Higher Media Studies Production Unit Module 2: Who Does What Lesson 5 Post-Production

Post-Production Supervisor  Like the Production Manager, but who specialises in the post-production.  Co-ordinates the labs, editors, financiers, and facilities companies.  Often has worked for labs or facilities companies, and has expert knowledge of all the technologies needed to bring the film to screen

special effects  On big budget films, this would be a separate department that is in charge of all the effects that are to be shot on set, and not done digitally. This includes things like fires, smoke, snow, ice.  Bye-Child’s special effects were very simple and achieved by the art department.

Special Visual Effects  Different from SFX because they create the digital effects for the film.  Some films will need to prepare for inserting digital effects in the edit with certain techniques in production.  Experts in green-screen technology. Help cinematographer and director to plan shots that will work with digital effects.

EDITOR  Though this job is officially post-production, sometimes an editor will visit the location to get a feel for the film and its mood.  Will then construct the story in pictures, using the raw footage.  First cut is known as the ‘assembly cut’ and is rarely the final cut.

Re-recording Mixer/Dubbing  Like the editor, this is a job that takes place in post-production, but can be very important while the film is being shot.  Can give advice on what effects can be achieved on location, or back in the studio.  On Bye-Child, this was the final stage of the editorial process, and only at this stage was the flashback sequence made to work.

Music  After the picture has been ‘locked’ the soundtrack will be recorded.  The composer will have been involved from as early as possible, in order to develop his/her own ideas.  Recording can involve huge orchestras, or simply the buying of pre-recorded music.  Buying pre-recorded music can be cheaper if the owner of the music allows you to buy the rights from them.

Credits  There is always a fight over credits.  ‘Above the title’ refers to getting a name before the title of the film. The big stars and important players get this.  ‘Single card’ refers to one person on a screen, and not part of the long list of credits that rolls at the end of the film.  Contracts for many crew state that they are not even guaranteed a credit on the film.

Delivery  Delivery of the produced film occurs when the producer has completed the film with all its sound and credits and edit completed.  It then moves on to the marketing people and they decide where it can be sold to.