WHO ARE WE?
We are a different kind of movie studio. We specialize in microbudget post production. We are artists working for other artists. We deliver professional quality product for whatever you can afford to pay.
We are locally owned and non-corporate.
And we do all of this because we love movies.
THE COMPANY
C4 Studios was founded in 2020 by writer-director
K.C. Conway, an industry veteran with extensive experience in post-production on both independent and traditional studio projects, as well as writing, directing, and producing.
The company's mission is simple: provide professional quality, industry-standard post-production services to anyone, no matter their budget or lack of budget. Our goal is to rekindle the spirit of "Ars Gratia Artis," or "Art For Art's Sake" that once drove Hollywood studios to cultivate films not just for profit, but for the sake of art itself.
Some of the films we've worked on have screened at major festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, Berlinale, Palm Springs International, the Austin Film Festival, Dances with Films, Hollyshorts, the Micheaux Film Festival, and more.
Other films have been picked up for international distribution by Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Studios, Tubi, and Apple TV. Over the last three years we have worked on dozens of features, shorts, webseries, and trailers.
So whether you are an avant garde experimentalist or a mainstream indie producer, we want to work with you!
THE STUDIO
Located away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and other larger post-production houses, C4 Studios is nestled in the quiet neighborhood of Sherman Oaks. We are primarily an at-home residential studio, well suited for remote work in the post-pandemic age. But don't worry - the studio is also equipped for in-person meetings, so you and your film's stakeholders can view work in progress or finished products comfortably.
Our studio is designed to cater to the needs of both low budget indie filmmakers and higher budget television and commercial clients, but we specialize in microbudget and low budget projects. We are a full service post-production company, capable of taking your film from the first rough cut all the way to final delivery for some of the most affordable rates in Los Angeles.
Whatever your budget requirements are,
we will be happy to work with you to get your vision on the screen!
- Adobe Premiere, Da Vinci Resolve, and AVID Media Composer Workflows
- Raw Media Ingest and Logging
for all formats
- Online/Offline HD, 2K & 4K Editing
- Final Edit Conforming
- Pro Tools Studio Workflow
- Dialogue Editing and Cleanup
- Sound Design
- Foley
- Stereo & 5.1 Nearfield Sound Mixing
for Theatrical, Broadcast, and Streaming
- Mastering (Broadcast, Theatrical, Streaming, Web)
- Color Correction and Grading in Da Vinci Resolve
- HD, 2K, 4K, 6K, & 8K Deliverables
- Professionally Calibrated Reference Monitors
- SDR & HDR Workflows
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- Audio & Visual Deliverables Creation in Multiple Formats (HD, 2K, 4K, 6K, 8K)
- NTSC to PAL Conversions
- Blu Ray DVD Authoring
- Full Service Software and Manual Quality Control
- Theatrical, Broadcast, & Major Streaming Network Compliant Deliverables
SERVICES
RATES & PACKAGES
Every indie filmmaker knows that post production costs money - a lot of money! Most post houses charge "indie friendly" rates that are still too expensive for many low budget or micro budget filmmakers to afford. At our studio, however, you can get truly indie friendly rates and not have to cut corners on quality.
We offer fully negotiable prices for all our a la carte services, as well as per project and package rates, depending on your budget level. We also offer "pay more later" arrangements - one flat rate paid upfront, and the remainder paid out only if you turn a profit or successfully fundraise!
EDITING
Hourly Rates
$30/hr for Editing services
$50/hr for DCP Creation
$50/hr for Archival/Authoring services
Per Project Rate: Negotiable
POST SOUND
Hourly Rates
$30/hr for Sound Editing, Dialogue Repair, and Sound Design
$40/hr for Foley Recording
$60/hr for Stereo Mixing
$100/hr for 5.1 Mixing
Per project rates negotiable
Color GRADING
Hourly Rates
$50/hr for SDR Grading
$60/hr for HDR Grading
Per Project Rate: Negotiable
DELIVERY
Hourly Rates
$50/hr for DCP Creation*
$50/hr for Archival/Authoring services
$150/hr for Quality Control*
(includes free revisions and full QC report at the best rate in Los Angeles!)
Per Project Rate: Negotiable
MICRO BUDGET PACKAGE
For total budgets below 10K
Pick your post production services
and you pay one flat rate.
from $1-2K
LOW BUDGET PACKAGE
STANDARD
BUDGET PACKAGE
For total budgets 10K to 50K
Pick your post production services
and you pay one flat rate.
from $2K - 5K
For total budgets 50K - 100K
Pick your post production services
and you pay one flat rate.
from $5K - $10K
For projects with budgets over 100K, please email us directly for a quote.
Please note all rates do not include any additional costs incurred by distribution or festival delivery requirements
* Quality Control and DCP Creation are charged per hour of project screen time
HOW MUCH TO BUDGET?
One of the top questions we receive from indie filmmakers is - how much should I budget for post?
Here at C4 Studios, we recommend budgeting no more than 20 percent of your film's total budget on post production, with the majority going towards post sound. While editing and color grading can often be accomplished relatively cheaply, post sound is where it pays to spend! Sound is half the film, after all, and if you just spent 10K on production, you should invest enough in post sound to make that money worth it. Good sound can make the difference between a good film and a great film!
Another area where filmmakers often underspend (and underestimate) is quality control. While distributors often make it sound like their quality control is at no cost to the filmmaker, most distributors simply deduct their expenses from your film's revenue - and they can charge whatever they want! We highly recommend spending a small amount of money up front to ensure your deliverables are up to the distributor's specs, rather than waiting for them to charge you an exorbitant fee later.
C4 Studios takes pride in helping indie filmmakers understand and navigate the often confusing world of post production. If you have questions or would like to know more about how we work and what the post process entails, send us an email at create@c4-studios.com, give us a call at 1+805-222-6121, or message us on Instagram!
Frequently asked questions
Where are you guys located? Is there parking?
We're located in sunny Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley, and yes - there is parking! Please send us an email or call us for our address and directions. Since we are a residential location, we'd prefer not to post that on the internet.
Do you offer remote services?
We sure do! If you're located in another part of the country, or world, we can still work with you. Our Zoom skills are pretty legendary. Give us a call or email and we'll figure out the best post production workflow to suit your needs!
How fast do you turnaround? What if I have deadlines?
We'll do our best to meet any deadlines you might have, whether for festivals or distribution. Please keep in mind that due to our lower prices, we cannot guarantee fast turnaround. Remember the old adage - "you can have it two of three ways: fast, good, or cheap." We strive to do things good and cheap - ergo, not always fast.
However, if you do have a tight distribution or festival deadline, please let us know beforehand and we'll do everything we can to make sure you cross the finish line on time!
Do you take checks? Venmo? Bartering?
All of the above actually! But we prefer checks or bank transfers so we can file our taxes easily. If you need or want to pay via another method, we accept Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, and Paypal. And if you would like to negotiate bartered services (we could always use help on our own projects!) just let us know.
So do I really have to pay for services then?
Unfortunately, yes. We try to make our services as low as possible to help low budget indie filmmakers, but we also have to pay our electricity bills. If you need work done and have zero budget, please let us know - we are always open to service bartering or deferred payment. However, keep in mind that we will have to prioritize paid work first - so your film might take a while. But we don't cut corners so you'll still get the same quality work!
Do you just do post production?
Nope! While we specialize in post, we can help out with any part of the filmmaking process. Our studio owner is also a gifted screenwriter and director, and can help out in almost any below-the-line crew position (he's especially good at Cinematography, Assistant Directing, and Cam Op-ing). Plus, we have a wide network of film industry specialists we work with - so if you need a crew member, we can probably find one for you.
Cool! Can I join the company? Are you hiring?
Yes! We're actively looking for producers to partner with so we can start making projects together. And we're always looking for freelance contractors to hire out. If you're a freelance crew member or a freelance post production specialist (editor, assistant editor, colorist, sound editor/designer, foley artist, etc.) please give us a call or send us a resume! We also host an open house every December. Follow our Instagram for details.\.
Is your branded merch for sale? I saw some cool products on Instagram!
It will be soon! We're in the process of sorting out the best e-commerce solutions, but as soon as we do, we'll have cool branded shirts, hats, mugs, and more available with original designs and logos by our owner K.C.!
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All of this sounds amazing - can I volunteer or donate to help you guys?
Definitely, and if you do we'll hang a picture of you in the office. Okay, maybe not a picture, but you will be tremendously appreciated! Our company is incredibly small and our clients are typically microbudget filmmakers, so profit margins are usually slim. Feel free to send us an email if you'd like to volunteer your time and help us out, or if you'd like to donate - whether it's money, gear, or cookies, any donations are welcome!
CONNECT
WITH US
We help other people make their movies so we can make our own movies, too! Every dollar you spend at our studio goes towards keeping our lights on and making our own projects. While we specialize in post production, we work with a wide network of filmmakers and industry creatives, from writers and directors to on-set production crew and craftspeople. If you need help making your film at any stage along the production journey, please let us know. We love helping fellow creatives out - and who knows...someone we know may be able to help out someone you know. There's only one way to find out!
