Letterbox effect

I want to produce a movie in a widescreen aspect ratio although the original footage was (foolishly) shot in 4:3. I am therefore looking to use the Letterbox effect to crop the tops and bottoms of each clip. That's OK but there are, however, a lot of clips and I also want to include some transitions and titles.
Does anyone know if there is a particular sequence I should use for this? I presume: letterbox...transitions...titles. Is there a way which will cut down the amount of rendering necessary?
Also, is there a way to keep the letterbox settings between editing sessions? The only way seems to be by measuring the screen - hardly high-tech!
Peter Weldon

Hi P,
I would:
finish whole project WITHOUT letterboxing
export to tape
reimport (now, just one big clip)
add effect
go for a walk, in the next bar, spend some days off Waikiki Beach et al.
besides:
if you want some more "film look" have a look at JES Deinterlacer that adds to the final project a deinterlacing, which looks grrrreat in combo with widescreen.

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