Before you can use a clip on the timeline, you must first import the clip into your project. There are a few different ways to import a clip. The most common way is to drag and drop files from your computer into the section of the screen.
There are 4 different methods to import a clip.
Run OpenShot
Drag and drop multiple files at once from your Desktop to the
tree.Run OpenShot
Drag and drop a folder full of media files from your Desktop to the "Project Files" tree.
* All audio, video, and image files will be imported from this folder
While browsing files in Gnome, select 1 or more media files
Right click on the selected files, and choose "Open With Other Application..."
Choose "OpenShot Video Editor" (or the openshot command)
* Even after you start working in OpenShot with your files, you can still return to the file system, and right click on more files and choose "OpenShot". It will add them to the currently running instance of OpenShot.