“Kindness Doesn’t Mean Lowering the Bar; It Means Raising It”

The relationship between a director and editor is often touted as one of the most important in the creative process. It requires trust, communication and a belief in one another’s creative instinct, that’s before you mention the ability to protect an idea whilst meeting a client’s wishes. Perhaps that’s why Abandon Editorial’s MD Jonny Mass, also a director at the Ridley Scott Creative Group, and editor Edward Khoma are such a good team – they’ve been perfecting this dynamic for years.

The co-founders of the Los Angeles-based editing studio can trace their friendship back to when Jonny was still in high school and Edward was a fresh graduate. United by a fledgling love for filmmaking, the pair bonded over their shared interest and an eagerness to learn more.

“I was working at a camera shop, shooting motorsport events on weekends, and putting together recap videos,” explains Edward. “I was learning the ropes as a run-and-gun, jack-of-all-trades video maker. One day, Jonny came into the shop looking to buy a lens, and we instantly clicked.”

“I remember being impressed by how knowledgeable he was – not just about gear, but about filmmaking in general.” Jonny adds.

Quickly, the pair realised they shared the same obsessive attention to detail and commitment to pushing the limits. It’s a commitment that the pair have been bound to throughout their careers, and is embedded into the ethos of Abandon Editorial, as Edward explains, “For me, It’s all about emotional impact… If the story resonates and stays with the viewer, we’ve done our job.”

The pair’s early days of working together saw them collaborating on everything from drift events to weddings, as they scoped out their respective roles within the editor-director relationship. “We were both juggling every role – shooting, editing, producing – and our skill sets naturally complemented each other,” says Jonny. “Over time, it became clear that we shared the same vision and drive to push the boundaries of creativity.”

They went on to hone their individual crafts: Editing and post production for Edward, whose intuitive style blending simplicity with bold execution has seen him work with the likes of BMW, Toyota and Specialized. Whilst Jonny pursued a career as a commercial director and storyteller.

Continuing to work together as a creative team, taking on bigger and more ambitious briefs each time, they landed upon the idea of establishing Abandon Editorial together. Jonny reflects, “We realised we had the potential to create something bigger together. That vision eventually led to the birth of Abandon Editorial.”

​Officially launched in October 2024, the studio upholds Jonny and Edward’s belief in the importance of great storytelling, and in uplifting and nurturing the people around them. “We wanted to create a space where editors feel supported, clients feel taken care of, and every project gets the same level of attention and creativity, no matter the size. It’s about making sure the process is just as rewarding as the final product, and that everyone involved feels valued along the way.” Edward explains.

The company was built upon the relationship that Jonny and Edward have established over the years. Jonny adds, “Our process is rooted in open communication, trust and a shared goal of telling the best possible story.

“That philosophy extends to how we structured the company. We emphasise the director-editor relationship early on because when directors and editors align from the start, from storyboarding and discussing timing to refining structure, it leads to stronger storytelling. That is something we instill across Abandon Editorial.”

There’s an innate familiarity between the pair, they know exactly how to work together, trust each other’s instincts and push for the highest level of creativity. Now working together as leaders, their dynamic remains as strong as ever.

“Jonny and I have been creating together for years, so our collaboration is second nature.” Edward notes. “The transition from filmmaking to running a business was seamless because of our longstanding relationship. Jonny has an incredible ability to see the big picture (derivative from his notable directing career), anticipate challenges, and rally people behind a vision, while I thrive in execution and problem-solving. We approach challenges differently, but always with the same goal in mind.”

For Jonny, the sentiment is shared, “I’ve watched Edward grow through every stage of his career, from editing our early projects to working as an assistant at a traditional editorial company, climbing the ranks to editor, and now as leader at Abandon. This journey has given me a deep respect for his resilience, wide variety of skill sets, and most importantly, his drive.”

In the company’s official launch announcement, it stated that it’s on a mission to ‘simplify the creative process’ and work with talent who share a ‘commitment to kindness alongside high impact storytelling’. For Jonny and Edward, their pledge to prioritise kindness was born out of their shared experiences of the industry’s, at times, harsh nature.

“The industry can be tough, and we’ve all experienced environments where creativity suffers because of ego, pressure or lack of respect. We built Abandon to be the opposite of that: a place where people are treated well, where collaboration is encouraged, and where the best work comes from a positive process,” Edward explains.

Notably, he reflects, “Kindness doesn’t mean lowering the bar; it means raising it, but in a way that fosters a positive, productive atmosphere.”

“Kindness is a byproduct of trust, loyalty, and respect,” adds Jonny. “From the beginning, we agreed that if we ever launched an editorial company, every hire would need to align with our ethos, because true success is only possible when the culture is built on shared values.”

For Jonny and Edward, great work and a great attitude go hand in hand. It’s woven into the culture they’re building at Abandon, and upheld by the team of top-tier editing talent on its roster. To put it plainly, Jonny says, “We’re committed to creating an environment where creativity thrives without compromise, and where every project feels like a true partnership.”