CREATING AN ORGANIZED FILE STRUCTURe (like a pro)
WHY ORGANIZE
Well to start I don’t think anyone has ever benefited from being unorganized. You may have heard that a messy space can make an artist more fast and creative. But the truth is, it’s actually the access to the tools and equipment not the mess and disorganization. Also add to the fact that most editors and creators are usually working under intense time constraints. Which makes it more important to stay organized so you aren't sacrificing any precious time searching and clicking around for a file or document. You should be able to find any file you need in seconds, not minutes. But good file management and organization isn't easy without a great file structure. So let's jump into how you can start organizing your projects like a pro.
FILE STRUCTURE GOALS
Easy to file - It should be convenient and easy to store away files.
Easy to find - Should be able to quickly pinpoint your desired file.
Reusable - You want to be able to use the same file structure as a template.
PROJECT FILE
This is where everything for the entire project will be stored. For instance if you ever needed to reopen a project all assets and documents are in the same folder so nothing gets misplaced or lost. Make sure to use good file naming so that everything is clear and concise, here are a few key points to keep in mind.
Use descriptive information
Avoid special characters like (!@#$%^&*, ect)
Use sequential numbering (01, 02, instead of 1, 2,)
Put the year first when using dates as the title so they stay in chronological order (YYYYMMDD or YYMMDD)
We name our files with the project number followed by the project name. (00000 Project Name)
FOLDER 01 - DOCUMENTS
This is where any files of the project will be stored like creative briefs, scripts, and notes. So that if you need to reference something or another look at the script you can quickly find it.
FOLDER 02 - VIDEO
This is probably the most important folder inside the system as it's where all your record footage will live whether it’s from a phone, DSLR, or screen recording. In this folder you can also create sub-folders for things like cameras, days recorded, stock footage, etc.
FOLDER 03 - AUDIO
Keep everything that has to deal with audio here. Create sub-folder for things like music recordings, voice overs, and special effects, to keep everything neat and organized or else the audio folder can fill up fast with all the music options.
FOLDER 04 - GRAPHICS
Store all your lower 1/3rds, logos, illustrations, still, and designs, in this folder. Also creating sub-folder for things like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign exports will help maximize the time you spend looking for the desired file.
FOLDER 05 - PROJECT LIBRARIES/SAVES
This is where you will save all your Premiere Pro projects, Final Cut libraries, or any other editing program. So that if the current file gets corrupted or crashes, you can quickly find the last session here.
FOLDER 06 - RENDERS
This is where you will keep all those juicy renders from After Effects, Animate, and any other similar programs.
FOLDER 07 - EXPORTS
Well I think we already know what this folder is used for. We recommend creating sub-folders in here for rough cuts, final cuts, and deliverables.
SUMMARY
Our project template/structure consists of 10 folders, each one housing absolutely everything we need for the project. But in order for it to be effective you have to use it all the time, every time. Don’t save ANYTHING to your desktop or documents folder and tell yourself “I'll get to it later.” But the greatest folder structure is the one that works best for you and your work. Once you find it stick with it, and consistently use it.
P.S. You can download our .zip file to our Project Template here.
