WHAT DO POST PRODUCTION COMPANIES DO? (In the Entertainment industry.)

WHAT DO POST PRODUCTION COMPANIES DO? (In the Entertainment industry.)

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WHAT DO POST PRODUCTION COMPANIES DO?

Post-production is the third and final step in film creation. It follows the pre-production and production phases. It is part of the process of filmmaking, video production, and photography. Post-production includes all stages of production occurring after shooting or recording individual program segments.

Traditional (analogue) post-production has mostly been replaced by video editing software that operates on a non-linear editing system (NLE).

Post-production companies are endlessly evolving to fit the needs of their clients. Gone are the days of dark airless rooms with hard drives the size of breeze blocks heating up the cramped space like a sauna. Current post facilities are often spacious and comfortable, letting in natural light where possible and providing sofas, refreshments and a team of running staff to cater to clients’ needs. Post facilities can vary in their remit; small companies who focus on one area of the post process (offline editing, post-sound, online and grading) all the way to larger companies who facilitate the whole package, expanding over the past few years to incorporate VFX into their operations. Every business will be adept at dealing with a range of requirements from production, with an in-house production team taking responsibility for the workflow and care of clients.

Members of the post-production team (including post producers, editors, sound designers, colorist and the VFX supervisor) are engaged to some extent in pre-production. The budget, schedule, crew, edit suite, dubbing theatres and equipment have already been booked and agreed on before the camera starts to roll, if editorial is working in tandem to the shoot, they will have been involved in pre-production meetings. Post-production supervisors work in close collaboration with the film's producers, production/line manager and VFX supervisor if that is a component, they take the reins from the production office a few weeks after wrap.

Despite the change in recent years concerning digital formats, the basic elements remain the same when looking at the post-production schedule. If shooting on film, the rushes are taken to the lab where they are processed and put through the telecine, when digitized and graded a copy is sent back to the production for the director and DoP to watch the dailies (the day’s rushes). In some instances stills are processed from the rushes and forwarded to the DoP and director, the digital files are sent via fibre optic link to the edit suite.

If shooting in a digital format, the files will be transcoded (files are formatted to a less intensive resolution enabling the edit suite to cope with the vast amount of data) and handed over to the assistant editor(s) who bring the footage into the editing software. The metadata, which is the shot/take number, size of the shot, will be checked. Production sound is synced, script supervisors’ notes recorded using software such as Continuity. Assistant editors need to be precise and methodical when working with the amount of data generated from a feature film, the file systems and rigorous backing up requires close attention to detail.  

Once the editor has the footage they produce the first assembly, or rough cut, of the film. This may include guide tracks or music to assist in the flow and rhythm of the edit. The editor makes notes of any missing shots or extra footage needed to support the structure of the edit. If the edit is running in tandem with production this information can be acted upon relatively quickly. Replicating a scene the day after it was shot is significantly easier than going back two months later. On completion of the director’s cut, a process called spotting and timing takes place. Areas of the film are ‘spotted’ for music, notes on when the music comes in and out are applied and used to collate the ‘cue list’. The list is forwarded to the film’s composer, and once the film is locked the Sound Department become involved.

Sound editors work through the film methodically, making notes on any lines that need re-recording. They can take dialogue from another take which has cleaner sound or add words to make a line clearer. Any lines that are unsalvageable need to be re-recorded in the ADR (audio dialogue replacement). ADR is a process that involves the actor repeating their dialogue in a controlled environment, matching their speech pattern to the picture using specialized software such as Voice Q or Sound master ION.

Sound editors can then sync up the foley, ADR and sound effects to the picture, also known as the audio conform to picture, creating tracks to be used in the pre-dub. As the original score is laid down by the composer, the sound mixer will start work on the pre-dubs. The mixer will be responsible for evening out the dynamic range, making sure there is a consistent quality of sound for theatrical and home entertainment release. By combining the tracks, it brings them tonally closer together, making it easier for the final mix of three tracks: dialogue, music and effects which accompany the finished film. At the end of the process, the film is taken to the colorist who will work with the DoP and director to fully grade the film (having rectified any major problems earlier on in the process).   

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, How Stuff Works, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Bright Hub, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Liberty Me, Careers Hub, Sokanu, Raindance, Film Connection, My Job Search, Prospects, David Mullich, Video University,

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Post Production / Photo Credit: India Mart