over an existing scene. This is something that is handled by sound editors and sound engineers when the sound wasn’t captured properly on set. 

However, there are times when it is done for creative reasons. This works well for scenes that call for voiceovers or any other type of dialogue that takes place off-screen. And, of course, the majority of the ‘filming’ that goes into animated movies is done through ADR. 

Additionally, this is a crucial time for sound editors to collect cue sheets in preparation for sound mixing.

 

Step Three – Music production (post-production in film)

Instead of dealing with the headache of figuring out how to licence the music of other people, it is almost always preferable to collaborate with a film composer and create an original soundtrack for your movie. However, doing so can become quite pricey. 

A Music Supervisor, who you will also be hiring, is responsible for securing the recording and publishing rights. This aspect will, unfortunately, cost you both time and money. And you will also need to remember to renew your licences at some point in the future. Consider using a mixed-method approach by combining original music with pre-written (sourced) music.

Check out film and TV composer Nick Murray’s process for creating original content!

 

 

Step Four – Sound mixing (post-production in film)

Now that you have your music, sound effects, and re-recorded dialogue, it’s time to begin stacking each track on top of the others to create a more complex sound. You’re now ready for the mix! 

Sound mixers are responsible for adjusting all of the volume levels, removing anything that is overly distracting, and making sure that everything sounds appropriately balanced.

 

Step Five – VFX (post-production in film)

A Visual Effects Supervisor is in charge of managing a team of artists and other engineers who use computer-generated imagery (CGI). You can use CGI to create visuals that are impossible to capture on set. VFX is an abbreviation for ‘visual effects.’ 

For example, the dragons that appear in ‘Game of Thrones’ are impossible to exist in the real world… However, the majority of independent filmmaking projects will not call for the use of these effects. 

Typically, the scale of visual effects used is much more modest than that of dragons soaring through the air. For example, they may consist of a straightforward explosion that would be prohibitively expensive or risky to carry out during production.

After the picture has been ‘locked’, the work of the VFX artists can begin. This is due to the fact that they work frame by frame, which means that if they need to add extra frames or if a shot needs to be switched, they have to go back in and begin the process all over again! Before the visual effects team can begin their work, the editor needs to finish all of the dissolves and anything else that needs to be done.

 

Step Six – Colour grading / colour correction (post-production in film)

It is possible to perform colour correction and colour grading prior to the VFX process; however, this is not always the case. The answer to this question is going to be determined by the requirements of each department. There are times when a visual effects artist handles the colouring. 

A colourist is allowed to go in and make digital changes to the shots even after the picture has been locked. They lighten the frames and adjust the hues so that there is continuity and the tone of the scene is reflected.

 

Step Seven – Motion Graphics (post-production in film)

The next thing that the editors do is create title cards, credits, and any other graphics that might be required (date stamps, for example). Then they add them in. 

The opening credits are a very significant part! First impressions are extremely important. They also provide a unique opportunity to convey the tenor and atmosphere of the work being created. Put your best foot forward and invest some creative energy to capture the attention of your audience from the outset! 

Although they don’t require nearly as much originality, end credits still benefit from having some. That said, the two most important things for you to focus on in this situation are being accurate and professional. There are both explicit and implicit rules to govern the way you present end credits. 

Now, you have nearly finished. However, there are a few more steps that you need to consider. These are particularly pertinent if there are distribution plans in the works.

 

Step Eight – Distribution prep (post-production in film)

Even though the post-production phase might be winding down, you still need to be concerned about the distribution of the finished product.

Firstly, you will need to ensure that you have a track labelled M&E (which stands for ‘Music and Effects’). If you want to market your movie on a global scale, you’ll need to provide a soundtrack that does not include the original dialogue in English so that it can be dubbed into another language.

Creating a Dialogue Script

To reiterate, if you intend to sell to buyers in other countries, you will need to draught a script that includes the precise time code for each word that is spoken. Therefore, the person responsible for dubbing the dialogue or writing the subtitles will know exactly where to place it on the screen.

Creating a Digital Cinema Package (DCP)

If you intend to send your film out, you must first ensure that it is stored on a secure drive. Make sure that the encoded final copy of your movie is included in the Digital Cinema Package you put together in order to get it into theatres.

 

Step Nine – Advertising (post-production in film)

Remember, it’s important to make a good first impression. In addition, the advertising of your project must capture people’s attention right away. People are much more selective in what they choose to watch, particularly when taking into consideration the abundance of content that is currently available.

Creating a Campaign Image/Poster

Make sure that the image, credits, and tagline on your poster capture exactly what your film is about in a way that is clear and engaging. This image might be the first thing that the public sees (including potential distributors or programmers). Make sure that you give it your best shot. 

Let’s listen in as a professional movie poster artist and creative director James Verdesoto discusses poster colour themes in film!

 

 

Creating a Trailer

Consider creating a trailer that is between one and two minutes long. However, in today’s world, there are people whose job it is to edit trailers. If you have room in the budget for it, you should let them take over the responsibility. They do not have the same emotional investment or level of immersion in the movie, and they are approaching it from a new perspective. They have a wealth of experience in isolating the most interesting and important parts of the movie to highlight for the audience.

   

The takeaway 

When it comes to the Post-Production process, one of the most important requirements is having faith in other people to successfully complete their tasks! The post-production process is highly collaborative and includes participation from a wide variety of individuals. If at all possible, you should look for hires who have established track records. Once you begin post-production, the quality of the final product will directly correlate to the amount of latitude each individual has to concentrate on the aspects of their craft in which they excel. 

It’s possible that not all of these steps will be necessary for your project. You can rearrange some of the steps to better fit your schedule, finances, or other requirements. If you have an understanding of these fundamentals, you should be able to handle the time and energy required for this stage of the filmmaking process. Enjoy!