Post-Production

Sorry I missed it! How'd it go?

Maurice Vaughan - Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome, Cyrus Sales. It's a must-read for editors and others in the industry!

Cloud-based tools have revolutionized post-production workflows, enabling seamless collaboration across time zones. Platforms like AquaWin Casino offer a secure and user-friendly environment for accessing online gaming experiences. Their intuitive layout allows users to easily navigate through various games, manage accounts, and explore promotions. For those interested in diving into the world of online casinos, the AquaWin Login portal provides a straightforward entry point. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the scene, AquaWin ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience. Visit the AquaWin Login page to get started and explore the exciting opportunities awaiting you.

You're welcome, Fred Smith. Hope the blog is helpful!

Ashley Renee Smith - you are on a roll with audio content! I absolutely love this, another piece to share with my audio buddies. For me the most recent project/film was Sinners. I absolutely love what they were able to do with the composing and blending of different genres and culture sonically.

I agree 100%, Cyrus Sales! Sinners blew me away and I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack on Spotify.

I like seeing a mix of high-level ("my workflow" videos) and short, low-level stuff. The latter can be hard to be unique. Sometimes it's easier to just do the workflow video, and find the bits that people find unique and expand on it.

Cyrus Sales Topics and links regarding INDEPENDENT FILM. to be brutally frank, FAR too much is posted here that boosts the major studios and their market. NONE of this is of any actual application to independent filmmakers or aspiring filmmakers.

Spencer Magnusson - thank you for sharing insight on what you enjoy seeing. I'll be sure to add it onto the list of things to keep and eye out for while I poke around the internet. What would you consider low-level stuff? If you have examples that would definitely help me as well in my search.

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg - As someone who loves rooting for the independent films and filmmakers, I can absolutely keep an eye out for things tailored in that direction. Anything in particular you would like to see more of? Specific genres? Editing, color grading, how to's, making of? All of the above? Look forward to seeing what I'm able to find.

Cyrus Sales all of the above (+ VFX), but I know video editing and color grading are a dime a dozen on YouTube. As you share your workflows, people may say "Oh, I would have never thought to try that" or "that's a great way to solve that problem." That type of technical stuff is what I like seeing. Sometimes, it's a case where: a beginner would normally do X, but you've found that Y, while more setup, often works better in other cases.

One example from one of my older VFX videos was how to add sensor noise in the Blender compositor, when it didn't easily support textures in there at the time.

Edit: the nice thing with workflow videos is that you usually do this already, and workflow videos I've found to be more helpful for beginners and intermediates as opposed to the "quick tip" videos.

Ashley Renee Smith Thank you for sharing. Oddly enough I tend to have a hard time coming across audio post production content so when I do find something I do my best to absorb as much information as possible and share it with my audio buddies.

I have a hard time finding good resources as well, Cyrus Sales! Thats why when I stumble across one, I love to share it here.

This might be an area I can look into getting into as an audio person - although content creation in itself is a whole job lol. Thanks again for sharing!

Followup:

1. The Alpha-Omega-Alpha Cycle: Narrative as Cultural Reset

This cycle speaks to:

Creation (Alpha) — a world is built, rules are set.

Destruction or Corruption (Omega) — something breaks those rules: plague, monsters, madness, aliens, a god, or even man himself.

Rebirth through Struggle (Alpha again) — a new version of the world is formed through the ashes of the old.

This is not just biblical (e.g., Revelation) or mythic (e.g., Ragnarok). It’s a core screenwriting device for horror, dystopia, and sci-fi:

Film Alpha Omega New Alpha

Serenity: The Alliance's control inadvertently creates the Reavers as chaos incarnate The truth revealed, a spark of rebellion

28 Days Later: Normal British society Rage virus outbreak Possible new beginning

Children of Men: A world without birth, total societal collapse then birth of a new generation

The Road Post-apocalyptic: silence cannibalism, lawlessness A child’s survival, hope

The Shadow (1994) Dual identity Evil doppelgänger Triumph of repressed good

2.In horror, the unseen observer—the camera—often acts as a silent character:

A predatory eye (as in Halloween’s opening POV shot).

A voyeuristic recorder (e.g., Paranormal Activity, REC).

A witness for the monster or the audience itself.

The presence of a “cameraperson,” even if metaphorical, taps into our guilt as viewers. We’re watching suffering for entertainment—how different is that from the killer watching his tapes?

This meta layer makes horror psychologically disarming. We don't just fear the monster; we fear ourselves for watching it.

3. In peace and prosperity (post-WWII democratic societies), the monster becomes necessary:

Not just for fear, but to awaken moral decay, laziness, or disconnection.

“The boogeyman is under the bed” is a metaphor for:

Societal shadow (poverty, war, injustice).

Inner shadow (repression, violence, addiction).

The horror genre externalizes the unseen — that which we don’t want to look at.

Monsters become moral alarms. Not just evil — but the cost of forgetting.

4. Perspective for Aspiring Writers

Cinema and storytelling—especially post-WWII—are steeped in the struggle between order and chaos, history and amnesia of the what happened before with "Who controls the present without teaching history contol the future narrative" but since on this planet all things are relative, entropy has a hand in the repeatability of that which I named the historical present!

Conclusion: Horror as Myth, Mirror, and Moral Compass

From Serenity to 28 Years Later to “the cameraperson’s dark purpose” — is not just horror, but a coded mythic language for people to:

Rebuild a broken world.

Explore the forbidden.

Accept that behind peace, there is always a cost.

If you’re working on a story or script from this perspective, you're not just entertaining — you're tapping into an eternal human need to be warned, reformed, and reborn.

Geoff Hall - Thanks for sharing, someone was just recommending this movie. I'll watch the movie prior to this, don't want to spoil it.

Cyrus Sales Hi Cyrus, please add your thought here. It will be great to know what you think of the film.

Beginning of a universe!

Geoff Hall I will come back and share my thoughts once I watch it. Might have some time Friday evening.

Roy Wiz Thank you for sharing. Couple questions for myself or anyone else who maybe new to avid media. What is KF? When would they or myself need to use this? How does this help with workflow or just in general? Also, if it isn't too much work, would be willing to share a video for future community people to see, as I know some individuals like myself are visual learners. Thank you again for sharing!

Good question Catarina. I've been looking at a lot of writers lately and how they overcome writers block. It seems you set yourself down in front of your software and put something together. Steven King makes himself sit for 4 hours a day good or bad. Give it a try. Look at it the next day and feel free to start fresh. But you have to do something to unblock yourself. Good Luck.

Catarina Sousa César - I tend to have "video editor's block," on client projects, more so once time has lapsed from production to editing and all the excitement has warn off. Now I'm looking at a timeline and the work is looking back at me lol. For me it starts with changing my mindset. I tend to be looking at everything I need to get done. The saying "eat the elephant in chunks," really come in handy. I usually set a timer for myself 30 minutes, 60 minutes whatever the case may be and work on a little bit during that time frame once the timer goes off I'm free to leave but by the time the timer goes off I'm having the time of my life and don't want to stop.

I'd say for passion projects, I agree with David Block sit down for an x amount of time and see what can be done. Motivation is a fleeting emotion, sometimes you have to practice discipline and do it despite the feeling. On the other side of the pendulum it's okay to take a break and not do. Sometimes blocks are a sign to take a step back and not do anything at all. Go for a walk, do something else creative, watch something inspiring. It honestly depends on you and how you function and your own goals. Hopefully this helps!

Hi Catarina Sousa César

I believe my journey started with editing, and the most valuable learning came from watching films and studying how master editors—some of them Oscar winners—craft their work. Sometimes, I feel like the editor is the second director of the film. I’ve come to realize that when assembling and layering scenes, you shouldn’t be afraid to take risks. Often, unexpected beauty and creativity emerge spontaneously, even without a planned intention

Oh I have a good one how to get over editors block. Start doing simple things, like syncing audio, importing clips, maybe find a couple of clips and try out a color grade. Something technical and simple, then once you get going you just transition seamlessly into editing. Works basically with anything, writing, even with my partners sculpting.

Head over to VIDEOCOPILOT.net .... Andrew Kramer has amazing After Effects tutorials. He walks you through step by step. On the site is a "Basic Training" section that's a great starter.

Thanks a bunch

My advice to any new filmmaker is to not focus on VFX yet. If you are curious of what can be done, I would watch the official breakdowns, like these from Weta (as you mentioned Avatar): https://www.youtube.com/@WetaDigitalVFX. I can point you to more resources if there is any specific effect you need for your film, but when possible, try to get as far as you can with real lighting or practical effects...

Anthony McBride thanks for posting. I'm looking at getting more involved with VFX so this post definitely adds value for my journey as well.

I forgot to mention my own free 20-part VFX tutorial, for those interested in the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtHy1xNYDiw&list=PLoeCfokv7t8_7Hdl7ZEwCO...

I learned from Warren Eagles. While he has a Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@WarrenEagles), his full courses are not free though.

hey Cyrus have you checked the 5 hour long intro to Davinci by Casey Faris? I'm sure you can fast forward through it since you have experience but I love that it's SO comprehensive.

https://youtu.be/MCDVcQIA3UM?si=nLntqXRglz2VdS52

Ilker Er, PhD - thank you, I'll be sure to check it out!

Patrik Gyltefors I don't think I've heard of him before but I'll glance through his free stuff first before paying for anything.

Frank Ishizaki No I haven't. Funny enough this reminds me of the 10 hour tutorial for compression (audio). I like the longer tutorials though, I feel like they're able to put way more information into the video versus the shorter ones (although I like the short ones too).