Purpose, Scope, and Intended Audience
Post production and delivery requirements, as directed by Amazon MGM Studios (“AS”) is outlined in this document. If applicable, the Line Producer and Post Production team should carefully review this document before the first budget review and refer to it throughout production and post production to maintain adherence to AS guidelines. If there are any questions or concerns about how a particular section of this manual applies to the project, please contact the assigned Post Executive.
Communications with Amazon Studios Post
Except where noted, all communications related to post production should be directed to the Post Executive and Post Coordinator, including questions about post delivery policies.
Keeping the designated Post Executive and Post Coordinator marked on all emails will ensure proper support and help to obtain answers/resolutions when needed. Please cc the Post Executive and Post Coordinator on all replies if not included in the original email.
For any questions regarding Post/Delivery, or if the production lacks a Post Executive’s contact information, then please email in-og-post@amazon.com. The alias can also be used to address any queries around Movies, Scripted and Unscripted titles.
Pre-Production
Please refer to the Delivery Checklists below to know which delivery platform(s) applies to the project.
Prior to the start of principal photography or animation, please schedule a 60-minute kick off meeting with the assigned Post Executive. The Post Executive will introduce Amazon Studios personnel, discuss general plans, lay out the required deliverables due prior to the start of production, and address questions regarding the information contained in this document. Please thoroughly read the Global Manual and have questions prepared to discuss.
During the Post Kick Off meeting, please provide the Post Executive with contact information for the Prod Co’s Post team so that approved credentials may be created.
Post the Kick-off, please schedule regular sync ups with the Post Executive to track the progress of the title.
Prior to the start of production, a 4-digit show code will have been assigned to the project. If a show code was not already provided, please request the code during the kick off meeting. All material submitted to Amazon must include the four-letter assigned show code and season. All emails to Amazon must include the 4-digit show code in the subject line. Amazon uses this unique code to track all files and communications. Example Subject Line: XXXX - Title/Season# - Email Subject
Deliverables Due at the Start of Production
The following documents are due at the start of principal photography or Animation and must be updated throughout production and post production cycle. Please find templates and file naming conventions below.
All paper deliverables should be uploaded to Box.com. Please see your AS Post Executive for access to the title's Box Folder.
Post Production Contacts Sheet & Vendor Selection
A Post Production Contact Sheet (contact template) with all editorial crew members, vendors, and key stakeholders must be uploaded ahead of principal photography to the AS approved platform (see Delivery Checklists) and distributed via email to the AS Post Executive.
The Post Vendor Sheet lists all anticipated and active vendors the production is planning to use during the course of Post Production. This document also captures all of the camera and delivery specifications that are unique to the production. If any specification changes during the course of production please alert the Post Executive in writing and update the Post Vendor Sheet.
If new vendors are added (i.e., additional VFX houses, ADR stages, etc.), this form must be updated and submitted as a revision for renewed approval by the AS post executive.
A final version, reconciled with all vendors and personnel (past and present), is due with wrap paperwork.
AS strives for productions to work with post vendors best suited for each show. We advise all titles to get multiple bids from 2 or more vendors to assure competitive rates. All creative vendors must be approved in writing by the Post Executive prior to engaging in work. Consult with the Post Executive regarding post vendors and obtain express approval prior to engaging any vendor.
Technical Setup Information and Requirements
Data Template
The data template sheet is documentation of the technical information regarding the title, which includes type of camera, aspect ratio, recording format, etc. The template needs to be shared with the Post Executive for review and approval at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the Principal photography. The final data template should be uploaded to the AS approved platform.
Hard Drive Requirement List
This is the master list fo all the storage requirements of the title which must be shared three weeks prior to principal photography. The complete storage plan for RAW rushes, Proxies, and any other hard drive requirement must be captured here and shared with the AS Post Executive.
Based on the final approved list, the storage device(s) will be sent 3-5 days before filming starts. Please keep in touch with the AS Post Executive regarding the delivery information.
Post Milestone Calendar & Schedule
AS requires a Post Milestone Calendar ("PMC") be created for all titles at the start of production and all dates should match the Post Production Schedule ("PPS"). The PMC is a list of key milestones and turnovers to AS. Different departments use the PMC to track deliverables and make key scheduling decisions that affect downstream teams including Legal, Marketing, VFX, Delivery, and Localization. Missing these dates can have major implications for these teams and show launch.
The preliminary PMC is to be shared with the Post Executive three weeks prior to the beginning of the shoot schedule. Upon completion of filming, the final PMC is shared within a week to track any changes between the preliminary and final PMC. Once this Post Milestone Calendar is approved by the Post Executive, any changes to the turnover dates or final delivery dates must be approved in writing by the Post Executive and a new PMC document must be distributed via email.
A detailed Post Production Schedule (PPS) must be created ahead of the start of production. This schedule should be a daily accounting of all post production activities. The PPS must be emailed to the AS Post Executive and uploaded on the AS approved distribution platform. The PPS is a living document and should be kept up to date and provided on a regular cadence to be determined by the Post Executive. Once the schedule is approved by the Post Executive, any changes to final delivery dates must be approved in writing by the Post Executive.
See examples here:
The Post Production Schedule must be shared 1 week before the production starts.
Distribution List Policies (Cuts and Dailies)
In the weeks leading up to production, AS Post Executive will turn over a distribution list defining which staff members receive access to dailies, each Amazon Cut, Locked and Final Assets. All show post teams are required to keep a distribution list of all crew members who are to receive each element. This distribution list must be approved by AS Post Executive ahead of any assets being distributed.
If any staff changes occur over the course of the production, please update the distribution lists and share with the AS Post Executive for approval.
Please see here for a Dailies Distribution List Template.
Please see here for an example of a Dailies Procedure Memo.
Please see here for the Movies Dailies Workflow Template.
Dailies must be distributed via Flow Capture Originals Access as Amazon pre-approved dailies and cuts distribution tool. This can be used for both Internal and External asset sharing with various departments. Each project folder in Flow capture has been organized keeping this in view.
For dailies all LUTs must be applied and all takes be delivered as single clips. Long string-outs are not permitted for online viewing due to varying streaming bandwidths and the inability to jump to specific clips or scenes.
On Unscripted titles, you are not required to share dailies unless requested by the AS Creative and Post Executive.
Amazon Content Security specifically prohibits uploading of image, video, and audio to any tool other than Flow Capture for distribution.
The AS Post will set up and manage the dailies platform, including granting project manager access for requested and approved editorial crew members.
For all content deemed as sensitive material, please refer to the Content Standards page. For protocols around sharing and distribution of this content, please contact the AS Post Executive.
The Director of Photography (DP), Director, Production Designer, Executive Producers, Line Producer, and Editorial staff are the only crew-members guaranteed viewing access, and must access dailies from a dedicated secure production site or office only. Please provide business justification if you reach out to the AS Post Executive for approval for crew access to dailies.
Dailies must never be downloaded to personal devices.
Directors and DPs can be given “take home” access to dailies provided on an individually-coded, password-secure tablet provided by production, managed according to Content Security protocols, loaded by the production’s Digital Image Technician (DIT), and delivered to the director and DP at the conclusion of each shooting day. If a production utilizes a dailies vendor or system that does not provide this option, discuss alternate options with the AS Post Executive.
Camera Requirements & Image Technical Specifications
All cameras must be pre-approved by Amazon Studios 3 weeks prior to filming. Please reach out to the Post Executive to confirm the approved primary and secondary cameras and codecs.
Before and throughout production, each project needs to provide informational documentation regarding the planned/actual production and post media pipeline (from capture to delivery/archive).
The AS Post Executive will create and provide access to the approved platform for the post team to share documents outlined below. Please also include a short narrative that helps to describe the workflow and handoffs in the workflow ahead of production start.
The technical setup should be done in consultation with the AS Post Executive.
The production should distribute its intended capture workflow (via the Media Transfer & Workflow Document) to all pertinent production departments and facilities via a memorandum or document. This document should cover the capture resolution, recording format, aspect ratio, and color pipeline for all cameras used. Productions must finalize this workflow document at least two weeks before principal photography.
Camera & Sound Tests
Camera & Sound tests should be used to test the workflow, and the workflow document should be amended as needed. The production should send the capture workflow document and any subsequent amendments to the AS Post Executive for review and approval as soon as possible.
For security purposes, do not use a personal instance to warehouse or convey Amazon Studios files or documents, and do not provide access to any files, documents, folders on the approved platform to anyone who does not have authorization to view them. The AS Post Executive or Coordinator will set up all credentials no later than one week before Principal Photography begins. Production should email requested users to the Post Coordinator.
Workflow diagrams must include:
- On Set
- All Cameras
- All Lenses
- Color Space
- Aspect Ratio
- Frame Rate
- Capture Resolution
- Compression Ratio
- Codec
- Dailies Platform
- Hard Drive specifications
- Media Management Pipeline
- Post
- Finishing Pipeline
- Editorial Format
- Mezzanine Format(s)
- Editorial Platform
- Record Mechanism
- Hard Drive specs
Capture Resolutions
| A | B | |
| 1 | Primary Camera | 3840 x 2160 resolution or higher |
| 2 | B/C Cameras | B/C Cameras must match the primary camera resolution |
| 3 | Frame Rate | (See FRAME RATE) |
| 4 | Aspect Ratio | 1.78 16x9 Full Frame (See below) |
| 5 | Bit Depth | 12-bit minimum for primary camera; 10-bit minimum for B/C cameras; 16-bit maximum |
| 6 | Compression | - Refer to guidelines of the particular camera selected. - Primary Camera: Intra-frame compression should always be utilized - B/C Cameras: Inter-frame compression acceptable but not preferred |
| 7 | Color Space | LOG (or camera equivalent) |
| 8 | Lens | Common spherical lenses are approved. To use anamorphic lenses, consult the AS Post Executive. Mixing of different lenses is not permitted. |
Amazon Studios require checksum reports for dailies. These are delivered for archival of media for long term preservation and to validate the integrity of captured footage. MD5 checksum reports are strongly preferred, with XXhash acceptable if MD5 reports cannot be supplied. Checksum reports should be included in the upload for archive for dailies to the AS approved platform. In any capture workflow, two camera source file copies should be made, one of which should be archived. Please refer to the archive section.
The Checksum software product name and version number should be included in the capture workflow document.
The only approved frame rates for IN Original Series are native progressive 24p and 25p. Whereas, the only approved frame rate for AOMs is 24p. Any deviation from those options requires AS Post Executive approval. AS requires a continuous frame rate within a program.
We do not recommend deviating from the original capture frame rate in any deliverable. Final deliverables cannot have mixed frame rates. If either approach is required, AS requires proper conversion techniques (Alchemist, Episode, Teranex, etc.) and recommends testing in advance of delivery.
All titles must receive creative and post approval in writing before shooting or changing aspect ratios. Production must provide framing charts during testing at the start of production as part of the dailies turn over. Not all cameras can capture theatrical aspect ratios in UHD resolution. Some aspect ratios will also need the approval of Prime Video Encoding to confirm that a non-standard aspect ratio can be managed.
Series
For All Series it is required to shoot in 1.78 16x9 Full Frame aspect ratio.
Movies
For Movies titles, AS Post Exec approval is required before locking in aspect ratio.
To ensure that the images captured maintain the highest dynamic range with the widest color gamut, and to optimize color preservation and workflow, AS highly recommends using camera native color space or ACES.
Amazon Studios advises that all images be captured with enough luminance latitude to avoid crushed blacks and camera noise from under exposure. Reshoots may be requested for scenes under exposed or shot/colored too dark that an audience will have difficulty seeing the action. If you see any problematic sequences in dailies please flag to the Post Executive immediately.
Please refer to the Asset Technical Specifications section for Image Sequences for dailies specification details.
Post Content Security
Please refer to AS Content Security policies as specified in the Security policies.
Prod Co and Post Supervisors must abide by the Dailies and Editorial Procedure.