Post Production Company: How to Evaluate, Source, and Hire the Right Post House

A post production company — also called a post house or finishing facility — transforms raw production footage into broadcast-ready or theatrically deliverable content. For film and TV productions, selecting the right post production partner affects delivery quality, schedule reliability, and increasingly, access to territory-specific tax incentives for qualifying post spend. This guide covers what to look for, how to evaluate vendors, global post production hubs, cost benchmarks, and how to structure the engagement.

 

What a Post Production Company Does: Services and Pipeline

Post production encompasses everything from the first assembly cut through final delivery. The full pipeline:

 

Stage	Service	What It Produces
Offline Editing	Picture editorial — assembling the cut from rushes	Locked picture cut (offline approval)
Online Editing / Conform	Relink offline cut to full-resolution media; clean-up, title cards, graphics integration	Online master ready for color
Color Grading (DI)	Digital Intermediate color correction and look development	Graded master; HDR/SDR versions; theatrical DCP color grade
VFX Integration	Composite VFX elements into graded picture; plate work, wire removal, sky replacements	VFX-composited picture master
Sound Design	Sound effects, foley, ambiences, music editing	Premix tracks for final mix
ADR / Dialogue Editing	Automated Dialogue Replacement recording; production dialogue clean-up	Production and ADR dialogue tracks
Music	Music spotting, score integration, music clearance coordination	Mixed music tracks; cue sheets for royalty reporting
Final Mix (Re-recording Mix)	Balance and mix all audio elements to broadcast/theatrical spec	Final 5.1, stereo, Dolby Atmos mixes
Mastering and Delivery	Create all deliverable versions per platform/broadcaster technical specs	Broadcast masters (XDCAM, AS-11), streaming deliverables (IMF, ProRes), DCP, subtitles/captions
Subtitling / Dubbing	Subtitles for accessibility (SDH), foreign language subtitles, dubbing for localisation	Timed subtitle files (SRT, TTML), dubbed audio tracks by territory

Not all post production companies offer every service. Understanding which services you need determines whether a full-service post house or a combination of specialists is the right approach.

Full-Service Post House vs. Specialist Vendors

The decision between a full-service facility and specialist vendors is one of the first post production procurement decisions. Both models have distinct advantages:

 

	Full-Service Post House	Specialist Vendors
Coordination	Single point of contact; internal handoffs between departments	Post supervisor manages multiple vendor relationships; higher coordination overhead
Creative quality	Consistent but may not be best-in-class in each discipline	Best-in-class talent in each discipline; e.g. dedicated color house for grading
Schedule risk	Facility manages internal scheduling; slower if one department bottlenecks	Parallel workflows possible; specialist can be swapped if performance issues arise
Cost	Often better package pricing; fewer mobilisation costs	May be cheaper for specific disciplines; overhead in management time
Best for	Standard broadcast and streaming TV series with defined technical spec	Feature films, high-end drama, projects where grading or sound quality is a key differentiator

Many high-end productions use a hybrid approach: a full-service facility for editorial and conforming, a specialist color house for the digital intermediate, and a specialist sound facility for the final mix. This captures efficiency for routine work while bringing specialist expertise to the highest-visibility craft elements.

 

Major Post Production Hubs Globally

Post production companies are concentrated in cities with strong production infrastructure and favorable tax environments.

 

United Kingdom — Soho and Beyond

London’s Soho district remains one of the world’s densest post production ecosystems. Major facilities include:

 

• Molinare: High-end drama grading and sound; Netflix and HBO client base
• Goldcrest Post: Feature film and high-end TV; Oscar-winning grading and mixing credits
• The Farm Group: Broadcast post production at scale; strong in unscripted and factual
• Envy Post Production: Drama and factual; inline with Sky and streaming delivery workflows
• Technicolor: International post house with London, Paris, and Los Angeles presence

UK post production benefits from the HETV Tax Relief (34% on qualifying UK post spend), making it attractive for international productions with significant UK post requirements. The Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC) introduced in 2024 also creates incentives for UK indie feature post production.

 

United States — Los Angeles and New York

Los Angeles remains the global anchor for feature film and major streaming series post production. Key facilities include:

 

• Deluxe: Global post company offering editorial, VFX, color, and distribution services
• Technicolor Post: Color and finishing for major studio and streaming clients
• Formosa Group: Premium sound post; multiple Oscar-winning credits
• Todd-AO (Studio at Home Depot Lot): Large-scale mixing stages; blockbuster feature work
• Company 3: Color grading boutique with A-list colorist roster; feature film and premium TV
• Harbor: New York-based full-service post; strong in documentary and indie feature

 

Canada — Tax Incentive Geography

Canadian post production companies benefit from federal and provincial incentive programs that make qualifying Canadian post spend highly cost-efficient. Vancouver (Finale Edit, The Sequence Group) and Toronto (Sim, Technicolor Toronto) have strong facilities serving US productions drawn by BC and Ontario incentives.

 

Australia — Growing Premium Capability

Australian post production has grown significantly with the Location Offset and PDV Offset incentives. Sydney (Soundfirm, Spectrum Films, The Butchery) and Melbourne have facilities capable of high-end feature and streaming series post work. The 16.5% federal PDV Offset on post, digital, and VFX spend has made Australia competitive for international productions allocating post work to incentive jurisdictions.

Post Production Cost Benchmarks by Project Type

 

Project Type	Scope	Typical Cost Range	Key Variables
Indie Feature Film	Editing, color, sound, deliverables (excluding VFX)	$150,000–$500,000	VFX count, number of deliverable versions, Dolby Atmos vs. 5.1
Studio / Streaming Feature	Full post pipeline, multiple deliverable formats	$1,000,000–$4,000,000+	VFX integration complexity, DCI/HDR deliverables, marketing assets
TV Drama (per episode)	Online, color, sound, deliverables	$80,000–$250,000	VFX shot count, broadcaster/platform spec, sound format (Atmos vs. stereo)
Unscripted / Reality TV (per episode)	Online, color, basic sound, deliverables	$20,000–$80,000	Graphics complexity, music clearance, number of deliverable platforms
Documentary (per hour)	Edit, color, sound, archival integration, deliverables	$30,000–$150,000	Archival restoration, motion graphics, theatrical vs. broadcast delivery
Animation (per 22-min episode)	Conform, color, sound, deliverables	$15,000–$60,000	Separate from production costs; complexity of delivery spec

Key variable: Deliverable count significantly impacts post production cost. A Netflix series requiring UHD HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, SDR, and multiple language audio versions may require 15–20 discrete deliverable packages — each requiring technical QC. Budget for deliverables early; it is routinely underestimated in initial post budgets.

 

Platform and Broadcaster Delivery Specifications

Post production companies must be certified or experienced with your platform’s technical delivery requirements before you engage them. Technical delivery specs have become increasingly demanding and divergent between platforms:

 

• Netflix: IMF (Interoperable Master Format) package delivery; Ultra HD 4K required for originals; Dolby Vision and HDR10 color deliverables; Dolby Atmos audio for originals; extensive closed caption and subtitle requirements across 30+ languages
• Disney+: Similar IMF delivery structure; HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HEVC encoding; Disney Originals require DI at 4K minimum
• Amazon Prime Video: IMF or ProRes delivery; minimum 1080p for originals; HDR10 or Dolby Vision
• BBC / UK Broadcasters: AS-11 MXF delivery (AS-11 DPP profile); specific audio loudness standards (EBU R128); HD or UHD per commissioning spec
• DCI Theatrical (Feature Film): JPEG 2000 encoded MXF (DCP); 2K or 4K resolution; Dolby Atmos or 5.1 audio; distinct sound and picture encryption for security

Post houses with platform delivery certifications or demonstrated recent delivery track records for your specific platform reduce delivery risk. Ask for reference contacts at the platform delivery team — experienced facilities have direct relationships with platform technical operations teams that resolve specification questions quickly.

 

How to Evaluate and Select a Post Production Company

Selecting a post production partner for a major project requires structured evaluation. The framework below applies to feature film, TV drama, and premium streaming content procurement.

 

Step 1: Define Your Deliverable Specification

Before approaching any post house, define the full deliverable list — not just the primary broadcast or streaming format. Include: all territorial broadcast masters, streaming deliverables by platform, theatrical DCP if applicable, promotional assets, closed caption files, subtitle files by language. The specification determines which facilities can deliver and the scope of your cost comparison.

 

Step 2: Identify Comparable Credits

Review recent credits that are comparable to your project — same format type, similar budget tier, same platform or broadcaster. Ask the post house to provide 2–3 reference contacts from comparable recent projects. Speaking to a line producer or post supervisor who worked with the facility is significantly more reliable than facility-curated testimonials.

 

Step 3: Identify Key Personnel

Post production quality is heavily dependent on the specific individuals working on your project — not the facility brand. Identify who will be the colorist, the re-recording mixer, the VFX supervisor. These individuals should ideally have credits directly comparable to your project. Confirm their availability for your full post schedule and get named personnel commitments in the contract.

 

Step 4: Assess Security and Confidentiality

For pre-release content — anything with a theatrical or streaming release window — the post facility must have adequate security protocols. Netflix and Disney+ publish facility certification requirements for handling their content. At minimum: badge access, no personal devices in grading/mixing suites, encrypted transfer protocols, NDAs covering all staff.

 

Step 5: Understand Change Order Economics

Post production contracts are routinely exceeded due to change orders: additional cuts, director’s notes after picture lock, format changes, or additional deliverable requirements. Clarify the change order rate structure before signing: day rates, suite rates, and what constitutes an out-of-scope request. Facilities with vague change order provisions are a budget risk.

For a broader framework on sourcing production vendors across VFX, animation, and post, see the Film & TV Vendor Sourcing Guide. For understanding how post production spend integrates with production financing structures, see the Film Financing Guide.

Post Production Contract Essentials

A well-structured post production contract protects the production against cost overruns, delivery failures, and IP disputes. Key provisions:

 

• Deliverable specification schedule: Attached to the contract as a schedule; defines every deliverable with technical specifications, format, and delivery method. Ambiguity in deliverables creates disputes
• Milestone payment schedule: Payments tied to deliverable approval, not calendar dates. Retain 10–20% of the contract value as a hold-back against final approved delivery
• Personnel commitment: Named colorist, mixer, and VFX supervisor specified; change requires production approval
• IP ownership: Confirm all work product created by the post house vests in the production company. This includes custom LUTs, audio stems, and any generated assets
• Confidentiality and security: Specific obligations around pre-release content; facility to maintain asset logs
• Technical warranty: Facility warrants deliverables meet the agreed technical specification; defines remedy if QC fails
• Change order procedure: Written authorization required before any additional work; rate card attached for additional services
• Termination provisions: What happens to assets if the production terminates the facility mid-project?

 

Tax Incentives and Post Production Geography

Post production spend is a qualifying expenditure for most major film and TV tax incentive programs. This creates procurement decisions where the geography of your post work affects your overall production financing.

 

• UK HETV Relief: Qualifying UK post production spend earns 34% tax relief. Productions with major UK post requirements (editing, grading, sound, VFX) can generate significant relief on post spend
• UK IFTC (Independent Film Tax Credit): Indie features can claim enhanced relief on qualifying UK post expenditure from 2024
• Australian PDV Offset: 16.5% federal offset on qualifying post, digital, and VFX expenditure in Australia — no minimum Australian production spend required (unlike the Location Offset)
• Canadian provincial credits: Quebec’s SODEC and Ontario’s Ontario Creates provide significant credits on qualifying post production spend
• French Tax Shelter (TRIP): Qualifying French post production spend can contribute to co-production financing structures

Post production geography decisions should be modelled alongside the production financing plan from the development stage — not after the creative post house selection is made. A film that could do its DI in Australia and sound in Canada versus doing everything in Los Angeles may have meaningfully different net post costs once incentives are factored in.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does a post production company do?

A post production company transforms raw footage into finished, deliverable content — handling offline and online editing, color grading (digital intermediate), sound design, ADR, final mix, VFX integration, mastering, and delivery in all required formats for theatrical, broadcast, and streaming platforms.

 

What is the difference between a full-service post house and a specialist post company?

A full-service post house covers the complete pipeline under one roof, offering coordination efficiency and package pricing. A specialist post company focuses on one or two disciplines — a color grading boutique, sound design house, or VFX finishing company — typically offering higher creative quality in their area of focus. High-end productions often combine both: a full-service facility for routine pipeline work and specialists for grading and sound.

 

How much does post production cost for a film or TV series?

Post production costs (excluding VFX) range from $150,000–$500,000 for indie features; $1M–$4M for studio or streaming features; $80,000–$250,000 per episode for TV drama; and $20,000–$80,000 per episode for unscripted content. Tax incentives in qualifying territories (UK, Canada, Australia) can reduce net post costs by 16–34% on qualifying spend.

 

How do productions find post production companies?

Productions find post production companies through editor and DP recommendations, production company approved vendor lists, territory-specific sourcing for incentive qualification, supply chain intelligence platforms like Vitrina AI, and specialist directories. For major productions, post facilities often pitch directly during pre-production budget planning.

 

What should a post production contract include?

Key contract provisions include: deliverable specification schedule with full technical detail, milestone payment schedule tied to deliverable approval, named key personnel commitments, IP ownership of all work product, confidentiality and security provisions for pre-release content, technical compliance warranty, change order procedure with rate card, and termination provisions covering asset access.