Build a stable project folder
Before editing, create one parent folder for the project. Inside it, separate camera video, still pictures, narration, music and finished tests. Move the source material into this structure before placing it on the timeline, then keep names and locations stable. A simple organization is more valuable than an elaborate one that cannot be remembered later.
The project file should live with a short readme-style note that explains the subject, date, aspect ratio and any unusual format choices. The note need not be technical. Its purpose is to help a future reader understand what belongs together.
Save versions at meaningful points
Use a new numbered version after a rough cut, after the main sound pass and before a substantial experiment. Do not create a new version after every trim; too many indistinguishable files can be as confusing as too few. A useful version name identifies both sequence and milestone.
Open a saved version occasionally rather than assuming it is sound. Check clips near the beginning, middle and end, and listen to an area with narration or music. If a file has been moved, restore it to the expected folder or relink it deliberately before making further edits.
Understand the three copies you may need
- Working project: the current editable instructions.
- Protected project set: the project plus every source file it references.
- Finished movie: the separate viewing file created after editing.
The finished movie is not a substitute for the project set if future editing matters. The project is not a substitute for the finished movie if future compatibility matters. Preserve both, and keep irreplaceable camera originals separately.
Test before considering the work finished
Close and reopen the project from its intended storage location. Scrub the full timeline, listen at several points and create a short test movie. If the project depends on media scattered across temporary folders, consolidate it while everything can still be found.
When the editable set is stable, continue to creating a finished movie. For optical-disc context, see the CD-era storage guide.