20. A computer system for generating a representation of a video program as sequence of edit events to be used by a digital video editor for editing the video program, the computer system comprising: input means for receiving a video edit decision list in a first syntax for a first machine, wherein the video edit decision list comprises a formatted list of computer instructions for an edit controller for assembling the video program, wherein each instruction defines source material and a destination of an edit event; a format template library providing a plurality of format specifiers wherein each format specifier specifies a syntax of an edit decision list for a different machine, including a first format specifier for the first syntax, selecting means, connected to the input means and the format template library, for selecting the first format specifier in the format template library, and generating means for generating, according to the edit decision list and the first format specifier, the representation of the sequence of edit events corresponding to instructions in the video edit decision list.
22. The system of claim 20 wherein said input means comprises means for scanning a document on which the video edit decision list is printed.