Syllabus

Getting Started with Making a Movie:
Apple iMovie HD 6

Instructor: Paul Hyde

Planning guidelines

  • Consider your content first. Movies with short, focused messages are often the most effective.
  • Plan your work before you start using equipment and software. Scripting and storyboarding in advance will payoff in more efficient and effective use of your time during production.
  • Identify the media elements you want to include, such as narration, images, titles, soundtrack, original video, or video from existing sources.
  • Use software that can assemble all of your components. This session will use iMovie HD 6, available as part of iLife '06. Users of iLife '08 can download iMovie HD 6 free from Apple.
  • Consider how you will transfer your project files and where you will publish the finished podcast.
  • Choose one platform (Windows or Mac) at the outset and stick with it for an entire podcast production.
  • Read more about creating high quality original video in the multimedia planning guidelines.

The video production process

lynda logo"iMovie HD 6 + iDVD 6 Essential Training" offers 9.75 hours of online training, available on lynda.com in the Student Multimedia Design Center.

Recommended: when capturing video, connect a video camera to your computer before opening iMovie HD 6.

  1. How to capture video from a video camera. For this session, we'll use the iMac iSight camera for a video capture exercise. Choose the video format for your iMovie project that matches the format of your source video material. To capture video in iMovie HD 6, put the camera/edit toggle switch in camera mode. Hint: make sure you audio playback level is turned down to prevent audio feedback. Test the difference between looking straight into the camera and looking at the "person behind the camera."

  2. How to edit video clips, including sequencing and trimming. We'll use a set of sample video segments to develop an edited video sequence. The iMovie HD 6 interface is built around three main areas:
    1. the monitor window, which has a scrubber bar beneath
    2. the clips pane shows unused video clips and has a choice of panes below
    3. the timeline area has two views: the clip viewer and the timeline viewer

  3. Add titles and credits. Opening titles and closing credits can help identify your video project in any playback environment.

  4. Optional steps: add a soundtrack, effects, transitions.

  5. Share your movie.

 

How to save a movie to be able to view it and share it

For this session, we wll export the movie for playback from a CD.

Important: your iMovie HD project file is not the same as your movie output file. Keep track of both files!

 

Options for follow-up assistance

video 101 logoFind out more about cameras, recording, sound, and lighting from the video101 web site, available in the Student Multimedia Design Center.
  1. Lynda.com and video101 offer excellent self-paced online tutorials.
  2. Come to the Student Multimedia Design Center service desk.
  3. Submit a question at AskSMDC.
  4. Make an appointment with our staff by calling 831-8832.
  5. For general technology questions, contact the Help Center.
  6. For help with a class presentation, contact the Oral Communications Fellows.
  7. For faculty who need help with technology, contact PRESENT.

 

 
 
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