MovieMaker is a free program for anyone using a Windows PC. Journalists with little audio or video experience can use it to quickly create edit and publish a video to go with their stories. By Sara Kelleher, UNC-Chapel Hill student School of Journalism and Mass Communication Funded by an APPLES Ueltschi Course Development Grant

1. HOW TO BE A CHAMPION!
(at Windows Movie Maker)
Sara Kelleher’s guide to not letting
the software destroy your soul.
This is your friend…
…not the bane of your existence.

2. Why Windows Movie Maker?
• Windows Movie Maker allows you to:
– Edit video interviews easily.
– Add captions and credits.
– Use new media to tell a story!

3. By the end of this presentation…
• You will be able to:
• 1. Successfully upload videos from a Flip video
camera.
• 2. Transfer video files to your computer.
• 3. Open and import those video files to Windows
Movie Maker.
• 4. Add a title and credits to your video.
• 5. Successfully save your video in an easy-to-post
YouTube format!

4. The five Movie Maker
Commandments:
1. You shall have a functioning computer.
2. You shall successfully save Flip camera videos to
your functioning computer.
3. You shall make movies.
4. You shall spend hours, days or even weeks to
making movies.
5. You shall post the finished product on YouTube
and forgive yourself and others for doing
something distracting in the finished product.

5. 1. You shall have a functioning
computer
• This is because videos take up a lot of memory
Even if you can only use these, you
need to be able to save them all.
*WHAT DOES NOT WORK:
I was trying to upload the Flip
video files to my 4-year-old
IBM ThinkPad , but there was
not enough memory to even
recognize the program!

6. 2. You shall successfully save Flip
camera videos to your functioning
computer
Plug the Flip camera in your computer and the FlipShare program will open.

7. 1. Click “View and organize videos.” After
the videos load, select the videos you want
on your computer.
2. Go to File, Export to…
3. Pick a folder to
save the videos
4. FlipShare saves
it!

8. 3. Now, you shall make movies!
1. Open Windows Movie Maker
2. File/Import into Collections
3. Pick your videos
4. You are ready to go!

9. 4. You shall spend a lot of time
editing.
• SOME ADVICE:
– Watch the whole video FIRST.
– Log the times your interview subject says
something great.
THIS WILL SAVE YOU TIME, I PROMISE!

10. 5. You shall forgive those who do
something distracting
1. Mark Trustin, an attorney who represents students suspended from
public school systems. What is or is not distracting?
Click
video to
begin.

11. The content is good…
…but the hands
in the face?
*Does it matter enough to cut it? No, I did not think it was enough
to ignore the content. Mr. Trustin offers great insight about who is
suspended that is worth the distraction.

12. You shall forgive yourself for doing
something distracting
• Example two, Laura Castro. A sophomore at Carrboro
High School. What is or is not distracting?
Click
video to
begin.

13. My mistakes:
• 1. Notebook paper was flapping in the air.
• 2. Students were yelling in the background.
• 3. Windy (not everyone likes the air-blown
look).

14. You shall edit, and you shall edit a lot.
• Let’s look at some inspiring words from Laura Castro. Laura talks about
how anyone can graduate high school if they are motivated.
Click
video to
begin.

15. Because we are champions, we will
add a title.
HOW TO ADD A TITLE:
1. Go to Edit Movie/Make titles or credits
2. Pick title at the beginning
3. Say what you want to say!
*Do the same for I wrote, “Get inspired! Words
“Credits at the end” if from Laura Castro.”
you want credits.

16. And here it is with a title and credits!
Click
video to
begin.

17. Another important lesson!
• CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK SPELLING AND
GRAMMAR!
• You have to completely re-save the video even
if you are missing ONE LETTER!
• We are champions, so we take details
seriously!

18. Little detail: add a fade!
Click “View
I chose
video
this one.
transitions”
first.
Pick and
drag a
fade
between
scenes!

19. Fade version
Click
video to
begin.

20. Now save to your computer!
1. Click “Save to my computer.
2. Name your video something
other than WVM008 . Try to relate
to the subject like castroinspires.
3. Say “next” to Best Quality and…

21. It saves!

22. 5. You shall post to YouTube!
• YouTube is a wonderful place, full of
inspiration and sneezing pandas.
• Upload your genius in these three easy steps:
• 1. Sign in

23. Continuing to post to YouTube
• 2. Click Upload
3. Click Upload Video
and your video will be
published!

24. Review:
• 1. Videos are a great way to use new media to
tell a story.
• 2. Editing videos with Windows Movie Maker
is easy, but remember that it requires time for
editing and making sure there are no spelling
or grammar mistakes.
• 3. Don’t forget to publish your hard work to
YouTube or another Web site!

25. Questions?
• Contact Sara
Kelleher, saraekelleher@gmail.com.