The editor cannot fix missing context
Professional editing starts before the editing software is opened. If footage is scattered across folders or the editor does not know which version of a script is final, production time is spent searching instead of creating.
Use predictable folders
- **01_Footage** — camera files, screen recordings, and supporting clips
- **02_Audio** — microphones, voiceovers, interviews, and music references
- **03_Graphics** — logos, fonts, brand assets, screenshots, and images
- **04_Script** — the approved script or transcript
- **05_References** — examples that communicate the intended style
- **06_Delivery** — only final exports
Make final assets obvious
Mark the approved script, current logo, brand guide, and final references clearly. If something is only inspiration, label it as inspiration. If a specific shot must be used, identify it.
Keep high-quality originals
Avoid sending a messaging-app copy when the original camera file is available. Repeated compression can remove detail and make audio or image problems harder to correct.
Give the editor the destination
Include the target platform, aspect ratio, expected duration, audience, and publishing constraints. A vertical short and a long-form educational video may need very different pacing even when they use the same footage.
Final pre-production check
Open a few files from each folder, confirm the script version, check that important fonts and logos are included, and make sure the editor knows what should happen if something is missing.