What is the initial step to crop a clip in Premiere Pro?

To crop a clip in Premiere Pro, the first step is to drag the crop effect onto the clip. This action applies the crop effect directly to the selected clip in the timeline, making it possible to manipulate the crop settings in the Effect Controls panel. Once the effect is applied, you can adjust properties such as the left, right, top, and bottom crop percentages to achieve the desired framing for your video footage.

This method is the most direct approach, allowing for immediate visual feedback as adjustments are made, which is essential in video editing for precision and creativity. After applying the effect, you can then use the Effect Controls panel to refine the crop further. The other options do not initiate the cropping process effectively, as they pertain to different functions within Premiere Pro.