ABSTRACT
Editors can spend many of our waking hours in front of a computer, so it is worth ensuring these enforced periods of physical inactivity do not harm us in any way. Instead, use the keyboard for as many operations as possible, preferably the ones we perform most often; for example, in and out of trim and all the associated trim functions, jumping along the timeline, and 'loop-play' around edits would all be keyboard functions for us. Also, get all the function keys filled with our most often used software features, including menu operations. As editing is supposed to be invisible, it is very difficult for anybody watching a clip to judge our input on the evidence of the sequence itself. Keep any video showreel material short, 5 to 10 minutes at the most, and include caption information over the chosen clips, as this will give those watching an indication of our influence on the project.
