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Although post-production is a process associated with film and TV, a sort of post-production occurs in stage plays as well. After the initial performance, the actors, director, and writer may alter lines or entire scenes in the script from one show to the next in an effort to fine-tune the show, depending on the audience’s reactions. If you feel that a certain line doesn’t work or needs to be changed, consult with the director or playwright before changing your lines.

During post-production of a movie or a TV show, the director, producer, and/or editor may cut out entire scenes or dialogue, add music (called scoring), and add special effects and sound effects. If the sound quality is poor in certain scenes, the actors may be asked to watch the film of themselves and dub in their own dialogue — a process known as looping (also known as automated dialogue replacement [ADR]). Sometimes, a director may ask another actor to loop in dialogue. So in the final film, you may appear, but another actor’s voice is coming out of your mouth.

      In rare cases, the director may reshoot unsatisfactory scenes (an expensive process, especially if the scene was shot in a distant location like Russia or aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier) or shoot entirely new scenes to help the continuity of the film.

      

During post-production, an entire scene that you appeared in may very well get cut and wind up on the cutting room floor. That’s show business. (Of course, if you buy the DVD version of a movie, you can often see the cut scenes. Sometimes, though, the cut scenes are so out of place that even the DVD version won’t show them.)

      

Post-production can radically change the mood of a film, depending on how the director cuts and edits it. That’s why you see so many films marketed as the director’s cut, which is usually slightly or drastically different from the final cut that the studio ultimately released.

      After all the cuts and edits have been made, the final product is often reviewed and approved by many different people before it’s released to the public. Who does the viewing and approving depends on the kind of project. For example, before a TV commercial can appear on the air, the client must approve it. If the client doesn’t like the TV commercial, it may never be aired. To test an audience’s reaction to a film, studios usually offer special screenings to test audiences. Depending on the reaction of the test audiences, certain scenes may be dropped or new ones added.

Distributing the Product

      After the director finishes editing a film, TV show, or commercial, and the finished product is approved, the final step is distribution.

      

THE MAGIC OF RESIDUALS

      Acting is a job. The biggest difference between working in an ordinary job and working as an actor is that as an actor in film, television, and commercials, you may get paid many times for doing a job once. The first time, you get paid for doing your job; after that, you may get paid each time your part of the show is broadcast again. Each time that a commercial runs on the air, a TV show is rerun, or a film is broadcast on pay-per-view, television networks, or in overseas markets, you get a residual (or royalty). Some commercials and TV shows have buyouts where you may receive no residuals at all. If you’re in a union, fees are set, and residuals may be required unless there is a buyout.

      Residuals are money paid to you for the privilege of broadcasting your performance over and over again. Your agent or the union rules usually stipulates the exact percentage of your residuals, although for smaller roles, you may receive no residuals at all.

      As an actor, you strive for speaking roles to have the ability to either get in the union or receive residuals for every time it’s shown as per union rules.

Films can go through as many as six stages of distribution, which we outline in the following list. Some films are designed specifically for distribution in the pay-per-view, television (often called a made-for-TV movie), video and digital video disc (DVD) markets, or Internet streaming only.

       Stage 1 — Initial release or first-run: The film appears in major movie theaters across the country. Studios often release a film near a major holiday weekend, such as the Memorial Day weekend, to take advantage of the holiday crowds to maximize profits.

       Stage 2 — Secondary release or second-run: The film appears in smaller theaters.

       Stage 3 — Overseas release: During a film’s first- or second-run, the studio may also release the film to overseas markets.

       Stage 4 — Cable networks: When the film is no longer showing in theatres, it may be sold to a cable network.

       Stage 5 — Rental: The film becomes available to rent on DVD.

       Stage 6 — Television broadcast: The film may be sold and broadcast over one of the major television networks and streaming.

Right before a film appears in theaters, the film’s major actors often appear (at the studio’s expense) on local and national radio and television shows to promote the film. Studios also compile short previews, called trailers, to run before movies in theaters to generate interest in the upcoming film. Studios often make deals or tie-ins with book publishers, toy companies, and fast food restaurants. The book publishers sell a novelization of a screenplay, the toy companies sell action figures of the major characters, and the fast food restaurants give away plastic cups or toys related to a film. By licensing out a film’s characters, a studio can reduce its financial risk and earn back as much money as possible before a film is even released. Many actors may also earn extra money by licensing their likeness to action figures, comic books, or video games as part of any tie-ins that studios may have made with other companies.

      By the time a film finally appears in the theaters, many of the actors could already be busy working on other projects.

      

Television shows follow a different distribution cycle from films. TV shows are usually broadcast once and then rerun one or more times. If a television show is popular, it may be sold into syndication, which means that it may be broadcast in a local or regional market. Each time a syndicated show appears on the air, the principal actors receive residuals.

      Special distribution circumstances apply to theatrical productions as well. For example, if a stage play is particularly popular, it can run for several years, providing long-term employment for all the actors involved. During this time, the play may travel around the country or even the world.

      

In rare cases, a film may be shot, edited, and made ready for distribution only to find that the studio never releases it at all due to legal or other obscure reasons.

      THE REAL SECRET OF SHOW BUSINESS

      The real secret of show business is that nobody can predict the next blockbuster hit. Even the most experienced and talented directors and actors have had their share of horrendous flops in projects that initially looked like sure-fire hits. Likewise, every year an unknown actor or director suddenly breaks through with a blockbuster hit that nobody thought had much of a chance.

      So when dealing with agents, casting directors, producers, managers, and other actors, always remember that no one knows for sure what will sell in the future. Everyone can give you advice and tips for succeeding as an actor, but nobody knows for

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