Post Production Procedures

For creative, budget, and schedule considerations, AS requires the following run times:

• “Half-hour” programs should fall between 22-30 minutes of total program time.
• “One-hour” programs should fall between 48-54 minutes of total program time.

All titles for Prime Video (original platform) should be constructed without ad breaks.

If any episode exceeds the maximum or falls short of the recommended run time, the Production must reach out to the AS Post Executive and AS Creative Executive for approval as this may impact guild payments and residuals.

Program time includes credits and does not include the head Prime Video logo. The Prime Video logo is dynamically inserted during play out and does not need to be added in Editorial or Online.

Teasers and Previously Ons (Recaps) - DO NOT count towards the total program time.

• “Half-hour” programs should fall between 22-30 minutes of total program time.
  • Act Breaks: 3 total acts with 2 (1 sec) breaks.
• “One-hour” programs should fall between 42-54 minutes of total program time.
  • Act Breaks: 4 total acts with 3 (1 sec) breaks.
• “One-hour +” programs should fall between 90-100 minutes of total program time.
  • Act Breaks: 5 total acts with 4 (1 sec) breaks.

TRT and act breaks should be represented on AC1 forward. Teasers and Previously Ons (Recaps) - DO NOT count towards the total program time.

Program time includes credits and does not include the Freevee logo. The Frevee logo is dynamically inserted during play out and does not need to be added in Editorial or Online.

If any episode exceeds the maximum or falls short of the recommended run time, production must reach out to the Freevee Post Executive and Freevee Creative Executive for approval as this may impact Guild payments and residuals.

An Act Timing Sheet must be provided with all cuts and final delivery. The Act Timing Template is provided below.

English Creative Review Forced Narrative Subtitles are required to be burned into picture for Amazon Cuts 1, 2, and 3 and the Locked Cut. These subtitles allow international stakeholders to properly review content. They are not used for translation or other Localization purposes. AS recommends that productions start translation prior to Amazon Cuts, update translations to match the Amazon Cut and Locked Cut versions, and then burn-in during playout for delivery to Amazon Studios. To ensure efficiency, AS advises the production company to perform a Quality Control spot-check and grammar review internally. Use of a 3rd party Quality Control vendor for English Creative Review Subtitles is not required.

These content types do not require a Cut Continuity List.

Amazon Cut 1 (AC1) - Producer’s Cut.

Amazon Cut 2 (AC2) - Addresses first round of Amazon notes.

Amazon Cut 3 (AC3) - Proposed Locked Cut addressing 2nd round of notes. Credits due for review with AC3.

Amazon Cut # (AC#) - Any additional Amazon Cuts must be agreed upon by the Producers and Creative Executives.

Locked Cut - Locked Cut addressing 2nd round of notes.

AS Localization requires Forced Narrative Subtitles to be burned into picture for all turnovers to Amazon prior to final delivery/any cuts or screeners delivered to the localization team.

Number of Cuts

All first season US Scripted Series and Pilots, AS requests that the post schedule accommodate time for Five Cuts and notes to be addressed ahead of locking for the first 3 episodes.

All subsequent episodes allow time for 3 cuts and time for notes to be addressed. Each cut turn over should be numbered in sequential order starting with Amazon Cut (AC1) and turn over dates should match the PMC.

Any additional Amazon Cuts must be agreed upon by the Producers and Creative Executives.

Notes Turn Around

AS requires 48 hours for notes to be turned around on all cuts.

Previously Ons, Next Ons, Season Recaps, and This Season Ons

US Scripted series may require Previously Ons, Next Ons, Season Recaps, and This Season Ons added to the program. Please check with your Post Executive to confirm what additional assets are needed and their placement.

When a cut is ready, please upload to Moxion Originals Access in the Amazon Cuts folder, and denote the batch/filename as such: YYYYMMDD_TYPEOFCUT. Once uploaded, add the file to a playlink and send to the designated team (more info below in Cut Distribution).

• Amazon Cut 1 (AC1): Producer’s Cut
  • Notes turnaround time is within 3 business days of receipt.
• Amazon Cut 2 (AC2): Addresses first round of notes.
  • Depending on the extent of the creative notes given on AC1, an agreed-upon date is arranged for notes to be addressed. This can range from 3-10 business days.
  • Notes are due back on this cut within 2 business days of receipt.
  • Rough draft of credits should be sent to FV Credits email alongside the AC2.
• Amazon Cut 3 (AC3): “Proposed Locked Cut” addressing 2nd round of notes.
  • Should contain confirmed credits.
  • Should contain cleared final main title and final graphics package.
  • Notes are due back on this cut within 2 business days of receipt.
• Locked Cut: Locked Cut addressing 2nd round of notes.
  • Should contain approved credits.
  • Should contain cleared final main title and final graphics package.
  • Notes are due back on this cut within 2 business days of receipt.

Any additional Amazon Cuts must be agreed upon by the Producers and Creative Executives.

Studio Cuts Notes Turnaround Timing

If the cut is received at 5pm on a Friday, notes would be due back on the following Wednesday by 5pm. Weekend cut reviews must be specifically agreed to by the Freevee Creative.

Cut Distribution varies whether the project is an AOM [US-based Movies] or LOM [Local Original Movie]. Please reach out to the AS Post Production Coordinator with any questions.

With each cut delivery, in addition to any automatic notifications from the platform, an email must be sent to the AS Post Executive and Coordinator notifying that a cut has been posted. The email subject line should include the show code, cut version, and date. The email should include a continuity file as an attachment which should also be uploaded to the CONTINUITY folder on Box. A Continuity Template is found attached to this article and must be used for all continuities.

A Locked Cut should have finalized timecodes and no further editorial changes. Locked Cuts should include a Final Main Title.

AS requires the following be delivered for every Locked Cut:

• A downloadable version of each Locked Cut uploaded to the AS approved cut platform (Asset Technical Specifications Article)
• If Applicable: An editable version of the most recent production draft script (.FDX or .RTF preferred), or any other script reference materials, uploaded and shared via the AS Approved Platform along with an email notification to the AS Post Executive.
• Preliminary Log of Licensed Stock Footage & Still Photos, uploaded to the AS Approved Platform with an email notification to the AS Post Executive. (The final version must be uploaded to the AS Approved Platform during QC).
• Split track .wav files delivered as separate audio tracks (Ch.1 Dialogue, Ch.2 Sound Effects, Ch.3 Stereo Music L, Ch.4 Stereo Music R) via AS approved cut distribution platform (See Asset Technical Specifications Article)

If cuts are Conformed or changed after Locked Cut delivery, AS Localization requires the following:

• Downloadable version of revised, Locked Cut. Please use same delivery method agreed upon for all Locked Cuts.
• Timecode-specific breakdown of changes made within the episode.
• Subsequent deliveries should include a revision number in the file name (R1,R2, ...)

Please send via email to AS Localization and Post team aliases.

Amazon Studios conducts audience testing on a case-by-case basis. Normally, testing is done on the first episode at the FC stage.

Please check with the AS Post Executive for specifications and timelines for all studio and network testing as these may be different in each territory.

AS conducts audience tests with the Pilot of most series.

Please check with the AS Post Executive for specifications and timelines for all studio and network testing as these may be different in each territory.

The results may need up to 3 weeks so please plan editorial accordingly.

Preview Screening Protocol

After the Director’s Cut screening, AS Research typically conducts one of the below preview screenings with a recruited audience. The AS Post Executive will discuss the audience recruit plan after the Director’s Cut.

After AC1, AS may conduct an audience testing. Please reach out to the AS Post Executive for file specifications.

Testing turn-around time is usually 12 days, allowing time for testing feedback to be delivered prior to AC3.

Pre-Release Testing Screener

Freevee and US Scripted series send our content out for audience testing. This does not require a stop down of post, but it does need to be accounted for in the post schedule. Time should be built into all schedules for testing feedback.

• Series will be sent out for early consumer audience testing. Depending on the content, this usually happens occurs on your first two to three (2-3) episodes and will likely happen at the AC2 stage.
• Testing turn-around time is usually 10 business days, allowing time for testing feedback. There may be up to an additional five (5) days for unscripted, or 10 days for scripted, for creative review and implementation of those notes.
  • unscripted 15 total business days
  • scripted 20 total business days
• Testing cuts and dates MUST be accounted for in the Post Milestone Calendar (PMC).
• Keep in mind that feedback from testing could require additional editing and in turn, additional cuts. If this occurs, please make sure room for additional cuts is accounted for in the delivery schedule and PMC.
• Reach out to your Post Executive to plan for this testing period.

For documentaries, the Prod Co submits the paperwork and the cut.