Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541878
www.postmagazine.com 2 POST NOV/DEC 2025 EDITOR'S NOTE s 2025 comes to an end, Post recently connected with professionals from around the industry to learn their thoughts on trends affecting their business, and their outlook for the year ahead. For more than 20 years, Post's year-end issue has taken on an "Outlook" theme, with a cross section of pros commenting on where the industry is heading. Not surprisingly, topics such as AI, remote collaboration, streaming and the cloud came up regularly. Iain Blair caught up with directors Bill Condon, Ryan Coogler, Justin Lin and Bing Liu, who discuss the challenges they are facing in the world of feature films. They detail their relationship with the post production process and the value it adds to their work, while also commenting on inescapable challenges, such as tight budgets and deadlines. Also on their minds is consumer behavior and the challenge to get audiences into theaters verses watch- ing long-form content at home or on mobile devices. They all agree that the cinema experi- ence is something that is unique and aim to take advantage of its multi-channel sound and large-format screen. Turn to page 14 to learn more. I personally spoke with a number of professionals in the animation, editing, storage and visual effects space, all of whom reflect on their market segments and the opportunities they see for the year ahead. Elevate.io's chief product officer Sumit Rai, for example, sees editing tools going online, rather than via desktop software. Their browser-based solution requires just consumer-level hardware, and allows users to collaborate with creatives anywhere in the world. He points to other industries that have already made the transition to browser-based toolsets and thinks "video" is next. Jali co-founder and chief executive Sarah Watling says their company has an animation solution that will allow creators to customize and localize content for global distribution during the production stage, reducing the need for post and making media that much more marketable. And Topaz Labs' Ross Shain shares details on the company's integration of AI into its video processing tools, and how visual effects pros are already embracing features that can reduces the need to perform repetative, time-consuming tasks. Coverage begins on page 22 and continues on the Post website – postmagazine.com – where a dozen more professionals share their thoughts on similar topics. Also happening this time of year is the lead up to "awards season," with lots of contend- ers hitting theaters before the ball drops on New Year's Eve. I've had the chance to attend numerous screenings in recent weeks and share coverage of many of these films on the Post site. Editor Evan Schiff took time out to discuss his collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein, and how he prepared for his initial interview with the filmmaker. Re-recording mixer/supervising sound Skip Lievsay talks about the challenge of working on the new film Marty Supreme from director Josh Safdie. The film stars Timothée Chalamet and features quick dialog captured during busy scenes with lots of background noise. Making sure the audience hears it all was just one of the challenges the Oscar-winning sound pro had to contend with. And Craig Brewer shares his experience directing the new film Song Sun Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Brewer details how he captured the musical sequences, as well as the film's subtle VFX needs. There's so much to catch up on, so enjoy this issue, visit postmagazine.com, and let's have a great 2026! BY MARC LOFTUS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MLOFTUS@ POSTMAGAZINE.COM A THE INDUSTRY LOOKS AHEAD SEE US ON EDITORIAL MARC LOFTUS Editor-In-Chief Post Publishing, LLC 516.376.1087 mloftus@postmagazine.com KENDRA RUCZAK Managing Editor Post Publishing, LLC/CGW kruczak@cgw.com CONTRIBUTOR IAIN BLAIR Film & TV DESIGN MICHELLE VILLAS Senior Art Director michelle@moontidemedia.com ADVERTISING MARI KOHN Director of Sales Print, Digital and Awards 818.291.1153 cell 818.472.1491 mkohn@postmagazine.com WILLIAM R. RITTWAGE Sales 818.636.2835 brittwage@copcomm.com JUNIOR LOPEZ Customer Service, Circulation 818.291.1117 jlopez@copcomm.com TOMMY RITTWAGE Digital Marketing Social Media 818.291.1166 tommy@copcomm.com REPRINTS 781.255.0625 • 818.291.1153 WILLIAM R. RITTWAGE President/CEO Post Magazine is published by Post, LLC, a COP communications company. 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