During post-production, the image montage is amplified at various levels. The second phase of photo design involves colour correction and grading, where light and colour interact as aesthetic elements to reinforce the film’s intended message. Similarly, the graphic elements and the use of visual effects (VFX) must enhance the expressiveness of the work without distorting it. As with the image, the second phase of sound design closes with post-production, including sound ambience, voice interpretation, and the use of a musical soundtrack or sound effects to enhance editing work. Finally, the mixes provide the subtlety of the sound planes or layers, as well as the film’s sensory dimension.
In this chapter, the cinematographer Lara Vilanova, directors Aïcha Boro and Messaline Revardy, and others talk about the final stages of post-production in documentary filmmaking. They explore decision making and how collaboration between directors, cinematographers, and colourists shapes the visual aesthetic.
