Editing, sound engineering, foley artists, and a host of other professionals are involved in the process of post-production. However, it is crucial to note that the post-production process will significantly differ based on the size of the production, its budget, and the industry in which you are working (television, cinema, or even video games).
We will start with a brief definition of post-production services and then move on to the steps that are typically included in the process, as they pertain mostly to filmmaking:
What Is Post-Production?
A film's post-production phase is the stage of the production process during which the footage shot during principal photography is assembled into a cohesive narrative, as well as other facets of the screenplay, are put into place and refined. Post-production is also known as the "finishing phase."
What Are The Steps Of Post-Production?
1. Select An Editing Format
When it comes to post-production services, there are two options. One is the traditional method, which is the film method. Shoot film and edit, or splice footage on film editing equipment. Today, there are very few directors that edit in this manner. The second option is to become digital. In either arrangement, the stages are nearly identical to one another.
If you decide to pursue the digital way, you can also choose from a range of post-production software packages. Alternative tools, such as VEGAS, are worth investigating. The Adobe Suite and Final Cut from Apple are two of the most widely used applications, but it is worth exploring other options.
2. Secure Music
First and foremost, here is what not to do while creating your musical score during the post-production services process. You must not use any well-known old tune for which you have not obtained the necessary permissions. Do not even think of using public domain or classical music, because it will either become prohibitively expensive or odoriferous. Also, the use of pre-cleared CD-ROM music is not recommended because the quality will be insufficient. What you should do is just employ a musician that has his or her own recording studio to write completely original songs and tunes that you own the right to.
3. Add Visual Effects
Next up, artists and technologists collaborate to create computer-generated visual effects. For example, aging an actor or making a large explosion are both effects that would be impossible (or prohibitively expensive) to produce in real life, but which may be achieved using CGI. While filming scenes in front of a green screen may have taken place during the production process, it is during this stage that the backdrops or other effects are replaced with those from the green screen.
4. Create Sound
After the picture has been locked, it is time to make some changes to the sound. Hiring the best sound editors is essential because there is a lot of labor involved. Your film's audio tracks are assembled by them, and they are also in charge of lowering dialogue tracks, removing unwanted background noise, and even adding sound effects to your film. Who you hire will be determined by the sound requirements of that particular project.
5. Provide Titles, Credits, And Graphic Elements
Following that, editors make title cards, credits, and any graphics that may be required (date stamps, for example), and insert them into the film. The opening credits are quite significant! Of course, first impressions are crucial, but they are also an opportunity to capture the whole tone and mood of the project through photography. Put your best foot forward and invest some creative efforts to capture the attention of your audience from the very start.
6. Begin Putting The Parts Together
In the promotional video production process, everything is in the proper chronological order at this point. The film is running too long, the shots are not perfect, and the tempo is a little off. This is the time when the director comes in to look over your editing work.
A person working on a video timeline on a desktop computer with another person standing behind them and pointing at the screen is shown. If the filmmaker has any wonderful moments or other ideas they want to incorporate into the film, they should share them with the cast and crew as well. After that, the editor re-edits the film over and over until it is perfect. Typically, this procedure can take up to ten weeks or longer for a feature film to complete.
Last but not least, the assembly is sent to fine cut, which ensures that everything is properly timed and that each scene functions appropriately. When the edit is finished, you'll be presented with an Edit Decision List (EDL).
Conclusion
According to the complexity and price of a project, postproduction might take anything from a few months to a year or more. The majority of movies and television shows are now edited using non-linear digital editing methods. They gained popularity in the early 1990s and transformed postproduction by making editing faster and more convenient than ever before.