Post-Production in Film & Video Editing: Best Practices

This article explores the best practices for post-production in the film and editing pipeline.

The post-production process incorporates many skills, from picture editing and visual effects to working with composers and sound editors.

Find out everything you need to know about the entire post-production process for amateur videographers and professional filmmakers.

What Is Post-Production in Film and Video?

Post-production in film and video is the phase of development in which a project’s raw footage is assembled through editing, sound design, and visual effects.

The post-production phase can vary depending on the nature of the project, with amateur videographers using a simplified process compared to professional movie shoots.

While the level of complexity and specialization differs between amateur and professional productions, many of the core processes and principles are the same.

This includes adding sound effects and music to the edited footage and bringing everything together in a cohesive story.

Why Is Filmmaking Post Production Important?

Film production requires managing various assets and processes, so a project is liable to flounder without good management.

The post-production process is vital for combining all of the project’s assets and creating a finished product ready for distribution.

Film editors, sound designers, and special effects technicians all work on the post-production process to bring the director’s vision to life.

This highly collaborative and coordinated approach ensures the project’s unified look and feel, aided by a clear editing process workflow.

By organizing the process through a post-production checklist, filmmakers and producers can complete projects within their schedule and budget.

What’s the Difference Between Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production in Filmmaking?

There are three key stages in filmmaking: pre-production, production, and post-production, each with its own set of processes.

The script is written during pre-production, and storyboards and shot sequences are drafted to help guide the production.

Once the pre-production phase is completed, a film enters production, during which the scenes are all filmed on sets and locations.

Finally, post-production processes such as editing footage and sound effects and including computer-generated imagery are added.

6 Examples of Post-Production in the Filmmaking Process

Before we explore the post-production process in the context of amateur videography and professional movie-making, let’s explore the core elements involved.

Data Management

Data management involves organizing, storing, and backing up all video and audio files to ensure easy access and security.

This step is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the footage and preventing data loss, as well as maintaining consistency with file formats and frame rates.

Film Editing

Film editing is the process of selecting, trimming, and assembling video clips into a coherent sequence according to the project’s script and storyboards.

Editors work on pacing, continuity, and narrative flow to create the video’s final cut, working closely with the director throughout the process.

Sound Design and Music

Sound design and music composition entails creating, acquiring, and integrating sound effects, ambient sounds, dialogue, and music to enhance the video’s audio landscape.

Good sound design adds depth and emotion, heightening emotions and a sense of immersion, improving the overall viewer experience.

Graphics and VFX

Graphic and visual effects design involves creating and integrating visual effects, animations, and graphical elements into the final video.

This can range from simple text overlays to complex CGI effects, adding visual appeal and clarity to the content or full-blown CGI imagery.

Color Grading

Color grading is the process of adjusting the video’s colors to achieve a specific and consistent look or mood that matches the tone of the narrative.

This includes correcting color imbalances and stylizing the footage to match the project’s aesthetic and emotional tone.

Basic Video Post-Production Process (for Beginner Video Editors)

Beginner video editors often face tackling all aspects of post-production themselves, from post-production sound to visual effects and sound mixing.

Fortunately, there are plenty of impressive video editing software options to help manage the post-production filmmaking process on a budget.

Assembling Shots

For beginner editors, the first step of post-production is assembling the shots into the correct sequences and scenes, which involves trimming shots and adding transitions.

This can be accomplished with free or affordable software, which allows for selecting or discarding takes and creating a final cut ready for the next stage.

Adding Special Effects

While many amateur projects won’t include special effects, free platforms such as Blender combined with programs such as After Effects make this a viable option.

Smaller projects, such as content creation for YouTube, will also involve adding motion graphics and other visual effects to enhance the production.

Color Correction and Grading

Color correction and grading cover a range of processes, from altering exposure and contrast to regrading raw footage based on a predetermined style guide.

While this step is sometimes omitted from post-production in amateur filmmaking, affordable resources exist to help refine a project’s visual style.

Some consumer cameras include picture profiles that can work together with look-up tables to ensure a consistent aesthetic between shots.

Sound Effects and Music

Once the film project has been cut and visual elements added, it’s time to add sound effects and a music soundtrack to the project.

There are many free tools for creating effects and music, as well as resources for royalty-free music and affordable sound libraries.

You don’t need a professional orchestra or studio to be able to create your own sound effects and music for amateur projects, with free tools and affordable gear to choose from.

Professional Filmmaking Post-Production Workflow (for Advanced Video Editors)

DaVinci Resolve is one of the fastest-growing post-production editor platforms for professional video editors and color graders.

Experienced professional filmmakers undertake a more complex set of tasks, and post-production is a more collaborative process than for hobbyists.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the post-production editing process as performed by professional filmmakers and their crew.

Step 1. Data Storage and Management

Major film projects have large volumes of raw footage to store and process using management systems such as RAID hard drive networks and LTO backup services.

Interpreting the footage requires analyzing the format of all the video and audio clips to ensure they’re consistent within the editing software.

This includes checking that all independently recorded audio is correctly synced to the video footage, such as dialogue recorded on set.

Step 2. Editing the Footage

Once the video and audio elements have been sorted, it’s time to begin working on the video editing, sequencing, and refining shots for each scene.

Professional film editors will work closely with the director when cutting the raw footage, referencing the script and storyboards throughout the process.

Typically, this begins with a rough cut, from which additional edits are made over weeks or months until the final cut, known as the Answer Print, is ready.

Step 3. Sound Editing and Foley

Foley artists use a variety of hardware to create an impressive soundscape of effects.

With the film’s footage assembled in place, the next phase of post-production is creating and editing sound effects and editing the dialogue.

In post-production, additional dialogue is sometimes recorded as ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), where actors re-record lines to improve audio quality or adjust dialogue.

Foley artists, on the other hand, are the ones responsible for recording new sound effects by recreating everyday sounds. Think of things like footsteps, rustling clothes, or clinking objects.

Step 4. Music Scoring and Sound Mixing

Professional recording studios are used on major movie projects for mixing sound effects and music together.

Once the images are assembled in order, the project’s composer is then able to finalize the film’s score and ensure it matches the tone and pace of the film.

Some filmmakers will use a temp track during the editing process to help with the rhythm and pacing and may opt to pay for licensed music rather than an original soundtrack.

Once the score is finished, sound engineers will mix together the music and effects track across all the footage.

Step 5. Introducing VFX

The next step in post-production is to introduce any visual effects the project requires, such as motion graphics or CGI.

These can range from a small touch-up to remove unwanted elements from shots to complex effects for monsters and spaceships.

On larger movie projects, entire teams of VFX artists are assigned to various shots, and the VFX Supervisor coordinates their workflow.

Step 6. Color Correction and Grading

DaVinci Resolve’s free version is a popular color grading platform that is built on professional technology.

Most major film and television projects employ a dedicated staff member who is responsible for color correction and grading.

Working closely with the director and cinematographer, they often create look-up tables (LUTs) that define the color scheme and style.

Step 6. Titles and Credits

Once the film has been fully edited with all effects and audio tracks locked, it’s time to apply titles and credits to the final version.

This can include the film’s opening and closing credits, as well as any graphics, such as date stamps and chyrons, that appear on screen.

Step 7. Preparing Marketing and Distribution Assets

The final stage of professional post-production is the creation of marketing assets and a Digital Cinema Package for distributors.

This stage involves creating promotional elements such as trailers and assets for use in posters and other advertising campaigns.

Key Roles Involved In Video Post-Production

A post-production team involves various roles, each responsible for different processes for combining audio and visual effects in a finished product.

Here are some of the key intersecting roles a production company will use in its film and television projects.

Director/Producer

The director and producer are respectively responsible for the artistic objectives and budgeting of the project to achieve this vision. Many directors also serve as producers on their projects.

Film Editor

Responsible for the project’s picture editing, a film editor works with the raw footage to create the sequences and scenes that make up a movie.

Sound Designer/Editor

Sound editors and sound mixers collaborate on the overall sound editing to introduce effects and other pre-recorded sound to the footage.

VFX Artist

Visual effects artists are responsible for any post-production special effects, removing unwanted in-camera elements while adding new visual elements such as CGI, credits, and graphics.

Music Composer/Supervisor

While sound designers create sound effects, a composer is used for the movie’s soundtrack, working with a music supervisor on its arrangement and placement.

Cinematographer/Film Colorist

Cinematographers and film colorists work closely in pre-production to establish the film’s look and again in post-production to grade footage based on established style guides.

FAQs

What is the difference between post-production and editing?

Post-production refers to the entire process of filmmaking following the production process in which the project’s scenes are filmed.

Editing—of video footage, audio, and effects—is an aspect of post-production carried out by the relevant industry professionals.

What do actors do in post-production?

While actors are most involved with a project in the production stages when they shoot their scenes, they are sometimes required to participate in post-production.

Typically, this involves recording additional dialogue through the automated dialogue replacement (ADR) process to achieve a clearer audio quality.

What is the highest salary in post-production?

The range of potential salaries in post-production varies widely, depending on the position in the process and the individual’s years of experience.

Entry-level post-production roles begin with salaries of around US$25,000, while award-winning professionals can accumulate net worths running into millions of dollars.

What is the best post-production software?

Post-production software prices range from free tools for beginners to pricey platforms such as Avid Media Composer, which is used in the television and movie industries.

Consumer-friendly alternatives such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve offer powerful tools comparable to the high-end Avid programs.

How much does audio post-production cost?

The estimated budget for audio post-production typically falls within 5 to 10% of the project’s total budget.

This can change depending on the project type, the necessity for additional audio track recording, and other considerations regarding recording and publishing rights.