Guides · · 10 min read
A Faster Rough Cut Workflow for Premiere Pro Editors
A repeatable structure for going from raw footage to a watchable first cut, with project setup, selects, and pacing passes.
A rough cut does not need to be pretty. It needs to be complete enough that you can judge the story. This structure keeps the first pass focused.
Set up once
- Create bins for A-roll, B-roll, music, and graphics
- Label clips by colour so selects are visible at a glance
- Build a sequence preset that matches your delivery format
Pass 1: Selects
Pull every usable moment into a selects sequence. Do not trim tightly yet; you are deciding what stays, not how long it runs.
Pass 2: Structure
Arrange selects into beginning, middle, and end. Watch it once without stopping and take notes instead of fixing things as you go.
Pass 3: Pacing
Tighten the pacing in this sequence and remove repeated takes.