In the world of video production, one of the most common issues project managers face is overrunning the budget during the editing process. This often happens because of poor communication and not having clear expectations from the start. When clients ask for multiple changes during editing, it can eat into profits, extend the project timeline, and increase stress for everyone involved.
But here’s the good news: with a little planning and clear communication, project managers can avoid these problems and ensure that editing stays on track. Let’s break it down.
Plan Ahead to Minimise Changes
The key to preventing editing issues is aligning expectations early on in the project. Before the editing even starts, project managers should focus on pre-production. This means creating a storyboard, managing time well, and sticking to a budget. When everyone understands what the final product should look like, there’s less room for confusion and last-minute changes.
It’s also important to educate the team and the client about the editing process. When everyone understands how editing works, they can make better decisions and avoid unnecessary delays. It’s simple: when people know what to expect, they can plan better, and the editor has more time to work creatively on the video.
Understand How Editors Work
Editing is a creative process, but it’s also quite structured. Editors usually follow a step-by-step workflow to make sure they don’t waste time. Understanding this workflow can help reduce mistakes and delays, allowing the editing process to go smoothly and efficiently.
For example, if the video involves unplanned interviews or documentary-style footage, the editor needs to figure out which clips to keep. If there are too many unimportant or repetitive parts, it can take extra time to sort through everything. It’s much more efficient if the project manager helps by selecting the key parts in advance. This saves the editor time and ensures that the final video has the right content.
Avoid Last-Minute Changes
Another tip for saving time is to decide on the content before adding text, pictures, or subtitles. These elements can take a long time to adjust once they’re added, so it’s better to get the content right first. Once everything is aligned and the editing is on track, the editor can then focus on enhancing the video with creative elements like text or special effects.
The Bottom Line
By planning ahead and setting clear expectations, project managers can avoid costly editing delays and budget overruns. It’s all about communication and education—ensuring that everyone involved in the project knows what to expect and understands the editing process. When done right, this leads to smoother, faster projects with better results, making life easier for everyone from the project manager to the editor and the client.
So, the next time you’re managing a video project, remember: good planning upfront saves time, money, and stress in the end!