Let it breathe.
New editing guidelines for video editors. Illustrating every second is out. A balanced minute, a steady rhythm and clear time benchmarks are in.
What one minute looks like
Roughly half A-roll, half illustration, alternating the whole way through. Here is one example minute.
An example, not a template. Every video will land differently.
The rules
The more aggressive the illustration, the more gets sent back for fixes. Keep it intentional.
Balance every minute
About 30 seconds of A-roll and 30 seconds of illustration. Small shifts are fine (30 to 35 seconds of illustration), but stay close to half.
Alternate, don’t stack
Bounce between A-roll and illustration. Avoid long runs of graphics followed by long runs of talking head.
Keep it moving
No static screen longer than 8 seconds, with 5 as the target. Use jump cuts, punch-ins, push-ins, pull-outs or slow zooms.
Pick the key moments
Most assets stay up 3 to 6 seconds, so a minute needs only a handful of strong, relevant illustrations. Fewer is fine.
Give detail room
Intricate maps, charts and graphs can hold longer, with slow movement so they never go static.
Test the hold time
Ask how long a first-time viewer needs to read the graphic, then hold it that long.
Use AI tools to the max
Use them to find smart illustration ideas, write better prompts, and learn local terms and geography.
Get the geography right
Every location, map and community reference must match the Central Florida area being discussed.
Time benchmarks
Measured in editing hours per finished minute of A-roll, not counting mid-roll ads or end screens. The high end of a range is okay. Steady improvement is what matters.
| Metric | Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 and on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours per finished minute (meeting) | 1.6 to 2.4 | 1.2 to 1.73 | 0.93 to about 1.33 |
| Hours per finished minute (30-60-90 plan) | About 2.3 to 2.6 | About 1.2 to 1.3 | About 0.8 to 0.9 |
| Example: 10-minute video | 16 to 24 hrs | 12 to 18 hrs | About 9 to 13 hrs |
| Hours per 15-minute video | 35 to 40 | 18 to 20 | 12 to 14 |
| Minute 1 (hook) | 6 to 8 hrs | 3 to 4 hrs | 2 to 2.5 hrs |
| Weekly finished output | 12 to 15 min (1 video) | 25 to 30 min (2 videos) | 40 to 45 min (3 videos) |
| Turnaround to Draft 1 | 4 to 5 business days | 48 to 60 hrs | 36 to 48 hrs |
| Revision passes allowed | 3 to 4 | Max 2 | Max 1 minor pass |
The meeting and the written 30-60-90 plan give slightly different hourly ranges. Confirm with John which one is the official target.
Focus by month
Each stage has one main job.
Accuracy and rhythm
Learn what belongs on screen, find a steady pace, and get the geography right. Precision comes before speed.
- Submit Minute 1 (the hook) for approval before building the rest.
- Audio accents on at least 80% of visual transitions.
- Expect to learn most from feedback on each cut.
Relevancy and autonomy
Every visual should tie tightly to what is being said. Search time drops by half.
- Source maps, charts and headlines without timecode prompts.
- Build a personal asset bank of approved maps, lower thirds and sound packs.
- Move from hook pre-approval to full first cuts.
Full velocity
The rhythm becomes habit, and sourcing happens while cutting.
- No dead visual frames longer than 4 seconds.
- Audio pre-leveled on Draft 1: clear voice, beds at -18 to -24 dB, SFX with no peaking.
- Zero geographic mismatches across Central Florida submarkets.
Every week
Each new editor answers one question and works through it with John.
What is my biggest challenge as an editor right now, and where do I get stuck?
- John coaches directly on that challenge.
- Mark supports cross-training, having recently completed the program on target.
- Feedback in Slack is coaching. Ask John or Jared anytime something is unclear.
- Some videos are harder than others, which is why every benchmark is a range.
Before you submit
Run through this on every cut.