Transcript-First Editing for Non-Dialogue Projects: Your Workflow Hacks?

Hey everyone,

I'm Jason, a Gaffer, and I've been really interested in the 'transcript-first' editing approach for a while. For dialogue-heavy corporate stuff or docs, it makes total sense and speeds things up. But I’m currently prepping for a more abstract project, a short film with very minimal dialogue, lots of visual storytelling, and some performance art elements. We shot some on an ALEXA Mini with a mix of amaran 150c and a SkyPanel S60-C. It's not a music video, but the rhythm and visual flow are paramount.

I’ve tried using rough scene notes or keywords in a document, but it still feels clunky for structuring purely visual sequences. I'm wondering how you folks adapt this 'transcript-first' mindset or tools when the 'transcript' itself is practically empty. Are you generating descriptive 'visual transcripts'? What's your personal workflow or any creative hacks for projects where dialogue isn't the primary driver?