How To Maximize Post-Production Before You Start Shooting

Learn how to maximize the quality and efficiency of your post-production process from Stephen van Vuuren, a post-production expert at leading full-service production facility SV2!

PLUS! You'll receive The Ten Technical Commandments of Independent Filmmaking document to help guide you in your post-production process!

Most low-budget film projects can’t afford to hire a seasoned Post-Production Supervisor, which is one of the most important crew positions of all. All the key decisions that will determine if your film has a seamless post-production process, including delivering for distribution, are made before the camera ever rolls. Unfortunately, the vast majority of low-budget and microbudget projects can’t afford to hire and retain a post-production supervisor from the first day to the last day of project. This is especially true for features where the time from pre-production through finishing post-production can often be a year or longer. This role ends up being dumped on an overworked editor, director, or producer late in the post-production process which often results in long post delays, considerable budget overruns, painful compromises in the final quality of your film and mistakes on the final deliverables for distribution.

This problem arises because most editors, directors, and producers don’t have an understanding of the essential technical elements that your film needs for post-production and distribution. However, this doesn’t need to be the case. You just need to know the tools you need to ensure a smooth post-production workflow. That’s where this course comes in.

In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn everything you need to know to nail the post-production of your feature film or short film, even on a tight budget. You will learn how to master the key decisions that are made early in pre-production about cameras, lenses, frame rate, aspect ratios, color formats, sound, VFX and more to ensure your film is of the highest quality possible when it's finally finished.

Teaching you the essentials to post-production is filmmaker and post-production expert Stephen van Vuuren. Stephen runs SV2 Post, a full-service post-production house that routinely takes films through the process from Edit to VFX/MIX to Final Mastering. As part of his turn-key post-production business, Stephen has made over 200 DCPs (the digital cinema packages that are what theaters use to screen films today). SV2 has worked with independent filmmakers on their projects with budgets from zero dollars to the low millions that have screened at Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca, Berlin and many other major festivals as well as international commercial theatrical releases including on IMAX. Over 75% of the films submitted to Stephen have suffered from at least one major post-production problem and required costly, time-consuming fixes. And about 10% of the films have suffered from showstopper, unfixable problems that have resulted in distribution rejections and non-releases. Stephen will teach you how to avoid the mistakes that these filmmakers made to ensure your project is of the highest quality at the finish line and is ready to be shared with the world.

Avoid the mistakes of many low-budget independent directors and producers by learning to “think backwards” as big studios do to plan your post-production before you even start pre-production!

PLUS! You’ll receive the “The Ten Technical Commandments of Independent Filmmaking” PDF that will help you check your productions for every possible distribution outlet at the very highest levels of quality.

“I’m stoked to be able share with Stage 32 all the pitfalls and hard-lessons I’ve learned in my own journey and while helping hundreds of filmmakers post their films. We don’t have to be Christopher Nolan to present our films to audiences at the very highest quality levels. I look forward to contributing to raising the standard of post-production excellence for Stage 32 filmmakers.” – Stephen van Vuuren

• Intro, The Myth of the $10,000 Movie
• Projects like BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and PARANORMAL are famous for their ultra-low budgets. These budgets are lies.
• Big clue: it’s their secret six figure post-production budgets for distribution.
• 24 Frames per Second, the Holy Grail
• Why all films MUST be shot at exactly 24 frames per second.
• How Deep is your Color?
• What you must know about color depth and why a mistake can have your film rejected by potential distributors.
• The Shape of Things to Come
• The key facts about why there are only two picture aspect ratios and neither of them is the shape of your TV.
• Don’t Make a Frame with your hands!
  • Many filmmakers even at the studio level make this mistake on set that only shows up on the big screen, usually to the audience’s horror.
• Staying on Track
• The critical importance of track organization from day one of post-production so you can nail that list of deliverables from your distributor.
• Channeling your inner wisdom
• This is the most common mistake indie filmmakers make. Your film must be mixed in discrete channels NOT stereo. Learn how and why.
• Exceptions to the rules
• There are always exceptions. But more than any other rules in filmmaking, break the rules of post only if you 100% know it will not sink your film in distribution.
• Hiring the Post-Team
• Who you must have and when, how much they should cost and how to hire the best for the least.
• The Ten Commandants of Technical Filmmaking: Wrapping it all up.
• Q&A with Stephen

Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.

If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.

Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.

YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:

1. Log into your Stage 32 profile
2. Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
3. Click "Purchase History"
4. Choose this webinar and click the link to view

1. Go to www.stage32.com
2. Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
3. Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
4. Click "Purchase History"
5. Choose this webinar and click the link to view

Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.

Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.

If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.

Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.

Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.

Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.

Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.

Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.

If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.