MOM60 — Exact Premiere Implementation Guide V4

Do not import older AUTO_CANDIDATES trees. Import only C:\Users\Cooper\Videos\Premiere\mom_60th_bday_09112026\01_MEDIA\FINAL_PRODUCTION_SELECTS_V3 plus specifically promoted audition clips. Treat staged hardlinks as read-only source media; derivatives go only in each chapter's 04_DERIVATIVES.

1. Project and sequence setup

  1. Open the current project, then File → Save As: C:\Users\Cooper\Videos\Premiere\mom_60th_bday_09112026\00_PROJECT\mom_60th_bday_v003_picture_assembly.prproj.
  2. Right-click Myrna_Dancing_Age_7_September_29_1973.mp4 → Properties. Use 23.976 if reported 23.976; use 24.000 if true 24.000. Keep every chapter/master at that timebase.
  3. File → New → Sequence: 3840×2160, progressive, square pixels, Rec.709 SDR, 48 kHz stereo. Save custom preset MOM60_UHD_MASTER.
  4. Create C00–C10 plus M90_MESSAGES and M99_MASTER.
  5. Tracks: V1 picture; V2 overlays/reframes; V3 titles; V4 adjustment only if needed. A1 dialogue/messages; A2 archival/voicemail; A3 music A; A4 music B; A5 ambience; A6 optional SFX.
  6. Edit → Preferences → Timeline: Still Image Default Duration = 4 seconds.

2. Import

  1. File → Import C:\Users\Cooper\Videos\Premiere\mom_60th_bday_09112026\01_MEDIA\FINAL_PRODUCTION_SELECTS_V3.
  2. Use 01_MAIN_STILLS as active selects. Keep reserves out of the timeline unless a hole appears.
  3. For IMG_9792(1).HEIC, use the derivative C10_FINALE_1973\04_DERIVATIVES\IMG_9792(1)_CROPPED.png once created.

3. Still rules

  1. Sequence within chapters: establishing/group → intimate → motion/action → detail/hero → bridge.
  2. Default 3–4 s; rapid 0.7–1.5; important portrait 4–6; dense group/detail 5–8; hero/final portrait 6–9.
  3. Right-click large stills → Set to Frame Size. Never default to crop-to-fill.
  4. Most stills static. If motion helps, use only subtle 103–108% relative scale and minimal pan.
  5. Straight cuts by default; short Cross Dissolve selectively; Dip to Black only at major structural boundaries.

4. Motion replaces still runs

For every promoted motion clip, remove 1–3 weaker/redundant stills from the same beat. Favor laughter, gesture, speech, travel movement and real interaction.

Already selected

CueChapterSourceIn sOut sUse
C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIA_01C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIAIMG_7082_SA000529_53ca5b4fe9d96530.MP403.466667Use as motion punctuation; replace 1–2 similar travel/friends stills.
C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONS_01C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONSPXL_20251225_201057859.mp41.878894513.8788945Replace 2–4 static celebration stills if motion/audio is stronger.
C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONS_02C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONSIMG_5521_SA001009_d84dfa538c96d343.MP46.3108334999999918.3108335Replace 2–4 static celebration stills if motion/audio is stronger.
C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIA_02C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIAIMG_7086_SA000530_a88adc182e8562c3.MP401.433333Use as motion punctuation; replace 1–2 similar travel/friends stills.
C10_FINALE_1973_01C10_FINALE_1973Myrna_Dancing_Age_7_September_29_1973.mp4035.345Use archival context sparingly; do not let wedding footage dominate age-seven return.
C10_FINALE_1973_02C10_FINALE_1973Ara Devejian - The Wedding of Zaven and Berjouhie — September 29, 1973 (Part 2).mp4192.125198.125Use archival context sparingly; do not let wedding footage dominate age-seven return.
C10_FINALE_1973_03C10_FINALE_1973Ara Devejian - The Wedding of Zaven and Berjouhie — September 29, 1973 (Part 2).mp4211.041667212Use archival context sparingly; do not let wedding footage dominate age-seven return.
C10_FINALE_1973_04C10_FINALE_1973Ara Devejian - The Wedding of Zaven and Berjouhie — September 29, 1973 (Part 1).mp455.958333563.9583335Use archival context sparingly; do not let wedding footage dominate age-seven return.
C10_FINALE_1973_05C10_FINALE_1973Ara Devejian - The Wedding of Zaven and Berjouhie — September 29, 1973 (Part 1).mp4733.895833741.895833Use archival context sparingly; do not let wedding footage dominate age-seven return.

Audition-first extras

PriorityChapterPatternWindow sGoal
1C05_LOVE_PARTNERSHIPIMG_9727*.MP40–2.4Short expressive couple motion; replace 1–2 redundant static couple shots if emotionally stronger.
2C05_LOVE_PARTNERSHIPIMG_9723*.MP40–2.9Second short relationship motion option; use only if distinct from other couple material.
3C06_MOTHERHOOD_KIDSIMG_4267*.MP416–26Family/kids motion; replace 2–3 similar stills if interaction reads immediately.
4C06_MOTHERHOOD_KIDSIMG_9611*.MP426–36Family interaction; prefer laughter/gesture/voice over static coverage.
5C06_MOTHERHOOD_KIDSIMG_0742*.MP40–2.6Very short natural motion beat; use as punctuation if subject/context is clearly Mom + sons/family.
6C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONSIMG_7047*.MP410.5–20.5Tradition/celebration action; replace repetitive cake/table stills.
7C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONSIMG_9104*.MP49.5–19.5Holiday/birthday motion; keep natural sound if useful.
8C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIAIMG_5320*.MP421.5–31.5Travel/friends movement; replace 2–3 posed travel stills.
9C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIAIMG_2743*HEVC.MOV0–2.7Short travel/environment motion insert.
10C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIAIMG_1109*.MP433.4–43.4Friends/travel motion; use if action is legible and Mom remains center.
11C09_RECENT_LATER_LIFEIMG_2742*HEVC.MOV0–2.9Recent-life motion punctuation; replace a similar static recent portrait.
12C09_RECENT_LATER_LIFEIMG_4292*.MP412.8–22.8Recent candid movement/voice; use if intimate and flattering.
  1. Double-click source to Source Monitor.
  2. Navigate to listed window; choose strongest 3–10 s action.
  3. Press I, then O.
  4. Clip → Make Subclip; name CHAPTER__short-description.
  5. Edit to V1. Preserve useful source audio on A2/A5 and duck music beneath it.

5. Chapter targets

C00_COLD_OPEN — 00:24

Story: 2–4 s age-seven teaser → ONE IN A TRILLION title → immediate cut into roots.
Picture: Age-seven dance teaser only; do not reveal full finale.
Audio: Start on real 1973 sound; title can land on sound/music pickup.
Motion target: 1

C01_ROOTS_FAMILY_OF_ORIGIN — 00:35

Story: Who/where she comes from; family-of-origin context, not literal age chronology.
Picture: Use 2 MAIN roots images; optionally 1 reserve only if context is known.
Audio: Restrained bridge; avoid a full song if context is thin.
Motion target: 0–1

C02_CHILDHOOD — 00:55

Story: Confirmed childhood; old photos breathe.
Picture: 4 MAIN + at most 1 reserve; no duplicate snow image.
Audio: Warm bed or continuation from roots; no need to force a separate song.
Motion target: 0–1

C03_TEEN — 00:45

Story: Teen social identity / school / friends.
Picture: 3 MAIN + 1 reserve max; rejected baby-holding image stays out.
Audio: Short David Bowie 'Changes' excerpt is optional if lyric fit works.
Motion target: 0–1

C04_YOUNG_ADULT_EARLY_FORMATION — 00:50

Story: Short bridge into adult life; do not pad sparse chapter.
Picture: 1 MAIN anchor + accepted 1998 reserve if it truly helps. Merge into C05 if chapter feels thin.
Audio: Continue prior cue or begin relationship cue; avoid a new song solely for this short bridge.
Motion target: 0–1

C05_LOVE_PARTNERSHIP — 02:30

Story: Relationship across time; courtship/anniversary/partnership, not generic weddings.
Picture: 20 MAIN; use accepted anniversary context; omit rejected unrelated wedding frame.
Audio: Relationship cue; allow real clip audio/ambience on motion moments.
Motion target: 2–3

C06_MOTHERHOOD_KIDS — 04:30

Story: Emotional center: babies/young kids → adolescence → adult sons.
Picture: 29 MAIN, ordered by sons' life stages; sisters/niece rejects stay out.
Audio: O-O-H Child primary candidate; optional 10–20 s voicemail over stills, music ducked.
Motion target: 4–6

C07_FAMILY_TRADITIONS — 02:45

Story: Birthdays, holidays, rituals, multigenerational family.
Picture: 14 MAIN; avoid repetitive cake/table images; use existing birthday video.
Audio: Earth, Wind & Fire — September; retain natural birthday sound where strong.
Motion target: 3–4

C08_FRIENDS_TRAVEL_CALIFORNIA — 04:00

Story: Expansion: friends, travel, movement, California, joy.
Picture: 36 MAIN but prune posed/repetitive restaurant shots in edit.
Audio: Life Is A Highway primary; Let's Groove alternative/second act if needed.
Motion target: 5–7

C09_RECENT_LATER_LIFE — 02:05

Story: Recent warmth/intimacy; taper energy and prepare return to childhood.
Picture: 18 MAIN; travel-like material already moved out.
Audio: Good Life or A Sky Full Of Stars tail; strip to ambience before finale if more emotional.
Motion target: 2–3

C10_FINALE_1973 — 03:10

Story: 1973 context → age-seven dance → physical photos → close childhood portrait → dedication.
Picture: 9 MAIN + 1 reserve max; use 2–3 wedding context excerpts, not all available.
Audio: 1973 real sound → Eshtakna A Loubnan → Tiri Ya Tayara; Oummi Ya Malaki only if coda earns it.
Motion target: 4–5

6. C10 finale

  1. Use 2–3 concise wedding/community excerpts only.
  2. Keep 1973 footage 4:3: Set to Frame Size; accept pillarbox. Never stretch/crop people.
  3. Wedding/community context → age-seven dance → physical stills → progressively closer childhood imagery → final portrait.
  4. Preserve meaningful archival sound.
  5. Music: real 1973 sound → Eshtakna A Loubnan → Tiri Ya Tayara; Oummi Ya Malaki only if picture lock earns a coda.
  6. End clean master on HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY, MOM.

7. Audio and messages

  1. Import prepared WAVs where available; retain source audio for provenance.
  2. C06 voicemail: use only the strongest 10–20 s fragment over photos if it materially deepens the story.
  3. M90_MESSAGES: Uncle Al AUDIO then VIDEO immediately. Aunt Adrianna: genuine pickup “60” hidden under B-roll/photo. Bushkill and Jeff/family remain separate message sequence unless exceptional.

8. Master and export

  1. Nest C00–C10 into M99_MASTER. Watch picture-only once; target ≈22–24 min. Cut repetition before padding holds.
  2. Archive: QuickTime → Apple ProRes 422 → UHD / sequence fps / progressive / Rec.709 / PCM 48 kHz stereo / proxies OFF.
  3. Party: H.264 4K / same fps / High / ≈45 target, 60 max Mb/s / AAC 48 kHz 320 kb/s. Duplicate clean master and append 2 s black + 20–30 s QR card.
  4. Emergency: H.264 1080p / ≈16–20 Mb/s / AAC 320 kb/s.
  5. Watch actual exported party file start-to-finish on the exact laptop/adapter/display/speakers.

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