What gets turned over
On the day of lock, the assistant editor prepares a turnover for each department. A typical package:
| Recipient | What they get |
|---|---|
| Conform and color | EDL or XML per reel, reference video, list of VFX shots |
| Sound editorial | AAF with production audio and handles, reference video with timecode burn |
| Composer | Reference video with temp music removed or on a separate track, cue list |
| VFX vendors | Shot plates with handles, reference clips, lineup sheets |
| Titles and graphics | Durations and in points for main and end titles |
The reference video carries burned in source and record timecode so everyone can talk about the same frame. If Reel 3 starts at 03:00:00:00 and a sound editor says there is a click at 03:12:44:17, the editor can find it in seconds.
Why the date matters so much
Everything after lock is built on fixed timings. The composer writes cues to the frame. The sound team cuts effects and foley against picture. The colorist grades each shot after the conform. If one scene loses four seconds, the music cue across it no longer lands, the sound edit has to shift, and the grade may need new shots.
Post schedules are usually built backward from the delivery date. A plan for an indie feature might hold several weeks for sound editorial, a week or two for the mix, and a separate block for the grade, all starting from the lock date. Those durations depend on the facility and the film, so get them from your vendors.
Unlocking without chaos
It happens. A distributor buys the film and wants two minutes out, or a test screening shows a confusing scene. When changes come after lock, editorial issues a change list that tells each department exactly which events moved and by how much. Sound and picture teams can conform their work to the change list instead of starting over. Changes are cheaper when they are grouped into one revision rather than dribbled out over weeks.
Common confusion
Picture lock does not mean the film is finished. Sound, music, color, VFX, titles, and deliverables all still come after it. People new to post sometimes schedule a festival submission for the week after lock and find there is no mix yet. Ask the post-production supervisor for the full schedule from lock to delivery before promising anyone a date.