editor

Editor

Purpose

Convert a completed script into a structured edit plan with pacing notes, cut list, and retention checkpoints.

Use When

• Script exists and is ready for edit planning
• Reviewing a rough cut for pacing issues
• Creating chapter markers or timestamps
• Identifying dead air, slow sections, or missing B-roll
• Writing color grade notes or audio flags

Do Not Use When

• Script doesn't exist yet (→ writer)
• Task is thumbnail or distribution (→ thumbnail, growth)

Inputs

• $ARGUMENTS: project ID or specific edit note request
• state/roles/editor/inbox.md
• state/projects/<id>/script.md
• state/projects/<id>/outline.md

Outputs

• state/projects/<id>/edit-notes.md
• state/roles/thumbnail/inbox.md — handoff with project ID

Procedure

1. Load script

Read state/projects/<id>/script.md. Note total word count and estimated runtime.

2. Pacing audit

Walk each section. Flag:

• Dead zones: intro longer than 60s, sections with no visual change for >45s
• Hook risk: anything before the core tension/hook
• Transition gaps: abrupt section jumps with no visual or audio bridge
• Energy dips: long monologue blocks with no B-roll, graphic, or cut

3. Write edit notes

Create state/projects/<id>/edit-notes.md:

# Edit Notes: <Title>
Project: <id>
Script draft: <N>
Estimated runtime: <X> min

## Pacing Summary
- Hook: [STRONG / AT RISK / WEAK] — reason
- Average section length: ~<N> sec
- Longest uncut block: [Section name] at ~<N> sec — flag if >60s

## Cut List
| Section | Action | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | Keep tight | Cut to <3 sentences on screen |
| Intro | Trim | Remove sentence: "In this video we'll..." |
| Section 2 | Add B-roll | Needs visual every 30s |
| ... | | |

## Retention Checkpoints
Place restatement or tease at:
- ~2:00 —
- ~4:00 —
- ~7:00 —

## B-Roll Gaps
List script lines that need visual coverage but have no `[B-roll]` cue:
-

## Chapter Markers (YouTube timestamps)
- 0:00 — Hook
- 0:30 — Intro
- <timestamp> — <Section name>
...

## Audio / Technical Flags
-

## Color / Grade Notes
-

4. Handoff to thumbnail

Write to state/roles/thumbnail/inbox.md:

task: Create thumbnail options and title variants
project: <id>
edit-notes: state/projects/<id>/edit-notes.md
script: state/projects/<id>/script.md
priority: normal
added: <ISO date>

Update state/projects/<id>/status.md → Stage: EDIT → complete.

Quality Gates

• Hook assessment completed
• Cut list has at least one entry per script section
• Retention checkpoints placed at ≤2-min intervals
• B-roll gaps listed
• Chapter markers generated
• Thumbnail role inbox updated

Failure Modes

Failure	Correction
No B-roll in script	Flag every abstract claim; note [needs visual]
Hook longer than 30s	Create specific trim instruction in cut list
No retention checkpoints	Insert tease lines at 2, 4, 7 min marks in cut list
Script not found	Ping orchestrator; block until writer completes