A method of processing a media composition created in a media editing system, including generating a hierarchical asset genealogy of the media composition, the asset genealogy having a hierarchical structure having a plurality of levels, the structure reflecting the editing history of the media composition and comprising entries for each of a first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition, and an entry for a top-level asset that represents the edited composition, the method comprising: accessing the media composition, wherein the media composition is represented by the first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition and is represented in the media editing system as a data model specific to the media editing system comprising a hierarchical arrangement of compositional objects, including compositional objects comprising references to the media assets; traversing the media composition to identify contributing compositional objects, extracting the metadata for each of the contributing compositional objects and placing the metadata into the asset genealogy, the extracting comprising: for each asset of the first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition, extracting metadata pertaining to the media asset and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy, wherein: at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of media assets includes metadata pertaining to a second plurality of media assets that contribute to the at least one previously edited asset; and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy includes writing the metadata of each asset of the second plurality of media assets into the hierarchical asset genealogy at a level below a level at which metadata pertaining to the at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of assets is written; the method further comprising: serializing the hierarchical asset genealogy; and exporting the serialized asset genealogy to a file. accessing the media composition, wherein the media composition is represented by the first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition and is represented in the media editing system as a data model specific to the media editing system comprising a hierarchical arrangement of compositional objects, including compositional objects comprising references to the media assets; traversing the media composition to identify contributing compositional objects, extracting the metadata for each of the contributing compositional objects and placing the metadata into the asset genealogy, the extracting comprising: for each asset of the first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition, extracting metadata pertaining to the media asset and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy, wherein: at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of media assets includes metadata pertaining to a second plurality of media assets that contribute to the at least one previously edited asset; and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy includes writing the metadata of each asset of the second plurality of media assets into the hierarchical asset genealogy at a level below a level at which metadata pertaining to the at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of assets is written; the method further comprising: serializing the hierarchical asset genealogy; and exporting the serialized asset genealogy to a file. for each asset of the first plurality of media assets that contribute to the media composition, extracting metadata pertaining to the media asset and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy, wherein: at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of media assets includes metadata pertaining to a second plurality of media assets that contribute to the at least one previously edited asset; and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy includes writing the metadata of each asset of the second plurality of media assets into the hierarchical asset genealogy at a level below a level at which metadata pertaining to the at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of assets is written; the method further comprising: at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of media assets includes metadata pertaining to a second plurality of media assets that contribute to the at least one previously edited asset; and writing the extracted metadata into the hierarchical asset genealogy includes writing the metadata of each asset of the second plurality of media assets into the hierarchical asset genealogy at a level below a level at which metadata pertaining to the at least one previously edited asset of the first plurality of assets is written; the method further comprising: serializing the hierarchical asset genealogy; and exporting the serialized asset genealogy to a file.