Ryan Talks About His Post Supervisor Role At Diamond View With postPerspective

Behind The Title with postPerspective

Ryan Sebastyan is a post supervisor at Diamond View, a full-service, Emmy Award-winning creative video agency based in Tampa. Diamond View specializes in story-driven video production. Diamond View also specializes in virtual production and uses one of the largest LED volumes in the world at LED studio Vū, which has been featured on the Today show.

Sebastyan has a hand in every project that comes through the agency, tracking all the people, creative output, notes and deadlines associated with each project; troubleshooting problems; mentoring new editors; maintaining quality control; and more.

We spoke to Sebastyan about his career, what it’s like to be a post supervisor and the workflow at Diamond View.

What does the job of a post supervisor entail?

We handle everything before, during and after post production — from scheduling to preproduction to edits and beyond — to make sure files are saved and delivered properly, etc.

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We adapted this role so that I’m also somewhat of a “creative director for post.” I quality-control videos and give my input alongside the editors. It’s a collaborative space. Other post supervisors I know have more technical roles, but I love being able to bounce ideas off the team. We have some extremely talented editors here.

How long have you been a post super?

I started as a senior editor and have been editing and doing motion graphics for about 12 years. As Diamond View got more and more projects, I organically adopted a role where I edited, made graphics and managed the other editors. Two years ago, we realized we had too many projects for me to do both, so I shifted to a project supervisor role.

Diamond View’s president, Jeffrey McKown, is hands-on with post as well, and we collaborate on all parts of the process, which is unique. I also still edit from time to time as needed, so it works out.

What would surprise folks about the role of a post supervisor?

It’s one of the only positions where we have a handle on every project. Directors and editors focus on projects they’re looped into, but I’m aware of every project under our roof. I keep track of all the people in and out of house working on our projects. I love it, but you constantly think about creative, deadlines, troubleshooting, etc.

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When should a client start planning for post, and when is it time to bring a post super onto a project?

It depends on the project, but typically, the sooner the better. While we might not need much prep time for interview-style shoots, most of our projects at Diamond View need lead time. We often combine graphics with practical shoots and aim to achieve both without ballooning the budget, which requires a post supervisor. I’m usually on all the calls now, even the creative ones, to help flag expenses and issues before they happen.

How do you prefer people to communicate what they need on a project?

We put everything in Slack, from notes to deadlines. It’s awesome; everything is written out there, especially with many projects in various stages. I tell the team to be as communicative as possible. I check in with them throughout the day and go through the creative to make sure they have everything they need.

What is your ideal way to collaborate on projects?

I’m a huge fan of collaboration when it works. At Diamond View, it’s great. Everyone here is talented, and each project benefits when you get more people involved. Whenever an editor is working on a project, I call in other editors to throw in their ideas too. There are no egos, so everyone is receptive to each other’s thoughts. I love hashing it out together.

What is the career path for a post supervisor? How did you start in the business?

Like any managing job, it’s important to have walked in those shoes to manage goals and expectations appropriately. I’ve been editing and doing motion graphics for over a decade, so I’ve seen a lot. When newer editors have issues, I can help them figure out the answer.

I started in graphics first, knowing I wanted to be in editing, but there were more graphics roles available at the time. In my first job, sure enough, they transitioned me to editing in six months. Eventually, I found Diamond View and have been here ever since. I was hired as a senior editor, but as we got busier and took on bigger projects, we saw a need for a post supervisor, so I took that role.

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Why are there so many more new post supervisors than there were 10 or even 5 years ago?

There is way more content now; everything is content. Our work spans everything from high-end campaigns to social media assets — everyone here has a hand in social media content. The sheer volume of content, and how accessible it is to companies like ours, contributed to the increase in post supervisors. These new companies scaled quickly and needed supervisors to keep going. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been sustainable.

Education is also more accessible; you can find lessons in editing on YouTube for free. While that might lead to an oversaturated market, it’s never been easier to learn editing.

What part of the job do you enjoy the most?

The collaboration. We have an editing “basement,” and the vibe down there is great. Each Monday, we share projects from the prior week to recognize our work, which helps boost morale. It’s a great atmosphere for collaboration.

What are some pain points for post supers?

Probably juggling scheduling. Our editors each have their own unique strengths, but with our growing project volume, sometimes we have to pick an editor based not just on the fit, but also on their availability for each project.

What are some projects you’ve worked on?

Lately, we’ve been doing lots of sports projects as big teams start their seasons. Currently, we’re working with the NY Giants on their 100th anniversary campaign. We continuously partner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rays and with other large brands, like NASCAR, Expedia, and Jack Daniels, among many others.

I also love the cause marketing work. For example, we just worked with The Crisis Center and Family First, who support families and children with tough childhoods. Those are rewarding projects to fulfill. As much as I love sports, I like variety too.

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