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How to Edit Talking Head Videos in Premiere Pro with ChatGPT (For Free)

If you make talking head videos, tutorials, or scripted content, you know the most time-consuming part isn’t:

Not color grading.
Not motion graphics.
Not even B-roll.

It’s cutting out the bad takes.

You repeat yourself.
You restart sentences.
You say something, pause, then try again.
You explain the same idea three different ways.

This method uses ChatGPT to remove repeated takes and generate a clean timeline you can import directly into Premiere Pro, for free.

What This Method Does

  • Removes repeated explanations
  • Removes restarts and self-corrections
  • Removes abandoned sentences
  • Keeps the strongest version of each idea
  • Preserves your exact wording
  • Generates an EDL timeline file
  • Rebuilds your edit inside Premiere

It does not rewrite your script.
It only removes mistakes.

What You Need

  • Premiere Pro
  • A transcript with timestamps (SRT recommended)
  • ChatGPT

Step 1: Export a Transcript with Timestamps

In Premiere:

  1. Open the Text panel
  2. Transcribe your sequence
  3. Export as SRT

The timestamps are required. Without them, ChatGPT can’t build a usable edit timeline.

Step 2: Paste the Prompt into ChatGPT

Open a new ChatGPT chat and paste the full prompt below.

Then paste your transcript underneath it.

PROMPT:

You are a professional video editor and EDL generator.

I am going to give you a SRT File transcript with timestamps from a recorded video.

Your job is to:

  1. Remove repeated takes
  2. Remove restarts and self-corrections
  3. Remove abandoned sentences
  4. Remove broken phrasing attempts
  5. Remove filler phrases that interrupt flow
  6. Keep the strongest, most confident version of repeated explanations
  7. Preserve the original wording exactly (DO NOT rewrite anything)
  8. Maintain logical tutorial flow from start to finish

Important:

  • Do NOT summarize.
  • Do NOT rephrase.
  • Do NOT improve grammar.
  • Only remove content.
  • Keep the exact spoken wording.
  • If multiple versions of the same idea exist, keep the strongest one.
  • Make it read like it was delivered cleanly in one take.

Editorial Rules:

• If a sentence starts and is restarted, keep only the final successful attempt.
• If an explanation appears multiple times with slight variations, keep the clearest version.
• If phrases like “wait”, “um”, “sorry”, or “so” introduce a correction attempt, remove the failed attempt.
• If a sentence repeats many times in a loop, keep only one instance.
• Preserve tone and energy.
• Preserve chronological structure of the tutorial.

After cleaning the transcript:

Generate a properly formatted NON-DROP FRAME EDL file using these assumptions:

  • Resolution: 1920x1080
  • Frame rate: 23.976 fps
  • Audio: 48000 Hz
  • Single video track (V1)
  • Single audio track (A1)
  • Both video and audio must be included for each cut
  • Add 2-frame breathing handles before and after each kept segment
  • Ignore micro fragments under 8 frames
  • Use reel name: AX
  • Use placeholder file path: [ENTER FILE PATH NAME HERE]

EDL Requirements:

  • Include TITLE
  • Include FCM: NON-DROP FRAME
  • Sequential event numbers
  • Each kept segment must generate:
  • One Video event
  • One Audio event
  • Maintain continuous record timeline (no gaps unless intentional)
  • Make it a DOWNLOADABLE FILE, not a copy and paste text
  • This EDL file is so that I can Import in Premiere Pro

After generating the EDL:

Provide a short instruction section explaining:

  1. How to import the EDL into Premiere Pro (or other NLE)
  2. That they must import their original media first
  3. That they must relink AX to their source file
  4. If they receive an import error, they should verify:
  • Sequence timebase matches 23.976
  • NON-DROP frame is selected
  • Audio sample rate matches 48000 Hz
  • Their project settings match 1920x1080

Output Format:

  1. Brief explanation (1–2 paragraphs) of what was removed and why
  2. The full EDL file
  3. Import instructions section

Wait for the transcript before analyzing.

 

[PASTE FULL PROMPT HERE]

Step 3: Let ChatGPT Clean and Generate an EDL

When done correctly, ChatGPT will:

  • Compare repeated takes
  • Keep the strongest version
  • Remove earlier weaker attempts
  • Detect restart phrases
  • Maintain logical flow
  • Output a properly formatted NON-DROP FRAME EDL

The EDL will assume:

  • 1920x1080
  • 23.976 fps
  • 48kHz audio
  • Video on V1
  • Audio on A1

Step 4: Import the EDL into Premiere

  1. Open a new project.
  2. Import your original video first.
  3. Go to File → Import
  4. Select the EDL file.
  5. Relink the reel name (usually “AX”) to your source video.

Premiere will generate a new sequence with all cuts applied.

If You Get an Error

Check:

  • Sequence timebase matches 23.976
  • NON-DROP frame is selected
  • Audio sample rate is 48000 Hz
  • Project resolution is 1920x1080

EDL imports fail when project settings don’t match.

What You’ll Still Do Manually

  • Tighten pacing slightly if needed
  • Adjust pauses
  • Make creative decisions

But the repetitive cleanup work is already done. This method works best for:

  • Talking head videos
  • Tutorials
  • Scripted content
  • Educational videos

If most of your edit time is spent removing repeated takes, this reduces that work to minutes.

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