Taking care of your post production needs.

Post-Production Tips: 2Editors X 6Qs By Jessie Pickworth   We asked the same 6 questions to 2 editors that frequent the 16:9 Post bays…here’s who they are:   Sergio Villa Years editing: 22 Genres: Documentary film , scripted/doc/reality television, commercials Current Project: The Florida Man Murders (Oxygen Network) Recent Projects:  Backyard Envy, Rhythm + Flow Hoa Mai Years editing: 10 Genres: Documentary film Current Project: Untitled Bryan Fogel Project Recent Projects:  Seduced, Inside the NXIVM Cult, Shut Up and Dribble, The Defiant Ones, Sonic Highways   Here’s what they had to say:   What is your editing software of choice?   Sergio: Avid Media Composer is my go-to software...been using it for so long I feel like Han Solo flying the Millennium Falcon on it. I like Premiere as well, but sometimes I feel like I'm piloting the Flying Winnebago from Spaceballs when working on that platform.   Hoa: Avid. For no other reason than that's what th...

Post-Production Tips: Keeping the Workflow Flowing Despite COVID  By Michael French With so many health and safety limitations on production these days, a lot of the onus to bring a project to life falls on the post-production staff. Making something out of almost nothing is not an easy task, but we need to find a creative way to do so if we want to be working these days.  With this in mind, we have outlined 8 tips to help you keep the lights on and your output at top notch. 1.      You still need high quality equipment, so you have two options if your team doesn’t already own a workstation at home: One, find a post house that takes the COVID situation seriously and allows your team to come in to a safe, distanced space (ahem…we have that covered at 16:9 Post); Two, rent high-quality, customized workstations (we have that covered too). 2.      Map out team communication protocols with regular team calls/video conferenc...

15 TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING JOB TERMS  By Roberto Cardenas A good deal of entertainment industry folk will be nailing down new jobs in the near future, as we come out of this pandemic-enforced hiatus. Not all of us have agents to do the heavy lifting of negotiating terms. For those of you that are on your own, here are some tips, coming from our team members with experience on both sides of the table. Understand the person across the table.  Do your research to know the personality you are dealing with, what matters to him, and the most successful tone to set for the discussion. Know what is common.  Research terms for similar employees at the company for perspective, then go with terms at the TOP of that range. Employers will either say “yes” or negotiate down…they will  never  negotiate up.  Focus on your future, not your past . It is expected that you will periodically get a bump in salary, title and terms of employment as your experien...

Post Production Tips: The Secret Sauce of Showrunner / Director, Brian Skope   By Jessie Pickworth When something tastes good you ask for the recipe. And when a television show works, you should ask for the same thing. Especially when the person who made it is veteran docuseries EP and Showrunner, Brian Skope. He built a solid career in documentary television, and is now Co-Founder of Whiz Bang, a production company that creates documentary/reality series for your favorite television networks as well as branded content for major consumer product corporations, esports industry leaders, and top social media influencers.  Recently, I asked him about his post-production process and what he thinks are the keys to his success…   Me:  Brian, you have made a variety of television and digital content for everything from bearded men in the wild to competition shows to e-sport docu-follows. What is your recipe for delivering a show that the network, or your client, ...

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR FILM ON BUDGET  By Roberto Cardenas  A well-executed film makes a great calling card. But, no one will come calling if they hear you can’t make a film on budget. Investors care about return on investment and, simply put, the higher you go over budget, the lower their return. We want your projects to not only be creatively mind-blowing, but fiscally attractive.  Here’s some tips for running a tight ship: Utilize your budget wisely by hiring experienced crew members. You get what you pay for, and people with experience know how to be efficient with their talents.   Pad your budget with about 10% extra for the unexpected. You can plan all you want, but you can’t control or anticipate everything. It’s better to have a slush fund for when you get rained out, your equipment breaks, or your lead comes down with the flu mid-shoot. Create a treatment (designed to be executed within your budget) that all stakeholders can sign off on before ...

POST-PRODUCTION TIPS: 10 TIPS FOR WRITING DOCUMENTARY NARRATION   By: Jessie Pickworth    When images can’t tell the whole story, narration adds depth and completes the picture. If narration isn’t executed well, it can kill a documentary. Below are 10 tips from the 16:9 Post team for making sure your VO elevates your project instead of dragging it down. 1.      Know how you plan to use narration before you shoot. Common uses include: introducing subjects or featured talent, imparting info that is not obvious to the viewer, bridging segments of the story, highlighting what is important, and summarizing key points. 2.      Don’t let preconceived notions dictate your direction. Plan for how to use narration at the onset, but not what to say. Theories created during pre-production may get altered by the reality you shoot. Watch and listen to the edits to make sure you are narrating the truth of your project. 3. ...

POST-PRODUCTION TIP:  HOW TO PICK AN EDITOR   By: Roberto Cardenas The right – or wrong – editor can make or break a project.  Who is the right editor? Obviously, you need your editor to have working knowledge of the most current editing tools and techniques and to be able to execute any special editing skills your project requires. But, also, don’t ignore the creative, collaborative and personality elements that make some editors a success and others…well, not so much. How do you find the right editor? Below is a list of interview questions that will help you suss out if an editor is good for your team and project. Before you start asking these questions, though, we impart the following advice:  As you ask these questions, it is important to not just listen to their answers but to hear HOW the editor answers. How they answer can tell you a lot about their ability to communicate their opinions and logic, their attention to detail, and their c...

POST PRODUCTION TIPS:  PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS  By Michael French You’ve got your footage, a unique vision, and the right people and equipment in place to bring your project together. Well, you may have overlooked a critical component of post-production. No one wants your project compromised due to a lack of security and protection, so make sure to get the right security protocol in place as well. Below is a list of 15 key measures you should take to protect your assets while in post. 1.   Designate one team member with the appropriate knowledge/capabilities to take responsibility for ensuring security of the project. 2.   Implement an effective process for secure asset management, transportation, tracking, storage, recall, destruction, and incident management. 3.   Document your security protocol and pass it to everyone engaged in the project, including remote locations and third parties. Foster discussion at the beginning of their inv...