Our Post-Production Process: The Complete Guide
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Before you dive into your first review, take two minutes to read this. It will make the whole process clearer and help you give us the most useful feedback right from the start.
Two-Phase Process
Every project we produce moves through two main phases: Editorial and Finishing. Understanding the difference between them is the key to a smooth post-production process.
Phase 1 — Editorial
The first cut you receive from us is an editorial cut. This is intentional, and it's where every project begins — regardless of scope, budget, or complexity.
The editorial phase is focused entirely on one thing: the content itself. We are establishing the structure of the piece, the narrative flow, the pacing, and whether everything aligns with the original creative intent.
At this stage, you will notice that certain things are absent or rough. That is by design. There is no final music, no sound design, no motion graphics, no color grade, and no final text or transitions. What you are watching is the raw editorial — the bones of the piece — and that is exactly what it is supposed to be.
What We Need From You in Phase 1
When you review your editorial cut, we ask you to focus only on the content:
Is anything missing that should be there?
Is there anything you want removed or reworked?
Does the story or message feel right?
Does the pacing feel right?
When you're ready to start reviewing, visit our guide on how to use the review system.
Please set aside any reactions to the music, graphics, or overall polish for now. Those elements come later, and they will be applied once we have locked the editorial. Giving us feedback on finishing elements at this stage slows the process down and can lead to rework that didn't need to happen.
We may go through one or two rounds of revisions in this phase until we are both confident the content is exactly right. Once we get there, we reach picture lock — the point where we agree the editorial is approved and we move forward.
Phase 2 — Finishing
Once picture lock is reached, we move into the finishing phase. This is where everything that makes the final video look and sound the way it should gets applied: music selection, sound design, color grade, motion graphics, text, transitions, and any visual effects.
On straightforward projects, finishing happens in a single pass and the next cut you see will be very close to final. On more complex projects, finishing may involve multiple review steps — for example, a dedicated round for motion graphics, or a separate pass for visual effects, color and sound — before everything comes together.
Your producer will walk you through exactly what Phase 2 looks like for your specific project. The important thing to know is that by the time we get there, the hard editorial work is already done. Phase 2 is about execution and polish, and it moves quickly when the editorial is solid.
The Bottom Line
We always start with editorial. Every time. Getting the content right first is what makes everything that follows work. When you review your first cut, focus there — and trust that the rest is coming.
If you have any questions about where your project is in the post-production process, your producer is always happy to walk you through it.