[Todd Perchert]

Is everything your doing on Apple formatted drives? Just wondering if it could have something to do with the new Catalina security.
May need to go into Security and grant full access to Premiere.
TC

[Todd Perchert]

What are the specs of your source footage? Is it an old 32-bit QT codec?
TC

[Todd Perchert]

Here’s the minimum system requirements. https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/system-requirements.html

What is your source footage specs, including codec and container.

What is your sequence settings?

What is your hard drive configuration for footage?

[Todd Perchert]

Work Area Bar is separate from in/out points.
Newer versions of PPro do not have the Work Area Bar active, by default. You need to make it active on your timeline, or in the case of the OP, deactivate it.
TC

[Todd Perchert]

Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia3HxXeTTro
How you can activate and deactivate the work area bar.
TC

[Todd Perchert]

I would suspect something to do with the security they’ve added to Catalina in how drives are controlled. If you have a drive partitioned with something other than Apple Format, I think that could easily cause issues. I couldn’t work on any Adobe files off an external shared storage without corrupting the files until we got some new software installed for the shared storage – files just wouldn’t save and the programs would lock up. This on an old trash can with Catalina. After taking care of that issue, it’s been great! Except I haven’t been on it in about 3 months now….

[Todd Perchert]

That was just a quick test. Problem areas seem to be near the feet. But check some tutorials. There are some great tutorials on the COW!

https://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Multi-Layer-Editing-1/1

https://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Multi-Layer-Editing-2/1

https://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Multi-Layer-Editing-3/1

https://library.creativecow.net/jack_bracer/perfect_greenscreen_after-effects/1

[Todd Perchert]

I usually use AE and Keylight for keying. Looks like you should get a decent key off of that. I went ahead and did just a quick garbage matte around the guy and used Keylight to key him. Worked pretty well.
Look online for tutorials. There are a ton of them.
TC

[Todd Perchert]

Try taking one of your problem clips and transcoding it in Handbrake, instead of AME. Make sure to select a Constant Frame Rate in Handbrake. Then bring it in and see what happens. If that takes care of the problem, use Handbrake on all your VFR phone video files.
Usually, if I have issues with a video file in PPro, it will have similar issues in AME.
TC

[Todd Perchert]

Thanks Tim! I must say, I am a little late to this party. I have been fortunate to have made the switch to working from home pretty quickly over a month ago now and have been quite busy since. I work for a local TV media group, which is owned by a large corporation. I am doing mainly local client commercials, but also some station promotions.
The local commercials have been thinning out drastically. I’ve had some larger projects in the works that had started to steam roll, so they have kept me occupied. Along with the various projects that have popped up. Most have been adding crawls and tags to client spots letting people know they are still open for business. But, I have had to go shoot some video, keeping people at distance, using a boom microphone, covering up face, using sanitizer frequently, and generally trying not to have more than 5 people at a shoot – if possible.

Have had to shuttle some projects on Hard drive between work and home, or transferring via VPN to Dropbox. Even small graphic changes via Google Remote Desktop!
I will say, I feel for those working all the time on Adobe on a PC now. I never realized it, but things are so much easier on a Mac! Fortunately, my PC is up to the editing challenges though. I miss the little things, like Mac previews for video/graphics/audio. ☺ Please, don’t judge.

We’re already making plans on how we’ll migrate people back after “Stay at home” orders are lifted. It won’t be all at once. It will be a little at a time. But things will be different, especially when shooting. I think we’ll be stuck with this social distancing for a while. Which the sales handshake will be a thing of the past, at least for a while. The coffee shop group may be gone for awhile. This will require, in the short run, re-thinking shots. I already did some open area shoots during this pandemic, keeping people apart and shooting at angles to make them appear a little closer than they were.

Sorry Tim, I’m going on more than I should. ☺
I’ve enjoyed reading what people have had to say. I always enjoy Bob Z’s take on things – I’ve been on the ‘other’ side of some of his comments. But always appreciate them and the way he doesn’t sugar coat it.
Thanks for the invite!