Every video you see online or movie you watch at the theater has gone through multiple stages before it reaches your screen. One of the most important steps in that process that brings everything together is post production.
Definition
Post production is a process that happens after (post) the main footage is filmed. It's the final phase where all the visual and audio elements come together to create a finished video that everyone watches.
There are two earlier stages before post production: pre-production and production. Pre-production is where all the planning happens, including writing the script, casting, and scouting locations. Production is the actual filming phase, where the team is shooting scenes based on the plan created during pre-production.
Who is involved in the post production process?
Post production is a highly collaborative effort involving multiple people who handle a wide range of tasks, including cutting and arranging raw footage, adding music, syncing audio, inserting sound effects, adjusting colors, and applying transitions or visual effects, among others.
Filmmaker/director/producer:
Handles the handoff of all raw footage and ensures everything is backed up properly before editing begins. They also guide the overall creative vision during post production.
Editor:
Responsible for cutting and assembling the footage into a cohesive story. They trim scenes, adjust timing, add transitions, and make sure the flow feels natural.
Cinematographer:
Works closely with the colorist to make sure each shot stays true to the film's original look and lighting style. They may provide notes on how a scene should appear after grading.
Audio Team:
Includes a sound mixer, sound designer, sound editor, and Foley artist. Together, they handle everything related to sound, including cleaning up dialogue and adding background ambiance and sound effects.
Composer/Music Supervisor:
Composes original music or sources licensed tracks that match the mood of the scene. The music supervisor ensures the soundtrack fits the narrative and secures all necessary rights.
VFX Supervisor/Engineer:
Designs and integrates visual effects (VFX) that can't be captured during filming, such as explosions, animation, or CGI.
Colorist:
Performs color correction and color grading to give the video its final look. This includes balancing tones, creating visual mood, and maintaining consistency across all scenes.
How long does post production take after filming?
Since there are many things involved in post production, the process of post production video editing alone can take several days, weeks, or months, depending on the complexity of the project. For short videos or social media content like YouTube, it might only take a few days. But for films, documentaries, or larger productions, it can stretch into months or even longer.
Since there are many things involved in post production, the process of post production video editing alone can take several days, weeks, or months, depending on the complexity of the project. For short videos or social media content like YouTube, it might only take a few days. But for films, documentaries, or larger productions, it can stretch into months or even longer. Graphic:StephenFollows.com
Film director Jay Holben mentioned that post production can range from one month to over a year, depending on project scale. Productions relying heavily on VFX have longer timelines due to animation, rendering, and revisions.
Application Section - When/Where to Use
Post production workflow:
While the timeline will always depend on the type of content and editing needs, most productions follow a structured post production workflow to bring everything together into the final cut. This phase can take time because it involves several key steps that require precision and teamwork.
Step 1: Picture Editing
After filming wraps, editors collect and organize raw footage (dailies/rushes) sorted by scene/take. They create a Rough Cut and Edit Decision List (EDL). After revisions and director approval, the project reaches "Picture Lock."
Step 2: Creating Sound
Sound editors clean dialogue tracks, remove background noise, and layer sound effects. Use ADR for unclear dialogue and Foley artists for recreating everyday noises.
Step 3: Scoring or Securing Music
Create original music with a composer or source licensed tracks. Composer collaboration offers cost-effectiveness and creative control.
Step 4: Sound Mixing
Layer audio tracks, adjust volume levels, and remove distractions by combining music, sound effects, and dialogue.
Step 5: Adding Visual Effects (VFX)
Create imaginative scenes using CGI for elements that can't be captured in real life. Essential for fantasy, sci-fi, and action genres.
Step 6: Color Correction & Grading
Color correction fixes issues for natural consistency. Color grading applies stylistic choices to enhance mood and tone.
Step 7: Titles, Credits, and Graphics
Finalize with title cards, credits, lower-thirds, and on-screen graphics. Strong opening titles create important first impressions.
Common Challenges in Video Post Production
Throughout the post production process, of course, there are many roadblocks that filmmakers often encounter. Listing them all here may be impossible, but some common issues should be anticipated early to keep the workflow smooth:
Large File Sizes & Storage Issues
Working on a full-length film requires handling massive amounts of footage, audio, and visual effects files. Without you realizing it, they quickly eat up storage space, especially when working with high-resolution formats like 4K or RAW. Without a proper file management system and high-capacity storage solutions, organizing and accessing media can become a serious bottleneck.
How to avoid
Use external SSDs or RAID systems for faster read/write speeds. Remember to organize your files with a consistent folder structure and clean up unused media regularly.
Rendering or Export Times
Rendering or exporting during video post production can take a long time, especially when working with high-resolution footage, heavy effects, or layered edits. These delays not only slow down the workflow but also impact deadlines.
How to avoid
Use proxy files while editing to reduce strain on your system. Close background apps and ensure your editor is optimized for GPU acceleration if possible. Export during off-hours to save time.
Audio Sync & Quality Issues
Audio, like dialogue, voiceovers, music, and sound effects, often comes from different sources. As a result, they can easily fall out of sync if not properly managed. Poor sound quality, background noise, or inconsistent levels can make your video look poor.
How to avoid
Use timecode, clapper boards, or sync markers during shooting. Some editing software also offers auto-sync tools that can align audio and video automatically. Apply noise reduction, audio enhancer, and leveling tools to clean up the mix.
Hardware Limitations
post production software can be demanding, especially when dealing with large projects or complex effects. Older computers may struggle with playback, real-time editing, or even opening project files. Without adequate RAM, GPU, or processing power, editors face crashes, lag, and frustrating slowdowns that disrupt creative flow.
How to avoid
Upgrade to a system that meets your editing software’s requirements. If that’s not possible, try using proxies, work in smaller project segments to reduce load, or choose a video editor that doesn’t demand heavy system resources yet still delivers professional results.
Practical Demonstration Section - How to Use
By now, you should have a better understanding of what post production is and what happens during the process. Besides the people who work behind the scenes, the tools used during post production are as important for shaping the outcome.
If you are just starting in video creation or filmmaking, one recommended video editing software that's beginner-friendly and doesn't require a demanding CPU is Wondershare Filmora. Its intuitive interface lets you jump in right away, yet it still offers many of the features you'd usually find in advanced, professional editors.
How Filmora Streamlines Workflow
Another reason that Filmora is easy to start with, aside from its intuitive interface, is that it's packed with powerful AI features designed to simplify the editing process and speed up the post production workflow.
Filmora's AI features simplify editing with tools for video enhancement, noise reduction, and subtitle generation. At the same time, it still supports third-party plugins for those moments when you want more customization or pro-level effects. Some of the popular plugins you can integrate are:
Filmora also offers multi-track timelines, color grading with LUTs, and advanced effects like motion tracking and masking without overwhelming its users. You get everything in one place, so it’s easier to polish your project and deliver professional-quality results faster.
