Editorial Direction and Post-Production Proposal

Editorial Direction and Post-Production Proposal Template: a Word Quote for Editor-Directors

This Editorial Direction and Post-Production Proposal template is a Word-format quote for editor-directors who lead the story, shape the edit, and deliver finished video content. It gives production companies, agencies, and independent creatives a clear document to price both editorial leadership and hands-on post-production work.

Use this editor-director proposal to bill for editorial development, rough cuts, picture editing, client review rounds, sound and color coordination, final masters, and delivery versions. It helps separate creative direction from edit time, so the client understands exactly what is included before footage reaches the cutting room.

Why use this editor-director proposal template?

• Define the editorial scope clearly. Set out the narrative approach, intended audience, visual tone, runtime, and approved deliverables before post-production begins.
• Protect your edit time. List the number of review rounds, edit days, and revision limits included in the proposal to avoid open-ended feedback cycles.
• Price every production stage. Quote separately for editorial direction, assembly, fine cut, online edit, motion graphics supervision, and final exports.
• Align all stakeholders. Give agency teams, producers, brand clients, and post houses one shared reference for responsibilities, timings, and approvals.
• Avoid unbilled extras. Make additional versions, new footage, major script changes, music licensing, and rush delivery visible as separate costs.

What does the template include?

• Client and project details: Client name, project title, campaign or series reference, primary contacts, proposal date, and quote validity period.
• Project brief and editorial objectives: A concise description of the content, key message, target audience, format, intended channels, and required tone of voice.
• Scope of editorial direction: The editor-director’s role in story structure, interview selects, narrative development, pacing, visual continuity, and creative decision-making.
• Post-production schedule: Planned dates for footage handover, assembly cut, rough cut, client feedback, picture lock, final mastering, and delivery.
• Line-item services: Day rates or fixed fees for ingest and project setup, media organization, editing, edit-assist work, review sessions, conform, and export preparation.
• Deliverables: The agreed master format, runtime, aspect ratios, subtitle files, social cutdowns, broadcast-safe versions, captioned versions, and file delivery method.
• Revisions and approvals: The number of consolidated client feedback rounds included, who has approval authority, and the hourly or daily rate for extra revisions.
• Third-party costs: Estimated or pass-through costs for color grading, sound mix, voice-over, stock footage, music licensing, transcription, translation, storage, and courier delivery.
• Commercial terms: Fee subtotal, applicable taxes, deposit or booking fee, payment milestones, late-payment terms, cancellation conditions, and usage or rights notes where relevant.

How much should an editor-director charge?

Editor-director pricing depends on the footage volume, editorial complexity, approval process, delivery formats, and whether you are responsible for creative direction as well as the edit. The following North American ranges are practical starting points to adjust for your experience, market, and project requirements.

• Editorial direction / edit supervision: $1,200 to $2,500 per day for senior editorial input, creative reviews, narrative shaping, and client-facing direction.
• Offline editing: $800 to $1,800 per day, or a fixed project fee when the footage, runtime, and number of cut versions are clearly defined.
• Project setup, ingest, and media management: $500 to $1,200 per project, depending on drive handling, proxy creation, logging, and media volume.
• Branded film or campaign edit: $3,500 to $12,000+ for a single hero film, depending on shoot days, interview material, graphics, and revision rounds.
• Social cutdowns and alternate versions: $250 to $900 per version when created from an approved master; more when each cut requires a distinct story edit.
• Additional revision time: $125 to $250 per hour, or $900 to $1,800 per additional edit day.

For a fixed-price editorial direction and post-production proposal, state the assumed footage duration, the number of final assets, and the included feedback rounds. Those three points prevent most scope disputes.

Who is this proposal template for?

• Freelance editor-directors quoting on branded content, documentaries, corporate films, and campaign videos.
• Post-production professionals combining creative editorial oversight with offline editing and final delivery management.
• Directors who remain involved after the shoot and need to quote for story development, edit supervision, and client reviews.
• Boutique production companies preparing a clear post-production estimate for an agency or brand client.
• Editors responding to projects that require a hero film plus social cutdowns, localized versions, or multiple platform deliverables.

Frequently asked questions

Should editorial direction and editing be quoted as separate services?

Yes. Editorial direction covers creative leadership, story decisions, and stakeholder alignment, while editing covers the practical time spent building and refining the cut. Separate line items make it easier to charge for extra creative reviews without reopening the entire edit fee.

How many revision rounds should an editor-director proposal include?

Two consolidated review rounds after the rough cut are common for a defined commercial project. Specify that feedback must be submitted in one client document or review platform, and state that changes after picture lock are billed separately.

Should color grading and sound mixing be included in the quote?

Include them only if you are supplying or managing those services. If a specialist post house will handle them, list the estimated cost as a third-party expense and clarify whether your fee includes supervision of the grade and mix.

What happens if the client supplies more footage than planned?

The proposal should state the assumed shoot days, total media volume, or interview count used to calculate the fee. If the supplied material exceeds that assumption, charge additional media management and edit days at the stated rate before the schedule is affected.