[Stephen Mark]

Thanks Juris and Scott. I really like Juris’ wedding cake idea — I usually don’t layer video unless it’s to create blends of some sort — but in this case that’s a clever way to work with my situation. I think I did try collapsing the clips but that didn’t seem to help. I also had used Scott’s idea of the video mixdown, but his caveat is correct especially since I don’t create the final effects. Mixing down is great for screening purposes but my poor assistant who has to pass counts on to the VFX house growls at me. What I’m understanding from both of you, however, is that my conclusion is correct that a track will always start on the first frame of a cut and not adjust itself to trimming. I gather you’d agree this is true of all trackers.

Stephen

[Stephen Mark]

I was reading this thread because I have the same question Adhish had — despite the fact that I am an experienced film editor and part time university level teacher. So I was fascinated by Gary’s commentary on the state of education and the role of editors given changing technology. I know this reply is off Adhish’s topic, but I would love to engage Gary and anyone else interested in dialogue on the very point he brings up. Not sure where to begin doing that or even if this website is appropriate as it is certainly a technologically based resource. But I do think that editing — call it “art” or “craft” or “skill” — has fundamentals, many of them instinctive and subjective, that are universal, equally applicable to scissors or pixels. I also think understanding editing is valuable to would-be directors, writers, and cinematographers even if they will never have to transcode a file format. I throw this out and if anyone knows a good place to start a discussion on the topic, I’d appreciate a thought about where to do it.