Post-production is all the work done after the shooting of a film has been completed that results in exhibition-ready copies for cinemas. It may include further work for actors, recording dialogue to be dubbed, or for sound editors adding sound effects, both diegetic and non-diegetic. The director will continue to be involved because post-production is the culmination of the creative process.
Digitizing Film Post-production
From cutting room to edit suite has been the journey of post-production in the space of two decades. Random access editing from digitized rushes is the central benefit from non-linear facilities during shooting. Traditional reels and bins of tape have become less common as digital cameras and computerised editing consoles gradually take over.
Far from the digital-cinema push resulting in the elimination of film prints, multiple requirements for exhibition add to the complexity of the challenge. Dedication to detail characterises this part of the filmmaking process. The editor's task is to bring meaning out of chaos, says Jay Ankeney.
Quality, Co-ordination and Synchronization in Editing
The growth of the post industry is clear from the list of over 200 facilities linked to from IMDb. The post-production supervisor is the manager of this final filmmaking, phase and can get their name in the movie credits. The supervisor schedules the work and keeps track of all materials, budgets for equipment rentals, use of labs etc.
Staff in the editing room go through all the work produced in shooting. Editors rearrange shots and put them together to ensure continuity and that the best work is preserved. Sound editors tweak the soundtrack and preserve intended background noises.
The editing task divides into three main areas known as online, offline and sound:
- Offline edit involves elements of film being put together; images and sounds selected and tried out, and choices made. Editors may add and subtract detail, move clips, add special effects, modify sound.
- Online editing requires specialized editor and equipment colour correction, problem solving, enhanced images, best quality finish.
- Sound editing is similar to online, but with audio, adding sound effects, assuring continuity of dialogue, adjusting music, mixing sound.
The sound supervisor also co-ordinates with the composer to complete the performance of the soundtrack composition in accompaniment to the final narrative structure and pace of the film. The editing process dictates the structure and pace of the finished product, so is integral to the narrative impact.
Post-production Special Effects and Animation
The motion graphics and design team create visual effects that are overlayed on the film where necessary. They will overlay text or animation where required, extract stills required for promotion, and apply additional colour effects. This part of the post team gained a well-earned reputation as the most progressive in mastering new computer technologies. Take a look at how Robert Rodriguez uses it in his independent productions.
James Cameron's Avatar (2009) is the most technically complex movie yet produced. Its global release strategy posed unique problems, revealing the patchiness of available projection technologies, requiring 110 technically different versions of the completed movie and sound dubbed in numerous languages.
"No studio has ever faced what we faced on this," says Ted Gagliano, president of postproduction at Fox. "Jim wanted the best, most immersive experience possible. So he pushed us to have a multiple-version inventory that would give each theater the best experience it could possibly deliver for that given theater," he told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Avatar post-production process entailed employing hundreds of workers, millions of dollars, using lab facilities in several countries, and almost three years of labour to produce the highest-grossing film of its time. Critics vary wildly as to whether it may more accurately be described as a product or commodity than regarded as a work of art, but meticulous post-production work gave a polished result and delivered on a long-term promise to the audience.
Sources
J. Ankeney, (2008) 'The Art of Editing' and (2009) 'Behind the Post of Avatar' in TV Technology
J. Bone & A. Fernandez (2004) Opportunities in Film Careers McGraw-Hill Professional
C. Giardina (2010) 'How Avatar changed the rules of deliverables: Postproduction push for film unprecedented' The Hollywood Reporter March 25
J. James (2009) Fix It in Post: Solutions for Postproduction Problems Elsevier Inc / Focal Press
Valerie Williamson - Dr. Val Williamson is a freelance journalist and academic specialising in historical and popular culture topics.
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