How to choose a film editor in Los Angeles
A director's checklist for finding the right editor in LA: reels, chemistry, schedule, budget and the questions worth asking first.
Los Angeles has more editors than any city in the world, which makes finding the right one harder, not easier. Here's how I'd approach it if I were the director, after years on the other side of the conversation.
1. Watch for taste, not just skill
Almost every working editor is technically capable. What you're really choosing is taste: how they read a performance, when they hold a shot, what they're willing to cut. Look for a reel where the pacing feels like the film in your head.
2. Talk before you hire
You'll spend weeks or months in a dark room together. A short call tells you more than any reel: do they ask about the story, or only about the deliverables? Do they listen to your intentions before offering their own?
3. Match the editor to the form
Features, shorts, documentaries, commercials and music videos each use different muscles. A feature editor thinks in structure and acts, a commercial editor in seconds and beats, a documentary editor in finding the story inside hours of material. Ask what they've cut that's closest to your project.
4. Be clear about schedule and budget
Share your timeline, delivery dates and budget range early. A good editor will tell you honestly what's possible and where the time is best spent.
5. Bring them in early
The most useful thing an editor can do happens before the shoot: reading the script and spotting the coverage you'll wish you had. If you can, involve your editor in prep.
Working with me
I'm Tianxiao (Christine) Chen, a film editor based in Los Angeles. I cut features, shorts, commercials and music videos, and I care most about honest, character-driven stories. If you're looking for an editor, take a seat in my screening room and tell me about your film.