Post-production director

Post-production director: a supervisory role

Reporting directly to the production manager, the post-production manager supervises this fundamental stage, which involves combining the various elements of the production (image, sound, voice, etc.) to create a coherent narrative in line with the director’s requirements. Editing, colour-grading, sound editing, mixing, voice dubbing and post-synchronisation – if necessary – as well as special effects and trickery, are all components in which his teams are involved, and for which he is the guarantor of quality. Able to keep an overview, this orchestral conductor supervises the technicians, makes sure that the renderings are consistent and that schedules are adhered to.

How do I get to be a post-production manager?

The job of post-production director requires a combination of managerial skills, a great deal of experience and a highly developed technical background. It’s also a job that can be reached after several years as an editor or production manager. Whichever route you take, a solid audiovisual training course, with a particular emphasis on post-production, is essential. The CinéCréatis school’s 3-year audiovisual training course meets these requirements perfectly, and allows students to specialise in their chosen field in the final year.

Post-production director: skills and qualities required

Thoroughness, organisational skills, a keen sense of timing, good listening skills, a clear interest in technology and how it evolves… These are just some of the qualities required to work as a post-production director.

They must also be able to draw on an exhaustive knowledge of the professions around them, so that they know exactly what to expect from each member of their team. Finally, good managerial skills are absolutely essential for this job: they enable this professional to get the best out of his or her collaborators, and to produce high-quality projects.

Careers and opportunities

Post-production directors can work in many different environments. They are most likely to be found in studios specialising in post-production, special effects studios, animation studios, production companies, etc. After several years’ experience and many projects under their belt, post-production directors may aspire to climb the ladder by joining larger productions, for example, or more prestigious studios.

Salary expectations of post-production managers

As with any position of high responsibility, the salary of a post-production director is often substantial. Depending on their level of experience and reputation, they can expect an annual salary of between €40,000 and €80,000 gross. This is a wide range, which takes account of the variability of projects, some large-scale, others more modest.