Stretching Your Post Budget

Let us guess - you are looking to save money on post production? You are not alone!

Here are some tips and tricks to help stretch your post budget while maintaining the quality and professionalism of your project. 

Stretching your post-production budget is all about planning ahead and working smart. First things first - lock your picture before you start the conform. Every late cut means more time (and money) spent redoing work. When you’re editing offline, use proxy media and make sure your edits stay timecode-consistent. That consistency will make your online process way smoother later on and again save time and money. Staying organized during the edit (and keeping your producing team on the same page) goes a long way toward avoiding fix-it sessions that eat into your budget.

When it comes to color, online, and delivery, ask your post house if they offer a “festival-ready” package. These bundled deals are often more affordable and cover everything you’ll need to submit to festivals without extra charges. Try combining deliverables, too as it can save a ton on render hours. It’s always great to reach out to festivals, distributors, or wherever your project is going to find out what deliverables will be needed ahead of time. 

Having that visual direction locked in early helps keep your final color grade consistent and keeps surprises to a minimum once you’re in post. And before you even start shooting, have a look-set session with your colorist using your camera or HMU tests. The colorist can create a LUT to use for on-set monitors to ensure everyone is on the same page. This will get you about 80% of the way there before you even start the color process.

Whether you are a first time filmmaker, or a seasoned vet, Brainwomb is here to help! We love chatting with you to figure out workflows that can stay within your budget no matter the scale of the project.