What is Post Production? Post-Production process in Films and Video

film post production1

You may have heard the term “post-production” in a number of different industries. It can relate to music and still images, but what does post-production mean? What is post-production in film, and what happens in post-production stages of creating a movie?

In this guide, we’re exploring more of the steps involved in post-production, why it is so crucial, and how to ensure that the film post-production process you make is quality and that your final product is exactly as desired.

What is Post Production?

Let’s start with the basics. What is post-production in the filmmaking process?

The steps that occur after the film has been shot come under the bracket of post-production. Once the cameras have finished rolling, there is still a lot of work to do to make a film that actually looks good.

When you watch a movie or any kind of film, whether it is a 30-second advert or a three-hour-long movie spectacular, it has usually been through a rigorous post-production process.

The idea is that actually, we shouldn’t really notice anything in the post-production process as a viewer. It should neaten everything to the stage where the movie flows as we’d expect it to, and make it easy (and satisfying) to watch.

When you work with a production house with a modern set of skills and a thorough approach to making your movie a reality, such as Insight Studios based in Riyadh, you will find that every step of the process can be catered for, and planned with meticulous detail. We handle the full production process and have worked in collaboration with the governmental sector, private sector, and prestigious agencies, to create commercials and other types of film content.

Post-Production Workflow:

There are generally agreed to be three to five different steps to post production. Some of them may be happening simultaneously and the post production workflow can vary between different companies.

Editing

The movie will have either an editor or a whole editing department. There is a saying that films are made in the editing room. While you have to have the ideal source material to start with, the editing is undeniably crucial.

It involves working out which shots or shot list to use, their length, and how the film will be cut together. A rough cut edit may be created first before becoming even more refined and detailed, linking with other post-production steps.

Visual Effects

This may be considered a part of the editing process, but there may be a whole other team working on the VFX aspects of post-production.

In certain types of production, VFX and CGI are what really bring it to life, so this means it can be an utterly crucial part of the process. In others, there may be no visual effects used whatsoever.

Sound

Sound editing is a huge part of any production. It can be hard to find a company that has sound design perfected and can help with all of the different aspects of creating an exceptional-sounding video.

A lot of audio tracks are lost in the recording process, so the art of Foley is often used to insert realistic sounds back into films.

Sound design and music production will also play a big part in most films, and then there is the process of mixing it all together. You can see why huge movie productions have a whole team of people working on the sound mix.

Color Grading

This is one of the post-production editing steps that help to tie a movie together and give it a feel of continuity. Color grading is about helping to bring the visuals to life and colorists take it upon themselves to create a stunning look to the final product.

Color grading or color correction is partially about perfecting the look of a film, and partially about matching the exact need of a client, for instance, our team at Insight Studios will help to color grade a video to suit the exact mood of the movie.

Editing Softwares used during the Film Post-Production Phase:

post production softwares

During the post-production phase of film and video production, many different software programs are commonly used for editing. Among the most popular choices are:
  • Adobe Premiere Pro: is a popular professional video editing software in the film and television industries. It includes a wide range of video editing features and tools, such as support for multiple video and audio tracks, advanced color grading, and integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  • Final Cut Pro: This is Apple’s professional video editing software. It is popular among Mac users and provides a variety of video editing features and tools, such as support for multiple video and audio tracks, advanced color grading, and integration with other Apple products.
  • Avid Media Composer: it’s another popular professional video editing software in the film and television industries. It includes a variety of video editing features and tools, such as support for multiple video and audio tracks, advanced color grading, and integration with other Avid products.
  • DaVinci Resolve: it’s a professional video editing software with advanced color grading capabilities. It is widely used in the film and television industries and provides a variety of video editing features and tools, such as support for multiple video and audio tracks and integration with other DaVinci products.
These are just a few of the numerous software programs used for editing during the post-production phase of film and video production.

The Differences Between Post-Production And Pre-Production:

Pre-production is the stage of the film and video production process that occurs prior to the start of actual filming or video production. It entails a number of tasks aimed at preparing the production for a smooth and successful shoot. Some of the key tasks that are typically completed during the pre-production stage are as follows:
  • Writing and refining the script: This entails developing the story and creating a detailed script that outlines the characters’ actions and dialogue.
  • Scouting and securing locations: This entails locating and securing the filming locations. This may include locating and securing exterior shooting locations as well as locating and setting up interior shooting locations.
  • Casting: actors entail identifying and casting actors for the various roles in the film or video.
  • Bringing together and organizing the various members of the production crew, including the director, cinematographer, production designer, and other key personnel, is what this step entails.
Post-production is the stage of the film and video production process that follows the completion of filming or video production. It entails a number of tasks that are intended to refine and complete the final product. Some of the key tasks that are typically completed during the post-production stage are as follows:
  • Editing and refining the footage entails going through the raw footage and choosing the best takes, as well as trimming and splicing the footage to create the final cut of the film or video.
  • Adding special effects: This may entail adding computer-generated effects to the footage, such as explosions or other visual effects.
  • Creating and incorporating graphics: This could include creating and incorporating titles, captions, and other graphics into the footage.
  • Adding sound effects and music: This involves adding sound effects and music to the footage to make the viewing experience more immersive and engaging.
In summary, pre-production is focused on the planning and preparation for the production, while post-production is focused on the refinement and finishing of the final product.

Summary

Post-production is part of a long chain of things that need to go right in order for your film to be a success. From the early days of pre-production checklist through to the completion of post-production can be a long process, depending on the type of movie you are making.

Working with a reliable company in the land of beauty, Saudi Arabia, with the benefit of ultra-modern filming and editing facilities and quality production studios, can help you to ensure each step of the movie goes perfectly to plan, and that the end result is polished.

 

Ready to move your project forward? Reach out to us today.