What is Post-Production?

Post-Production is the stage after production when the

filming is wrapped and the editing of the visual and
audio materials begins.
Post-Production refers to all of the tasks associated with
cutting raw footage, assembling that footage, adding
music, dubbing, sound effects, just to name a few.
The Post-Production process is highly collaborative,
across a few months to even a year, depending on the
size and need of the project.

Film Post-Production workflow:

 Have reliable storage

 Picture editing
 Sound editing — ADR and Foley
 Secure music
 Sound mixing
 Visual effects
 Color correction 
 Titles, credits, and graphics
 Gather distribution materials
 Make a trailer

POST-PRODUCTION WORKFLOW
Post-Production process explained

Once the film is shot and production is wrapped, you can finally go to
bed! Just kidding. It’s Post-Production time. Whether you’re a
director, producer, or editor, you’ll be involved in at least a few stages
of this process. And there are quite a few stages. Let’s get into it. 
Is Your Footage Secure?

Once you’re done shooting, before you do anything, and I

mean anything, make sure you have reliable storage — a secure place
to house all the footage you just spent hours shooting.

It can be anything from a basic hard drive to spinning hard drives, or

even RAIDs (a combination of hard drives). 

RAID can be installed in your computer or it can be external. It’s

usually used by editors handling a lot of footage because it increases
the performance and reliability of standard data storage.

Before you accept a job, or before you hire an editor, make sure safe
and secure storage is in place.
STAGE ONE IN POST-PRODUCTION
It begins with picture editing
Which brings us to the next most important point of them all — the
editing process, more specifically, picture editing (we’ll get to sound
editing soon).

Your cinematographer might have some suggestions, but make sure

before you hire an editor, you’re already familiar with their work. 

Now the editing process can begin.

After your editor reads the script and look at the dailies (or rushes)
from the footage shot that day, they can start working their magic.
They’ll likely make an Edit Decision List (EDL), cutting the film how
they believe is most advantageous to the story.

This is a pretty big responsibility, so make sure whoever you hire

understands the tone and feel of the film ahead of time, but don’t be
afraid to let them use the skills you hired them for — striking that
balance will be key to telling a great visual story. Editing software
like Adobe Premiere, Avid, and Final Cut Pro, are recommended. 

Assembling footage takes time — it could take anywhere from a

month and a half to several months. The first draft of the film is called
a Rough Cut, and the final version will be called the Answer Print.
When the director is happy with the visuals, they’ll “lock the picture,”
and the sound editing can begin.
STAGE TWO IN POST-PRODUCTION
Next up: creating sound

Once the picture is locked, it’s time for sound editing. Hire the best
sound editors because a ton of work is involved. They’re responsible
for assembling the audio tracks of your film, cutting dialogue tracks,
removing unwanted noise, and even enhancing your movie with
sound effects. The specific sound needs for that particular project will
dictate who to hire.

Sound effects are often the job of a foley artist. When the pre-
recorded sound from set doesn’t well, sound so good, foley artists
come in and recreate the sound. 
They watch the movie in a studio and it’s most common for them to
recreate the sound of footsteps by walking on tile floors or sometimes
wearing certain types of shoes to get certain sounds. They come up
with clever ways to make doors slam, and bones break. 

When actors come back into the studio and re-record dialogue over
the scene, it’s called ADR, or Automated Dialog Replacement. Sound
engineers and sound editors do this when the sound wasn’t captured
well enough on set.

But sometimes it is done for creative purposes. This is also good for
scenes that require voiceovers or any other dialogue off-screen. And
in animated films, of course, ADR takes up most of the “filming.”

This is also a critical time for sound editors to gather cue sheets to get
ready for sound mixing a little later on. 
STAGE THREE IN POST-PRODUCTION
Scoring or securing music

It’s always best to work with a composer and have an original

soundtrack for your film rather than the headache of figuring out
licensing other people’s music.

Of course, it is entirely possible to get the songs you want, but it does
get expensive, and the Music Supervisor (who you’ll also be hiring)
takes care of securing the recording and publishing rights.

It costs time and money, and don’t forget about renewing those
licenses down the line. Some filmmakers try different approaches.

Greta Gerwig received an Oscar nomination for both her writing and
directing of Lady Bird. Listen to her talk about securing the music
below.
Sometimes you just have to ask nicely

But of course, this isn’t always possible. So, if you can, hire a
musician to create an original score and save yourself a headache. 
STAGE FOUR IN POST-PRODUCTION
Sound mixing

So, now that you have your music, sound effects, and re-recorded
dialogue, it’s time to start layering each track on top of each other. It’s
time for the Mix.

Sound mixers will adjust all of the volume levels, eliminate anything
too distracting, basically making sure everything sounds just right. 
STAGE FIVE IN POST-PRODUCTION
Adding VFX

Visual Effects or VFX is spearheaded by a VFX Supervisor managing

a team of artists and other engineers using computer-generated
imagery, or CGI, to create visuals impossible to capture on set. 

For instance, the dragons in Game of Thrones...definitely, and

unfortunately (or fortunately?), not possible in real life. But of course,
many projects will not require these effects. 

And some visual effects are considerably smaller than dragons flying
through the air, and may mean a simple explosion, otherwise too
expensive or dangerous to execute during production. Tim Burton’s
re-imagined, Dumbo was a more recent film that relied on visual
effects.
VFX brings Dumbo to life

VFX artists start working once the picture is locked. This is because
they work frame by frame, so it causes a real headache if they have to
add extra frames, or if a shot is swapped, have to go back in and start
all over.  So, the editor must have all of the dissolves and everything
else complete, before VFX can really start.
STAGE SIX IN POST-PRODUCTION
Working with color
Color correction and color grading can actually be done before VFX,
but sometimes it’s done after. It really depends on what’s needed
from each department. Sometimes a VFX artist does the coloring.

As long as the picture is locked, a colorist can go in and digitally alter

the shots. They lighten frames to and adjust hues for continuity as
well as to reflect the scene’s tone.  
STAGE SEVEN IN POST-PRODUCTION
Generating titles, credits, graphics

Next up, editors create title cards, credits, and any graphics necessary
(date stamps, etc.), and add them in.  

Opening credits are super important! Of course, first impressions are

everything but they are also a chance to capture the tone and mood of
the project. Put your best foot forward and invest some creative
energy to grab your audience from the very beginning.
Film Riot talks us through end credits

End credits don't require nearly as much creativity (but it wouldn't

hurt). That being said, what you'll need to pay attention to here is
accuracy and professionalism. There are spoken and unspoken rules
about how end credits work, as you'll see here with Ryan from Film
Riot.
Film Riot talks us through end credits

You’re almost done. The project is nearly complete but there are a
few more steps to consider, especially if there are distribution plans in
play. 
STAGE EIGHT IN POST-PRODUCTION
Prepping for distribution

Even though the Post-Production process may be coming to a close,

you still need to worry about distribution.
First, you'll need to make sure you have an M&E ("Music and
Effects") track. If you’re trying to sell your film internationally, you’ll
need to provide a sound track without English dialogue so dubbing in
a different language is possible. 
Dialogue Script

Again, if you are selling it to international buyers, you’ll need to

create a script with the exact time code for every word spoken. This
way the dubbing artist or person writing out the subtitles knows where
to put your dialogue on screen. 
Digital Cinema Package (DCP)

If you want to send your film out, make sure your film is on a hard
drive, ready to be delivered. Create a Digital Cinema Package that has
the final copy of your movie encoded so it can be distributed to
theaters.
STAGE NINE IN POST-PRODUCTION
Advertising your film

As we said before, first impressions are everything. And the

advertising of your project needs to hook people immediately.
Especially considering how much content is out in the world at the
moment, people are much more selective with what they watch.
Campaign Image/Poster

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

Let's let a professional poster designer talk us through contemporary

trends and some of the design considerations when approaching your
project's primary advertising image.
Trailer

Make a one-to-two minute trailer. Though, nowadays, there are

actually Trailer Editors. If you have it in the budget, let them take it
over. They’re not as attached or immersed in the film, and they're
coming in with fresh eyes. They have plenty of experience in pulling
out the most exciting and noteworthy bits from the film. 
FINAL THOUGHTS
That's a wrap on Post-Production

Again, trusting others to do their jobs well is a major requirement of

the Post-Production process. Post workflow is highly collaborative
and involves many different people. Find hires with proven track
records if possible. And once post begins, the more freedom they each
have to do what they do best, the better the film will come out. 

Your project may not require every one of these steps. And some
steps may be moved around depending on your time, budget, or other
needs.  This stage in filmmaking takes time, and may be exhausting,
but if you understand these basics, it’s manageable. And might I say
has way less surprises than production.