Post-production is the phase after filming when a film or audiovisual project comes to life. This is when the images are edited, the colours harmonised, the sounds mixed and the visual effects integrated to transform the raw rushes into a coherent, immersive work ready for broadcast. In short, this is the stage where the magic happens and the film becomes real. But more concretely: how much does post-production cost?
The main stages of post-production and their cost
Video editing
Image or video editing consists of assembling the shots filmed to build the story and adjust the rhythm and narration. This phase, which you will learn about on our film course, can last several weeks depending on the complexity of the project. The cost is estimated at between €100 and €500 per day, or between €3,000 and €15,000 for an independent feature film.
Mixing and sound design
The aim of sound editing and mixing is to clean up, synchronise and balance the different sounds (dialogue, atmosphere, effects, music). This work can take between 1 and 3 weeks.
Half a day of mixing costs around €150. The total cost of a mix varies between €2,000 and €15,000 depending on its complexity and, in particular, the way in which the sound is distributed in the space around the viewer (stereo sound or 5.1 sound). 5.1 surround sound, which offers a very high degree of sound immersion compared with stereo sound, generates a much higher mixing cost.
Colour grading
The colour grader works in particular on colour, brightness, contrast and shadows. This operation takes between 3 and 10 days on average and costs between €300 and €1,000 per day, giving a total estimated cost of between €2,000 and €10,000 for a feature film.
Special effects
Special effects (VFX) require time, the use of high-performance technological tools, expensive professional software (After Effects, Nuke, Houdini, Maya, Blender, etc.) and highly qualified human skills. All these factors have an impact on the price charged to the producer.
Furthermore, a special effect is not just a technical feat: aesthetically integrated into the film, it must be credible. Adding special effects involves retouching and means producing several versions before final approval, which lengthens lead times… and costs.
When it comes to special effects, the order of magnitude of prices can be defined as follows
- Simple effect (retouching, green screen overlay): €100 to €500 / shot
- Complex effect (3D, explosion, creature, matte painting): €1,000 to €10,000 / shot
- Blockbuster with massive VFX: several million euros
Sound design
Sound design covers all the non-musical sound elements that support the narrative and atmosphere of a work. In cinema, for example, these are footsteps and ambient sounds (birds, wind, traffic, etc.). On television, it’s more a question of animation sounds, jingles, credits, etc.
Rates vary depending on whether you are dealing with an original composer or a music library. They are modulated as follows:
- Original composer: €1,000 to €10,000 and more, depending on duration and reputation.
- Music library: €100 to €1,000 depending on licences.
Subtitling, dubbing and international versions
These various stages cover all the linguistic and technical adaptations made in post-production to broadcast a film or audiovisual work abroad or to a multilingual audience.
The cost of subtitling is estimated at between €5 and €10 per minute. The translator must adapt the meaning, tone and cultural register so that the message remains fluid and natural. During time-coding, each subtitle must be timed to match the rhythm of the dialogue and appear on screen for a specific length of time (neither too long nor too short).
Dubbing costs between €50 and €200 per minute, depending on the language and the actors. Dubbing is not just about recording: it also involves linguistic adaptation of the text (to respect lip movements), multi-track recording, final mixing and artistic supervision. These stages involve a complete and costly team: translator-adaptor, art director, sound engineer, editors, mixers, etc.
Factors influencing the cost of post-production
Length and type of film
The longer and more technically complex the film, the more hours of editing, colour grading and mixing are required. Post-production processing inevitably costs more.
A short film (10 to 20 minutes) can be edited and finished in a few weeks. By contrast, a feature-length film (90 minutes or more) often requires several months of post-production work.
Budget and choice of studio
The range of the studio and the size of the technical team have a considerable influence on the price. The choice of studio and its equipment directly reflects the final quality of the film and its professional positioning. For example
Independent or freelance studios, which are generally more flexible, are also more economical because they offer daily or fixed-price rates. On average, a freelance technician charges a minimum of €250 per day (including charges). This is ideal for productions on a limited budget.
The big post-production studios offer top-of-the-range services (calibrated equipment, HDR colour grading, 5.1/7.1 cinema mixing, advanced VFX), which inevitably increases their rates.
The expertise and reputation of the professionals must also be taken into account. A recognised colourist or sound engineer will bring superior quality to the project, but will charge more for his or her services.
Finally, the location of the studio also has an impact on the cost of post-production, which is often cheaper in Eastern Europe than in Paris or Los Angeles.
Specific needs
Some projects require special services that can considerably increase the cost of post-production.
Visual effects (VFX, CGI, motion design) such as 3D modelling, inlays or digital retouching often account for a significant proportion of the budget. Their cost varies from a few hundred to several thousand euros per shot, depending on the complexity.
Similarly, original music, including composition, recording, mixing and copyright, is a significant item of expenditure.
Finally, the production of multiple versions (dubbing, subtitling, mastering for different media) adds further costs.
Estimating the total post-production budget
All post-production, even that of a low-budget clip, requires a certain amount of know-how and fairly substantial technical resources. However, the post-production of a short film always costs less than that of a feature film, mainly because of the amount of work and resources involved. Generally speaking, the more specific or artistic treatments a project requires, the more technically demanding and financially onerous post-production becomes.
Average budget for a short film
A short film lasts a maximum of twenty minutes. Post-production is therefore quicker. A small technical team and lighter tools can be used. The average budget is estimated at €3,000. However, for projects requiring special effects or special artistic treatments, the rate can rise to €15,000.
Average budget for a feature film
A feature-length film generally lasts more than 90 minutes. Big-budget feature films require massive VFX, sophisticated image correction, elaborate sound compositions and a larger team, all of which greatly increase costs.
An independent feature film, i.e. one produced outside the major studios or traditional circuits, often requires private funding for a budget of between €20,000 and €60,000.
A top-of-the-range production is defined as an audiovisual project produced using superior technical and artistic resources, mobilising professional teams, cutting-edge equipment and sophisticated post-production, to deliver an immersive, professional result ready for international broadcast. In this case, the cost of post-production easily reaches €100,000 or more.
