MediaStorm Guide to Quickly Replacing Files in Premiere Pro

Here’s a handy tip for easily replacing assets in the Premiere Pro timeline. First, locate a photograph or video clip on your timeline that you’d like to replace. Then, in your Project Browser (Shift–1) locate your replacement file. As you drag the new item to the timeline, hold down the option key. Still holding the option key, hover over the asset in the timeline you’d like to replace. When you see a red box around the old clip, release the mouse. The timeline will instantly update with your new selection. What’s great about this shortcut is that the new asset will still possess attributes of the old one like cropping and effects, including color correction. This makes it particularly useful for updating RAW photographs with toned ones. Just make sure that both images are the same size. [1] For information on MediaStorm’s photography workflow check out the 40-page Aperture document included with…

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Time Lapse: The Making of Darkness Visible Afghanistan

In 2011, along with Leandro Badalotti and Brian Storm, I produced Seamus Murphy’s A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan. It remains the largest, most complex project I’ve ever tackled. Seamus began work in Afghanistan in 1994. By 2010, he had made 14 trips to the country, producing more than 35,000 images and recording 25-plus hours of video interviews. Leandro and I spent the better part of 4 months organizing the vast amount of material. To document our editing progress, I wrote a Python script that generated a jpeg screen grab every five minutes. The result is a time lapse that begins on June 6 and ends November 8, 111 weekdays later. There are approximately 4,300 images in total: one frame for every five minutes of work. You’ll see the entire project take shape, from radio cuts to final output. And if you’d like to learn more about our editing methodology, please join Tim McLaughlin…

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Read more about the article In Praise of Tim McLaughlin
Eric and Tim. Photo by Shameel Arafin.

In Praise of Tim McLaughlin

Do you know Tim McLaughlin? If you do, then you know he’s a gem. Not only is he a seriously genuine person–one of the finest–he’s also a tremendous editor. Go watch Surviving the Peace: Angola, a project he produced with gorgeous footage from Rick Gershon. It’s hardly a secret around the office that I have a 5-lb.-gummy-bear-sized man-crush on Tim. What I love about our relationship, besides his immense patience for my shenanigans, is his almost incessant drive to improve his skills. Tim’s desire to be better is palpable. And it’s infectious. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve meandered into his room feeling self-satisfied with my own work only to be floored by some sleight-of-hand he’s conjured up. Inevitably, such moments send me back to my desk, convinced I can do better. In moments of fancy, I imagine us as something akin to K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, the fierce…

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Read more about the article Introducing the Newest MediaStorm Workshop: Editing Workflows
Eric and Tim. Photo by Shameel Arafin.

Introducing the Newest MediaStorm Workshop: Editing Workflows

MediaStorm is proud to announce our newest workshop, Editing Workflows. This one day workshop is a deep dive into the 200-plus step workflow that MediaStorm producers use every day to organize and create our films. Led by producers Eric Maierson and Tim McLaughlin, participants will learn the keys to organizing and working with large scale projects. While some editing techniques will be discussed, this workshop is primarily focused on methodology. We’ll be sharing the editing workflow we’ve refined over 7 years to produce more than 200 projects. This workshop uses Premiere Pro and Aperture, though the principles apply to Final Cut 7 as well. Applications are now being accepted online. Upcoming Dates Saturday, August 10, 2013 - Apply by July 10, 2013 Saturday, September 7, 2013 - Apply by August 7, 2013 Workshop Details Tuition for selected participants is $500 Workshops will be held at MediaStorm's office and will start at 10 am…

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MediaStorm Guide to Copy and Pasting a Clip Range in Premiere Pro

This article is part of a new series of posts with tips and tricks from our producers' experience working with Adobe Premiere Pro after years of working in Final Cut Pro. To read more about why we made the switch, check out this post. Today's post was written by MediaStorm producer Eric Maierson. A neat new feature in Premiere Pro is the ability to copy and paste a range of clips (or one clip) without first having to use the Razor Tool (C). To do this simply mark an In (I) and Out (O) on your timeline. Then, Copy (Command-C) and Paste (Command-V). Super easy, super helpful. Note that if a clip is already selected, you’ll simply copy and paste whatever is highlighted, not the range indicated by in and out marks. Use Command-Shift-A to first deselect all clips. To learn more about how our producers are using Adobe Premiere Pro see…

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