Media Is The Masses: Waiting for The "Post" Man

By Sean Stubblefield

"We'll Fix It In Post." That's a somewhat common expression and attitude in the film industry. "Post" refers to post-production, the third and final stage in making a movie (or not live TV show) in which the film/show is edited: shots sequentially arranged and cut, special audio/visual effects added, and sound dubbing. The phrase "We'll fix it in post" means that whatever errors or inabilities occurring during the production stage may be corrected in post-production. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible, practical or accomplished successfully.

The ultimate form of a movie/TV show is determined and developed in "post". A good script can often go bad because of decisions made in post-production. One should not underestimate just how significant an impact this has on a finished film or TV episode. The look and "feel", the tone, the content, the logic, the whole pacing and flow of a story depends on, and is defined by, this vital element.

All the excellent work done by an adept director and crew, the actors and writers could potentially be undone with editing. The story as told in the script is rarely identical to the one presented in the final cut of a film due to "post" adjustments, and a good story could be made less good, or completely different. What seems like a great idea on paper, can be transformed into crap by the time it goes through "post".

Intentions to "fix" it, might actually "break" it.

Also, small minded studios and producers more concerned with sales and profit margins than story integrity and artistry tend to "sell out" and sacrifice a story by "dumbing it down" for the lowest common denominator to make it more "marketable" or "playable"-whatever that means. These wunderkinds cater and pander to "the general public"- who are assumed by them to be morons too unrefined to recognize, appreciate or even care about quality storytelling. These are the type of studio bosses who think science fiction means aliens, ray guns and space ships... and that "action" and special effects are what make a movie good or interesting.

Story and a discriminating audience suffer this totally preventable travesty.

A recent example is the Incredible Hulk movie of 2008. Actor Edward Norton, who clearly respects and understands not only the source material but story telling, agreed to enhance the script by adding psychological character elaborations which delved into the perspective and pathology of the character. And the studio, in its infinite idiocy, opted to omit these vital scenes to make the movie more "action oriented" and "commercially palatable". In other words, less thoughtful... requiring less thought and sophistication from the audience.

Much to my disgust, disappointment and aggravation.
Although still a fantastic movie despite the Studio jack-assery, it would have been so much better, with greater substance and meaning, if such aspects were left intact.
Consider, as well, the added CGI footage in the Star Wars Special Edition. Say no more.

Send Comments to: exastra@hotmail.com

Currently based in Houston Texas, Sean Stubblefield graduated Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Television Production. A philosopher poet, Stubblefield has been writing non-fiction for 15 years, and has penned eight books to date. His first book, Paradox: A Journey Inside Out is available today.

For More Information: www.myspace.com/exastral.