Post-production covers the entire working process from after the shoot up to the completion of the production ready for release and distribution in its original language. It is in the post-production phase that the component parts of a film are brought together.

In the preparation stage of post-production all video, film, audio, graphics and still photo media are carefully logged and identified. Although some smaller assignments may be shot on solid-state "file-based" media that allows for quick ingestion into our editing systems, our usual approach is the "old-school" method using videotape, whereby each shot is logged and digitized individually. There are several reasons for this approach - firstly, it gives us a comprehensive overview of the footage which can remain on archive for many years and which will we will often require access to for other productions in the future. Traditional logging and digital capturing ensures that every useable shot is methodically indexed and sorted. Secondly, the use of videotape provides us with an original archive, to which we can always return, even many years later, when new digital encoding and compression formats are in use. In this way it will always be possible to achieve the highest possible quality with future encoding being made from the original acquisition format rather than some intermediate compressed archive format which, in time, may become obsolete.

The preparation process covers the following tasks -

• Logging and digital capture of all video and audio footage

• Digital colour processing and archiving of still photos

• Logging and transcription of interviews

• Possible pre-editing of interviews

• Preparation of graphic text and production graphic design

• Composition and production of music

• Location of relevant archive material, including rights-clearances

• Preparation of any translations for the original master language

• Preparation of production credits

With a full overview of the available original and archive material, the pre-editing process whereby the script is revised for editing may be accomplished. This usually results in an editing script which the client shall approve before the production is edited.

The following tasks are now undertaken -

• Recording of voiceover narration

• Preparation of music mixes

• Video and principal audio editing

• Graphics and animations

• Preparation of release graphics (DVD artwork, covers etc.)

• Subtitling or dubbing of interviews and sync audio to original master language (if required)

• Colour grading

• Final audio dub and mix

At this stage the production is usually ready for approval by the client. Approval viewing normally takes place in our edit suite, though viewing a YouTube or similar web copy may be possible. Once the production is approved by the client, it may be mastered and encoded to the relevant release formats. This work can include the following -

• Production of archival and broadcast release master videotapes

• Production of archival and broadcast release file formats

• Production of hard-copy release formats such as DVD

• Upload to clients web-server and/or third party web hosting services such as YouTube

• Completion of final script and master documentation

• Back-up of all production media and metadata

• Archival of all raw material and masters and production data such as graphics.

If the production shall be versioned (dubbed and/or subtitled) for other languages, this work is undertaken in a separate process.

Whilst the post-production process may involve several freelancers (such as composer, musicians and narrators) and may require specialist technical staff, the producer/director and editor is responsible for the entire process up to delivery.