What Are Some General Expenses During Postproduction?

[shutterspeedfilms]

Hope I'm asking this in the right section.

What are some general postproduction expenses one can expect on a microbudget feature of less than $30k?

I see people writing about "postproduction expenses" all the time, but the subject always seems nebulous--not too much in the way of specifics.

Thanks.

 

[arniepix]

Editing. VFX. Final conform. Sound mix. Color correction. Final output to tape, film digital cinema, DVD Blu-Ray, etc.

 

[Chris Adler]

Music, sound mix, foley, ADR.

 

[Noiz2]

Time. Most small budget films don't allow for the time in post to do a good job.

Picture edit, hard to say but big budget features seem to take six months to a year to cut the picture, and they start cutting while shooting. Figure your slower and going to start later.
Sound post. The rule of thumb for a narrative film aiming for a big screen narrative film "sound" is 10 - 15 man-hours per screen minute, in editorial. On a feature (big budget) you would allow 3-6 weeks to mix, micro budget you pretty much mix as you go so maybe a few days.

Micro budget films often can cheat the man hours down to around seven per screen minute if your post person/people are experienced.

BTW, it doesn't make much difference if it's FX laden or Dialog intense the numbers come out about the same. Supper heavy FX or really horrible production push the numbers a bunch but in the normal range they are about the same.

ADR is added to the post so if you need it add some weeks. Foley would be included in the above, if people know what they are doing and can do it with out a big production.


Don't know time for VFX but it's not quick if you need it done well.

And color correction if it isn't being done by your editor takes some time.

Final authoring to distribution formats, DVD, BluRay etc.

So $ wise it depends on what people are getting paid mostly.

On top of that you need to set aside money for licenses if you need any. Every one wants Dolby Surround but to release in you need a license, music rights, BluRay has a very pricey license (last I heard) so paid distribution is probably not feasible for a small producer.