When it comes to making a video, post-production is the final key piece of the puzzle. This critical phase is where rushes (your video footage) are transformed into a compelling story. It requires creativity and vision and makes all the difference to your film. Chris Dewar is our award-winning Director of Post-Production. He has well over 20 years of experience and here shares his post-production top tips.
Chris’ Post Production Top Tips:
- Organisation is Key: If you have lots of footage this is essential. From the moment the rushes start coming in, establish a file-naming and folder structure. Label clips, scenes, and audio tracks clearly. This ensures that you can easily locate everything when it’s needed.
- Make Sure your Edit Tells the Right Story: You will have thought about the narrative arc of your video well before the shoot, so just be sure you use that footage to tell that story the best way you can. If you’ve labelled the clips, you will have a good understanding of your assets. So make sure you pick the perfect shot.
- It’s All in the Detail: Keep your eyes peeled for anything that might affect the impact of your chosen shots. If you do find something that’s not painting the picture you want, replace it, if you can. A second (or third) pair of eyes can help you spot anything that doesn’t quite work.
- Use Cutting-Edge Software and Equipment: Using industry-standard software like Adobe Premiere Pro and professional 4k camera to shoot your footage will make all the difference to a finished video. Not only will it look good now, it will improve the longevity of your work .
- Pay Attention to Sound: People often overlook sound or audio when this is 50% of a video. Listen to your edit using the best quality audio equipment available. Really dedicate time to getting those audio tracks just right. Don’t forget your soundscape should complement the visuals and if you are adding music, it should support the story, not dominate it.
- Colour Grading Matters: Colour grading can completely transform the mood and tone of a video. Use it to enhance the storytelling and evoke specific moods.
- Be Mindful of Pacing: Finding the right pace is vital in post-production. Understand the rhythm of your story and use cuts, transitions, and music to control the flow. And don’t forget: Allow your content to breathe! A few seconds on either side of a cut allows the audience time to understand what they are seeing.
- Use Effects Wisely: Visual effects should enhance the story, not overpower it. So use them sparingly, because nobody wants to see 12 dissolve transitions in a 15-second video!
- Experiment and Innovate: Don’t be afraid to experiment with editing styles or innovative effects. Do your research on what other people do, it might inspire you. Spend some time playing around with the software and your own creativity.
- Check, Check and Check again: When you look at the same clips over and over, there’s a chance you might miss something, such as a misspelt subtitle. So before you publish or share your video, make sure you look at the project several times to ensure all the ‘i’s’ are dotted and ‘t’s’ crossed. Even better, get a friend or colleague to look it over with you, they may spot something you didn’t.
Chris shows his versatility, contributing to production, as well as post-production.
And Finally
Chris’ last tip is a really important one: Enjoy the Process but Take Breaks. If you approach your edit with a positive mindset, and aim to enjoy it, this enthusiasm will shine through your video. But take a measured approach. Sure it can be a compelling activity, but long editing sessions can lead to fatigue. Take regular breaks to recharge your mind and come back with a fresh perspective, your video will benefit from this, as will you!
Find out more about Chris Dewar from our Team page and Happy Editing!
