How can I tell if a video production company’s editors are easy to replace?

Start by asking what each editor does that no one else can. Some editors only assemble; others shape the story, grade the colour and mix the sound. The more of the finished style that sits with one person, the harder that person is to swap.

Look at the working materials. Are project files organised the same way every time? Are there style guides, templates, shared presets and a naming system? Ask a stranger to open a recent project in front of you. If they can follow it, the studio has a system. If they cannot, it is the editor.

Check how editors are engaged and how they would handle a transition. Notice periods, ownership of their working files and any restrictions on what they can do next all matter, and your lawyer can explain them. Finally, test the market. Ask how the studio found its last editor, how long it took and how good the candidates were. Ask what it costs to bring someone up to the studio’s standard. A bench of trained freelancers is a good sign. Ask the studio what happened the last time an editor left, and how clients reacted.

Key takeaways

• Ask what each editor does that nobody else at the studio can do.
• Open a recent project file and see whether a stranger can follow it.
• Check notice terms and who owns working files.
• Ask how the last editor was found and how long it took to train them.