What does a professional Film Editor’s timeline look like?

Two years have passed since my last post taking a long look at numerous film editing timelines, so I thought it was time to bring together another collection of the best timeline screenshots I’ve been gathering since then, into another useful resource. I hope you enjoy the view!

But I thought I’d kick off the top of this post with one or two of the worst timelines I’ve ever seen, the very top image I saw on Twitter.

There’s not much to say other than: don’t do that.

This gem I noticed on Reddit under the title ‘I pray for the sweet taste of a bullet‘.

Right, now back to more constructive examples…

Outside of watching the final cut, looking at a film editor’s video editing software timeline is one of the few ways to see how someone else does it. There’s also a lot you can learn if you pay attention, things like:

how to label your tracks

methods of staying organised

how deeply editors craft sound design

the importance of audio key-framing and effects

the use of temp VFX and more.

UPDATE – Mission Impossible Editor Eddie Hamilton’s Timeline Template

Mission Impossible:Rogue Nation and Mission Impossible: Fallout editor Eddie Hamilton, ACE shared this detailed breakdown of his own editing Avid timeline set up, all 23 video and audio tracks of it, with Steve Hullfish during an Art of The Cut interview.

So you can see how an high-end Hollywood franchise editor keeps things organised and coherent while wrangling hundreds of hours of footage, visual effects plates and turnovers and much more.

Editor Vashi Nedomansky then created this free Premiere Pro timeline template, all labelled and ready to go, based on Eddie’s established system. Vashi also shared some great tips on seeing track names and working effectively in Premiere Pro, in his post too.

Download the free Premiere Pro Template here.

This post from Avid’s blog covers some of these insights in detail, thanks to editor Fernando Maganda, who breaks down his own short film timeline and organisational process.

In this 7 minute breakdown from Film Editing Pro, you can learn what each video and audio track could be used for, when laying out your timeline like a Hollywood editor would.

For more great free training from Film Editing Pro check out this post which features 45 minutes of free lessons on cutting trailers.

Spent the day cleaning this up and color coding. It was driving me crazy #timelinetuesday pic.twitter.com/BHWnUhXGJX — Twain Richardson (@twainrichardson) November 22, 2016

Inside Professional Editing Timelines

In this popular previous post Inside Professional Editing Timelines, you can check out the timelines of some great editors and some great projects. Films such as Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Suicide Squad, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and many others.

You can also see several timelines evolve over time as editor’s have shared chronological screen-captures of their work, sometimes weeks or months apart.

Feature Film Editors Timelines

To celebrate the home entertainment release of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, here's the complete Avid Media Composer timelines for Reels 1-4 of the movie.#timelinetuesday pic.twitter.com/Vz4kVS31bN — Eddie Hamilton (@eddiehamilton) December 19, 2017

Be sure to click on the image in this tweet from John Wick 2 (and up-coming 3) editor Evan Schiff to see a side-by-side comparison of his initial assembly and the final picture lock, under a year later.

Timeline beasts and other things that keep you awake at night… pic.twitter.com/mhc42hYHdV — Andy Wild (@CauseandFX) September 22, 2017

Almost 5 yrs since Hobbit was released and the Post Production Numbers are still impressive…@MediaComposer Assistants… 9 @jonnyelwyn pic.twitter.com/OksB2CIuXX — Andy Wild (@CauseandFX) September 22, 2017

These numbers shared by editor Andy Wild, from a talk he attended presented by Dan Best, covered the monstrous Hobbit post production schedule.

The opening highway scene in DEADPOOL (2016) Here's the Premiere Pro project template and camera shake presets we used on the film: https://t.co/sIc758xry5#timelinetuesday #filmmaking pic.twitter.com/5VW4YixD55 — Vashi Nedomansky, ACE (@vashikoo) May 22, 2018

TV Show Editing Timelines

Loved the bizarre “Teddy Perkins” episode from @AtlantaFX? Take a look at editor Kyle Reiter’s Premiere Pro timeline in celebration of #TimelineTuesday!

#AtlantaFX | #PremierePro pic.twitter.com/OjtNxjUqva — Adobe Video & Motion (@AdobeVideo) May 8, 2018

You can read more on how Mark Hartzell cut the season finale of Marvel’s Agent Carter, in this short post on the Avid blog.

Since @GlowNetflix season two debuts on Friday, I thought I'd share the timeline from one of the most insanely fun episodes I've had the pleasure to edit. I love all of season two but 208 is a standout for sure. #TimelineTuesday pic.twitter.com/oUqfieMMrN — Tyler L. Cook (@tyleredits) June 27, 2018

I've never posted on #TimelineTuesday, so here's my last episode of #Castle season 8. pic.twitter.com/7F5vIiPTpZ — Orlando Machado Jr (@machetecuts) May 11, 2016

We locked picture on the Preacher season finale yesterday. #TimelineTuesday pic.twitter.com/uklfdJTsJA — Tyler L. Cook (@tyleredits) August 1, 2017

This was so much work. A year later, audiences got to experience it on Netflix. #timelinetuesday #postchat #MediaComposer pic.twitter.com/uXVuRgGjUs — Joel Fisher (@joelfisheredits) June 19, 2018

Better late than never… Happy Belated #timelinetuesday! Ep 610, Acts 1-3! @OnceABC (and no, Batman is NOT in this episode). Temp music. pic.twitter.com/K4vQbTxd1o — Geofrey Hildrew, ACE (@GeofreyHildrew) November 2, 2016

#TimelineTuesday #Avid Didn’t get around to posting screen caps of locked reels of @diffrentflowers – now almost wrapped on color & sound! pic.twitter.com/Yjr5aiddcj — Nathan Orloff (@NateOrloff) December 14, 2016

My contribution to #timelinetuesday getting ready for final color grading @MediaComposer pic.twitter.com/IbyRwyTfed — Rob Hedrick (@RobTVLA) December 20, 2016

Documentary Editing Timelines

Steve Audette ACE cuts a lot of Frontline documentaries. I’ve also covered his work several times on the blog which you can dive into here.

Two hour TV doc, finishing in Resolve (from FCX). There's a LOT of text in this one. #timelinetuesday pic.twitter.com/ANmECNKwEt — SHANE ROSS ? (@comebackshane) November 29, 2016

Short Film Timelines