Creative Craft of Post Production Course Outline

Preparing for Post

Overview

Key ingredients for a successful post-production workflow: Planning, Organization and Communication

Post-production defined

Review of movie-making process: Pre-production, Production, and Post-production

Pre-production

There are things you can do at the outset of a project to avoid pitfalls later on

• Decide on capture medium
• Decide on release format
• Pick Transfer house
• Perform Camera tests
• Bring Post-production team in early
• Plan and communicate with storyboards

Choosing the right lab

• Processing
• Services
• Proximity

Planning out special effects shots during pre-production

• Blue/Green screen

Production

Procedures performed during production that have impact in post

• Slating
• Record ambient sound
• Record enough pre-roll
• Camera and Sound Reports

Importance of planning out shots and sequences

• Action in scenes

Bringing in member of Post-production team

Communication and Collaboration

Importance of communication through the filmmaking process Lab, Color Timer, Colorist, Editor

Why Film? 

• Image quality
• Post-production flexibility
• Distribution options

Post-production paths

Traditional Film Workflow

• Capture
• Development and creation of workprint
• Transfer of sound from DAT to Mag tape
• Editing
• "Picture lock"
• Negative cutting
• Sound mixing
• Printing
• Release print and distribution

Fewer projects are edited in the traditional way due to the power and flexibility of non-linear editing systems and digital audio workstations.

Telecine Transfer

Telecine or film-to-tape transfer defined

Establishing a relationship between KEYKODE and timecode at the telecine transfer

• KEYKODE
• Timecode
• Look at KEYKODE in detail
• KEYKODE reader on telecine
• Burn-in

Different frame rates

• Video frames 2 Fields
• 3:2 pull-down
• Increasing frame rate to 30fps for television

Color correction

• One light transfer
• Scene-to-scene transfer

Choosing a transfer house

Non-linear Edit Workflow

Non-linear editing systems are clearly the technology of choice

Film capture > Non-linear Edit > Film Release Workflow

What to consider when matching back to film

• Keykode and timecode
• Duplicate frames
• Standard dissolves and fades

Film > Non-linear Edit > Broadcast or Video Workflow

Digital Intermediate

• Film capture
• Scanning
• Edit and manipulation with Digital tools
• Film Recorder
• 35 mm internegative
• 35 mm Release prints

Editing

Overview

• Editing defined

Non-linear editing systems

Benefits of Non-linear editing systems

Common functions and features

• Capturing clips
• Media Files
• Folders and bins
• Timeline
• Trimming and editing
• Effects and transitions

Editing Techniques 

What is good editing?

Basic cuts and editing techniques used by editors to help tell the story

• Straight cut
• Fades
• Dissolves
• Match Cut
• Jump cut
• Intercut
• Cutaway

The editor drives the narrative by:

• controlling time and space
• evoking emotion
• providing a point of view
• helping the viewer identify with characters

Edit interactions and examples

• Timing / Impact
• Continuity
• Overlapping Dialog
• Green Screen

Audio

Digital Audio Workstation defined (DAW)

Exporting to DAW with Open Media Framework or OMF file

Elements of sound used in movies

• Dialogue
• Sound Effects
• Music
• Narration

Mixing - Mixing interaction

Final Mix

Importance of sound

A Vision Comes to Life

Outputting to Film

EDL

Film Cut List

Negative Cutting

• EDL
• Importance of KEYKODE

Traditional cut list and marked workprint,

Printing

• Contact Printer
• Optical Printer
• A and B Rolling
• Fades and Dissolve
• Timing

Types of Prints made by the lab

• Dailies
• Answer Print
• Composite Print
• Release Print

Printing process

• Original Negative
• Master positive
• Duplicate negatives
• Release Prints

Laboratory Aim Density (LAD) system

Projection Formats

Screen

• 1.37:1 Academy Standard
• 1.66:1 European Standard
• 2.35:1 Anamorphic Scope
• 1.85:1 Academy Flat

Sound

• Optical Soundtracks
• Digital Soundtracks

Outputting to Broadcast

Telecine Transfer

• Original Negative - Transfer of project intended for broadcast
• Master Positive - Transfer of finished film

Color Correction

Primary

• Lift
• Gain
• Gamma

Secondary

Importance of monitoring and calibration

Telecine Calibration tools

• Telecine Analysis Film (TAF)
• Telecine Exposure Calibration (TEC) film
• Gray Card Plus
• The KODAK Telecine Calibration System (TCS)
• KEYKODE Verification Film

Demand for wide screen - new broadcast standard of HDTV

Transferring widescreen films to the standard 1.33:1 television aspect ratio

• Center Crop
• Pan and Scan
• Letterbox