A Checklist for An Editing Project

[ This article was first published in the May, 2007, issue of
Larry’s Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe. ]

Thinking about Growing your Business, Paul Chetirkin sent in the following question:

New producers often ask me to send them a checklist of questions that I need answered by them to get started on a project. However, I’m new enough at this that I don’t know what to send them. What do you recommend?

Larry replies:

Here are ten questions you can use to help get you and your producers on the same page:

1. Who is the audience?
2. What is the principal message?
3. How will this program be used by the audience?
4. What do you want the audience to do once they have seen this?
5. What would make this a successful project for you, the producer?
6. How do you intend to shoot this?
7. What is the final delivery format?
8. When is the deadline?
9. Who has review and sign-off authority?
10. Do you have a budget you need me to stay within?