Journal
Post Production
4 min read
Edit Notes That Do Not Make Editors Guess What You Really Mean
A practical guide to timecoded, consolidated feedback that gets you a better cut in fewer rounds.
Iris Moreau
Lead Editor & Colorist
The difference between a two-round edit and a six-round edit is rarely the footage. It is the feedback. Vague notes send editors guessing, and every guess costs a day.
Timecode everything
Every note should point to a moment. “At 01:12 the pause feels long” is actionable; “the middle drags” starts a conversation that could have been a fix.
One voice per round
Consolidate feedback from your team before sending it. Conflicting notes from three stakeholders turn the editor into a mediator instead of a storyteller.
Describe the feeling, not the fix
Tell us what you felt and what you wanted to feel. Editors are very good at finding solutions, and the one they find is often better than the one you would have prescribed.
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