Professional facility providing post-production services for film and television including editing, color grading, sound mixing, VFX, and finishing – equipped with specialized hardware, calibrated monitoring, and experienced staff to complete projects to broadcast or theatrical standards.
What is a Post House?
A Post House is a professional facility for post-production services. It offers specialized rooms, equipment, and personnel for the final completion of film and television productions.
Basic Principles
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Function | Post-production services |
| Equipment | Professional equipment |
| Standards | Broadcast/Cinema |
| Team | Specialized technicians |
Services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Editorial | Editing suites |
| Color Grading | Color correction |
| Sound | Mixing, design, ADR |
| VFX | Visual effects |
| Finishing | Online, mastering |
Facilities
| Room | Function |
|---|---|
| Edit Suite | Offline/online editing |
| Grading Theater | Color correction |
| Mix Stage | Sound mixing |
| ADR Booth | Dubbing |
| Machine Room | Servers, rendering |
Grading Suite
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Reference Monitor | Calibrated, HDR-capable |
| Control Surface | DaVinci, Baselight |
| Projector | For cinema simulation |
| Viewing Distance | Standardized |
Mix Stage
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Acoustics | Professionally treated |
| Monitoring | Surround, Atmos |
| Desk | Avid, Harrison, etc. |
| Standards | Dubbing stage specs |
Edit Suites
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Workstation | High-end Mac/PC |
| Software | Avid, Premiere, Resolve |
| Storage | Fast access |
| Monitoring | Calibrated |
Equipment Standards
| Area | Standard |
|---|---|
| Monitors | Sony BVM, FSI |
| Calibration | Regular |
| Storage | SAN, NAS |
| Backup | LTO, Cloud |
Workflow Support
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Ingest | Material ingestion |
| Dailies | Daily reviews |
| Conform | Online edit |
| Delivery | Final formats |
Team Roles
| Position | Task |
|---|---|
| Colorist | Color correction |
| Editor | Editing |
| Sound Mixer | Sound mixing |
| Online Editor | Finishing |
| Producer | Project coordination |
Size Categories
| Size | Description |
|---|---|
| Boutique | Specialized, small |
| Mid-Size | Multiple services |
| Large | Full-service |
| Enterprise | Studio-affiliated |
Well-Known Post Houses
| Region | Examples |
|---|---|
| LA | Company 3, EFilm |
| NY | Goldcrest, Harbor |
| London | Framestore, Goldcrest |
| Germany | Arri, CinePostproduction |
Project Types
| Type | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Feature Film | Theatrical standards |
| TV/Streaming | Broadcast specs |
| Commercial | Fast turnaround |
| Documentary | Flexible workflow |
Cost Structure
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Room Day | Per day/room |
| Hourly | By the hour |
| Package | Fixed price |
| Flat Deal | Project price |
Typical Rates
| Service | Range/Day |
|---|---|
| Grading | $3,000-10,000 |
| Edit Suite | $500-2,000 |
| Mix Stage | $2,000-8,000 |
| Online | $2,000-5,000 |
Selection Criteria
| Factor | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Suitable for project |
| Staff | Experience, reputation |
| Availability | Schedule |
| Location | Accessibility |
| Price | Budget-fitting |
Remote vs. On-Site
| Aspect | On-Site | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Direct | Video call |
| Monitoring | Calibrated | Varies |
| Cost | Higher | Potentially lower |
| Flexibility | Operating hours | 24/7 |
Security
| Aspect | Measure |
|---|---|
| Physical | Access controls |
| Digital | Encryption |
| Audit | TPN, CDSA |
| Watermarking | Forensic |
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| Book early | Secure availability |
| Clarify specs | Define deliverables |
| Relationship | Think long-term |
| Communication | Clear expectations |
Today
Post Houses remain central to professional film and television production, despite increasing remote possibilities. The calibrated environments, specialized equipment, and experienced personnel are indispensable for critical finishing work. The trend is towards hybrid models that combine remote work with session-based visits.