If you are involved in creating visual media, particularly TV, films, adverts and video games, you’ll have heard the term “post production” being used. But what is post production? How long does it take? And is it really necessary for your film project?
We’ll give you an overview of what happens during post production and explore why it’s such a vital part of the filmmaking process.
What is post production?
Post production refers to all the stages that happen after the filming has finished. That means the post production team is big! There can be a lot of people with various skills involved to ensure that the final output is as good as it can possibly be.
Among the main post production activities are visual editing, sound editing, adding CGI or other special effects, dubbing and colourisation. Each of these stages requires specific skills and often more than one professional will be involved.
In short, post production is how the raw footage that’s been shot becomes a film or polished video sequence. This is where the magic happens – because it is when you can really bring the director’s creative vision to life.
How long does post production take?
This question is a little bit like asking, “how long is a piece of string?” The reality is that it varies between projects and is dependent not only on how long the final cut will be, as well as on how much footage the editor has to work with, but also on what else needs to be added to create the finished video.
So, a film, advert or TV show that requires extensive CGI or other visual effects will likely spend longer in post production than one that doesn’t. However, you also have to allow for the sound editing and music composition (if relevant), which can also be a lengthy process to get the best results.
Your post production team will be able to give you a timeline for your project though, so just make sure you ask that question when you start working together.
Why is post production so important?
The vast majority of video content produced in this day and age is shot digitally, which means there can be a significant amount of footage for even a short film or advert. This is both good and bad.
On the upside, it means that the editor has plenty to work with. On the downside, it means the editor will need to sift through a lot of material to find the shots and sequences that make the final cut.
Sound editing is also vital, because you may have unwanted background noise in your shots or want to get rid of the ambient sound completely and replace it with music. All of this is only possible in post production.
Video footage usually needs colour correcting once it is edited too. This is to ensure that all the shots within a sequence look balanced and cohesive. It’s especially important when different parts of the advert or film have been shot in different locations where the lighting, and therefore colouration, can vary.
Ultimately, if you want a professional, polished advert, film or other video content, you need a team to support you with post production.