ABSTRACT
One organizational strategy for new media files is to add a colored tab on all material that has been fully backed up, making it obvious which files or folders still require backup. To keep track of which new media files have been brought into the non-linear editing (NLE), one common strategy is to create new folders for each new date that material is added. Every NLE has the ability to link to peoples original files. Once people have got all their media into the NLE and backed it up, the last major project is to organize it. When documentary editors do so, they are not just performing a technical task. They are designing a foundation for how the footage will be viewed and understood for the remainder of the edit, and their understanding of its shape and contours will be greatly enhanced with the application of an approach that is both rigorous and thoughtful.
