RATES
New Doc Editing offers Editing and Story Consulting services for documentary filmmakers. Our deeply-experienced editorial staff are employees of New Doc Editing and further tutored by owner Karen Everett.
See IMDb Credits for Karen Everett
EDITING RATES
With Award-Winning Editor $3500/wk $2950/wk
With Emerging Editor $2250/wk
Every four weeks of editing includes a complimentary story consultation (worth $2000).
We require payment before work (non-negotiable), which is normally scheduled in 5-week stages,
but we are flexible.
Award-winning editors are deeply experienced, seasoned editors.
Emerging Editors are less experienced but show great promise!
Karen personally trains all editors in New Doc Editing storytelling principles–which make documentaries more dramatic by using narrative devices.
Two-minute trailers (both theatrical and fundraising) generally take one week to edit.
The fee to consult on a trailer that you are editing is $600-$1000. Learn more here.
See more about Trailer Editing here.
Check out Accelerated Post to save 50% on your edit.
STORY CONSULTING RATES
For films in development or production, our hourly fee is $200 for Staff Story Consultants and $250 for Karen. We require a five hour minimum ($1000 or $1250 ) and full pre-payment.
For films in post-production, we offer two levels of story consulting: an Initial Full Consultation and subsequent Follow Up Consultations. Pre-payment required. See descriptions below.
1. Full Initial Story Consultation Rate W/ Optional Written Notes
With Karen Everett $2000 $2500
With Staff Consultant $1250 $1500
These rates are based on cuts up to 100 minutes in length. For longer cuts, please add $250 for each additional 15 minutes. For shorts (under 30 minutes), take $600 off the rates above.
We highly recommend written notes because they are time-code specific and actionable!
2. Follow Up Story Consultations Rate W/ Optional Written Notes
With Karen Everett $1750 $2250
With Senior Staff Consultant $1000 $1250
(Only available to directors who have received our Initial Full Story Consultation. Take off $500 for shorts (under 40 minutes).
The fee for editing a feature into a “TV Hour” cut down is a flat $2000 when done by one of our talented staff editors, or $2500 when done by Karen. Edits are made in the transcript. Then you can cut the “TV Hour” video yourself–or hire us to do it for you!
Level 1: Initial Full Story Consultation
- Make your documentary more dramatic by using screenwriting devices
- Improve clarity and flow in essay-style documentaries
- Stylistic recommendations for improving visual appeal
- Analyze tone to attract wider audiences
- Detailed feedback about your specific concerns
- 75-minute recorded, personal phone consultation
- Structure character transformation to align with the film’s theme
- Plan for next steps in editing
- Written notes with timecode-specific comments (optional)
Level Two: Follow Up Story Consultations (Initial Full Consultation required)
- Assess effectiveness of solutions implemented since last consultation
- Feedback to improve overall watchability
- Additional comments on narrative flow and character development.
- If applicable, suggestions for rewriting narration and/or title cards
- Recommendations for cutting repetitive or unnecessary material
- If you’re in fine cut stage, ideas for pacing with music and micro-edits
- Specific attention given to remaining areas of concern
- 75-minute recorded, personal phone consultation
- Written notes with timecode-specific commentary (optional)
I can’t thank New Doc Editing enough for providing such invaluable and insightful advice on how to shape and structure my documentary film.