Import Cut in-depth – Shotgun Support

The Import Cut app is a simple and easy way to create a Cut in Shotgun based on an EDL from editorial. Compare the EDL to what’s already in Shotgun and instantly preview the import with a summary of changes before pushing the new Cut information into the system. Import Cut will display the new in points, out points, and frame ranges against what was already tracked in Shotgun, highlighting any differences. Once imported, Cuts spring to life in Shotgun, enabling any Shot to be viewed with the latest surrounding media in context—both in RV and the web.

In addition, Import Cut will automatically create new Shots and update existing Shot information based on the EDL, saving tedious data entry time. Statuses flip to omit if a Shot isn’t in the new EDL or get reinstated if they return, Cut order reflects whatever is in the EDL for easy sorting in Shotgun pages, and the aforementioned in points, out points, and frame ranges get populated accurately. If needed, include media as part of the import to help make sure all Shots are represented, even if they aren’t being worked on (or aren’t being worked on yet). There is no faster way to connect editorial to Shotgun than the Import Cut app!

How it Works

Import Cut is built into RV and can be accessed via the “SG Review” menu. To create a Cut in Shotgun with the app, follow these steps:

Export an EDL (CMX)
From your editorial application (Avid, Premiere, Final Cut, etc.) of choice.
Open RV and launch Import Cut
Find it in the “SG Review” menu.
Drag in the EDL (and Media, if available)
From anywhere on the filesystem.
Select a link for the Cut to in Shotgun
Choose a Project and an Entity; create the Entity record in the app if it doesn’t already exist.
Compare the new EDL to a previous Cut in Shotgun
Choose a Cut to compare against, or skip this step if desired.
Check out the Cut changes
Quickly see if there are any differences and decide what to do next. If you’re ready, hit “Import.” If you have questions, email the list of changes to your team to discuss.
Import the Cut
Add a message and notify the rest of the team.
View the Cut and update Shots in Shotgun
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Beyond just preparation for review, Import Cut helps ensure Cut information is accurate and up-to-date, which in turn helps ensure everyone on the team is working on active Shots and correct frame ranges for the Project.

Note: Shotgun Review, and its editorial and cut-related features, does not currently support separate audio tracks. If you want audio to play back in your updated cut, the audio track must be baked into your versions.

Supported Interchange Formats

Currently, only CMX 3600 EDL files can be used with Import Cut. We intend to support additional options like AAF and Final Cut XML in the future, but for now, EDL is the format of choice.

App Details

Successfully translating an EDL into something we can map into Shotgun means getting a number of subtle details right. With that in mind, it’s important to note that Import Cut relies on a few expectations that help produce the right result in Shotgun. The following docs go through these details and will help you dial in the right setup to match your editorial workflow:

Smart Thumbnails

When you import an EDL and reference movie file with the Import App, the Version that gets stored in Shotgun is linked to the parent entity. The only way that the Shot thumbnail uploads using the Smart Thumbnail feature is if the Version is linked directly to the Shot. At this time, it's not possible to chop up the original offline to create individual Shots. To get a Version from the edit for each identified shot in the EDL, you must create individual QuickTimes uploaded to the Shot.

Shotgun Desktop

While Import Cut is bundled with RV, it can also be used in Shotgun Desktop. See the Technical Information section below for instructions on how to install it there.

Technical Information

Import Cut is a Pipeline Toolkit app.