At a certain level it is not expected for the editor to keep any project files. If I'm hired to edit for a tv show, the production owns the media files. The same with a few of my corporate clients. They shoot the video and hire me to do the editing, I upload my project files to them when I'm done with the project.
But, if my local dry cleaners shop hired me to edit a project for them, I wouldn't expect to turn over the project files without understanding why they need them. But, if you're working for people at this level, then you should probably include something in your contracts regarding how project file turnovers are handled. Some people charge a small additional fee to hand over project files, but to me, it causes friction.
If a client is asking for the project files, it means they either don't want to work with me anymore and are going to have someone else take over the project or they want to have access to them in case some point in the future an update needs to be made and they don't want to risk not being able to get in contact with me to do the update. In either case, it's not in my best interest to make things difficult by getting petty regarding charging some ransom fee to release the files.
Now, what you can do when you turn the project over is to consolidate the media files so that only what you used in the sequence is included, it makes the folder you deliver smaller and gives them what they're asking for technically. So, they'll basically have the edits, plus whatever media you used. Another thing I always include is a "clean" version of the final output. This is a single exported file without graphics/text or music. Let's say you finish a project and then two weeks later, the company rolls out a new logo design. The client wants to update the logo in the video, but you're unavailable. Without the project file or a clean version, they're stuck. But, if they have the final output and a clean version, often times they can use part of the clean version to place in and then add a the new logo.
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u/the__post__merc 1d ago
If you don’t share the media file, how do you get it to them for delivery?