DO maintain your flexibility when working with pre-shot sequences. Not every scene you've carefully mapped will fit within your program's needs. Remember you want a seamless whole. Lighting variations, awkward lengths pertaining to your audio, etc. may make one or more unacceptable for production purposes. Guide your editor -- but listen to him/her about these issues.
DON'T be afraid to speak up if your editor's interpretation of a particular aspect of your production doesn't fit the image you're intending to provide. Changes are an expected part of the job. Your constructive criticism is welcome and necessary to any good working relationship.
DO be judicious in your use of special effects. Just because you can use a wide variety, doesn't mean you should. Remember you want your message to be the focus, not your media. Choose those visual manipulations that enhance, not obscure, your presentation.
DON'T forget to check and proofread each and every word that appears on screen -- title, "supers," (those names, etc. that appear over persons or actions) charts, graphs, and/or maps. To err is human and, as in most computing tasks, fingers can slip, handwriting can be misread, or you may have received wrong information initially. It can be very embarrassing to proudly show your project to someone who's featured, only to have them point out misspellings.
DO let your visuals expand your message. It's not necessary to have each and every word of your script literally illustrated. It's much better to have your visuals lead, underline,interpret, and/or stretch your meaning to give your audience a broader emotional, as well as intellectual, understanding.
DON'T use "stills," if action sequences could better illustrate the whole. For example, showing people doing their job is better than listing their tasks. On the other hand, don't try to use action when a graphic could deliver more information. We've all seen the hackneyed sequences of someone handing over a check. A chart outlining growth of donations from that particular individual or company, a special effect highlighting the amount, or several other ways of representing the importance can be more to the point and less visually stagnant.
DO know when it's time for a good thing to end. If you see that your project is significantly over the amount of time originally expected -- CUT. Even the best words, the most fascinating action sequences, the most scintillating special effects/music have people looking at their watches after a while. Work with your editor to create the most concise package possible in order to keep your audience's interest and achieve your primary aim.
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