Eric, quick tip. Select from drop-down menu Colour boards, choose black and insert at start of video before your clip, then select transitions, scroll down to "fade" insert this between the colour board and your clip - you have fade in from black repeat the process but put the colour board at the end and the transition between them, you now have fade to black. For fun, you might like to try an effect I've just submitted, look in forum for heading: "Transitions - Threshold 1 & 2" for details.