Kanban for video editors: rounds of feedback without losing track
For video editors, the edit is the fun part. The rest is waiting: waiting for the client to send footage, for the brand team to send logos and fonts, for the music licence, for feedback on cut one, cut two, cut three, for final approval and for the invoice to be paid. Freelancers and small studios often have six or eight projects in flight, each in a different round.
A 2D board shows at a glance which projects you can work on today and which are waiting on someone else.
One row per project
"Acme product launch video", "Wedding: Kim and Alex", "Training series ep 3". Each one moves through similar stages: assets, rough cut, feedback, revisions, final delivery.
Columns that show who has the ball
- Mine: your work: assemble rough cut, colour grade, export deliverables
- Other: waiting on clients and collaborators, with names: footage upload, brand assets, music licence, feedback on cut 2, final approval
- Next Steps: next stages: captions, social cut-downs, archive
- Done: delivered
On a busy week, the board answers the most important question: which projects can I edit right now?
Feedback rounds are where projects stall
Clients often take longer to give feedback than you take to edit. Put "Feedback on cut 2" in Other with the client's name the moment you send it. Axtio shows the days waiting and flags anything over a week, which is your cue to nudge, and your evidence if the deadline is at risk.
Agree the number of rounds
Unlimited revisions destroy timelines and margins. Agree the number of feedback rounds in the quote, and track each round as an action so both sides can see where you are.
Consolidated feedback
Ask clients for one consolidated set of notes per round, from one person. Feedback from five people in five emails is how projects go into round seven.
Asset checklist
Missing assets cause most early delays. At kickoff, add an action for each asset you need in Other: footage, logos, fonts, music, scripts, approvals for any people on camera.
Close out
When the project delivers, move the invoice to Other with the client's name, and archive the row once paid.
See kanban for freelancers and how to manage a project with freelancers and contractors.