Assistant Editor Workflow

he systematic process of receiving, organizing, preparing, and managing all raw footage and sound for the editor. It's the foundational, often invisible, labor that transforms a chaotic collection of production data into a structured, editable project. This workflow is not merely technical; it's the first act of interpretation, setting the stage for all creative decisions to follow. This workflow includes translating the script supervisor's notes into the NLE, a crucial step for providing context to the editor. On 'The Martian,' assistants used the script supervisor's daily logs to mark printed takes, input shot descriptions and VFX notes into bin columns, and create screening notes for dailies sessions. This metadata becomes a searchable, foundational layer for the entire edit. This workflow includes crucial preparation tasks that directly impact the editor's speed and creativity. This includes not just syncing and organizing, but also interpreting and implementing the editor's preferred organizational philosophy, such as setting up bins for Frame vs. Text view, creating KEM roll emulations, or building spatial bin layouts. It also involves detailed media preparation, like placing locators on every reset within a take (as done for Pietro Scalia) or re-speeding audio for off-speed footage to ensure it remains in sync (as done for Fred Raskin).