When I was in film school, fixing video in post-production was barely an option—especially for documentary or reality-based content. Using post tools wasn’t well regarded by our teachers, and we didn’t have access to advanced software or the budget to pay for plugins. We had to get everything right from the start: choosing lenses carefully, designing perfect 3-point lighting, and avoiding reflections or distractions on subjects’ faces. If something went wrong, it usually meant a reshoot. It was a great way to build attention to detail. But later, working under tight deadlines and with limited budgets, I learned that perfection on set isn’t always possible. Filmmaking often does require fixing it in post—and there’s nothing wrong with that if you have the right tools.
While I still double-check every setting before I roll the camera, working at Digital Anarchy over the past seven years opened my eyes to what’s possible in post-production. There’s a plugin for almost everything! And hearing the relief in our customers’ voices when a plugin saves their project—or even their budget—made me fall in love with building accessible tools for editors and filmmakers of all kinds. Our Flicker Removal, Digital Makeup, and Video Sharpening tools are used across genres and by crews of all sizes—from solo filmmakers to full-scale production teams.
One of my first customers at DA was an award-winning documentary filmmaker who used Transcriptive, our AI transcription and text-based video editing plugin, to transcribe over 60 interviews in just six days. Another user processed over 100 hours of multilingual footage—English, Spanish, and French—creating captions and translations in record time. Read this user story to learn more. I’ve also seen our tools help organizations like the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) produce high-quality promotional videos on a tight budget (in collaboration with filmmaker Tim Lorge) and help Michigan Media tell a wide range of stories for the University of Michigan faster and more collaboratively than ever.
Personally, Transcriptive has made it possible for me to edit my own videos with almost no crew. But what fascinates me most is how visual effects tools like Beauty Box and Flicker Free can rescue footage without compromising the message. Skin retouching or shine removal might seem cosmetic, but when done right, it helps viewers stay focused on the story. One standout example is Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nisma Zaman, who used Beauty Box while filming a mural project for the NY MoMA. She couldn’t control lighting or reflections, but subtle digital makeup in post helped keep the focus on the artists and their work—not the shine on their skin. Learn more about her post-production process!
Working with these tools has been a fascinating journey. We recently launched an AI-powered update to Beauty Box that makes masking even more precise—and we added automated shine removal.. Our team also enhanced Flicker Free to better handle long-duration flicker, as well as flicker caused by time-lapse, slow motion, or out-of-sync cameras. And our latest plugin, EFF-it!, lets you use A.I to easily remove curse words from dialogue in Premiere Pro.
Digital Anarchy creates professional video-editing plugins for Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Avid, and DaVinci Resolve (OpenFX). Curious to try them on your next project? Download a demo at www.digitalanarchy.com.
Want to chat about post-production tools or workflows? Reach out anytime on LinkedIn or email me at carla@digitalanarchy.com. I’d love to hear your story.
Carla Prates is a film product and marketing leader with over a decade of experience in content, strategy, and partnerships. At Digital Anarchy, she serves as the driving force behind intuitive post‑production tools that empower filmmakers, editors, and creative storytellers. With roots in journalism, filmmaking, and accessibility, Carla brings a user‑first approach to everything she builds. She’s passionate about inclusion in media, mental health in tech, and crafting impactful tools for creative professionals. Outside work, you’ll find her hiking, cooking, or fostering community wherever she goes.
