Mini-Movie Guide (Creating Videos)

What is a Mini-Movie?

A "mini-movie" is just another term for a digital story. However, for our purposes, the story can be no longer than thirty seconds, so the story is very short--hence, our mini-movie! (You might want to review all the different types of stories that can be told using digital images before beginning to create a mini-movie). And, the other difference is that you will use a video-editing tool to create the finished product. Both MAC and PC platforms have a free video-editing tool that is quite powerful (iMovie is the tool for the MAC platform, and MovieMaker 2 is the tool for PC platform).

Consider using your thirty seconds to advertise an upcoming assignment, school event, cultural happening, or family adventure! Advertisements make a great way to introduce students to a new unit of study. You might also consider whether or not you want to use still shots throughout your movie OR if you want to check out a digital video recorder and actually incorporate live footage. Both work very well for our purposes! The choice is yours!

The video editing process is fairly simple and goes something like this:

• Assemble the "pieces" (still shots, title slide, rolling credit slide, silent movie slides, video clips, and audio clips that will be assembled into the final video product) in the area that stores clips. (In iMovie, this is called the clip pane. In Premiere, this area is called the "bin" area.)
  • File>Import>File command is used to place copies of these files in the clip storage area.
  • Title slides are created and saved to the clip storage area. We will use the term "project bin" from now on, because you will be working in Premiere Pro.
• Edit the clips as needed (Just to let you know--this is a VERY TIME CONSUMING JOB!! Of course, for our first project this will be an optional step because we will be using still shots!)
• Drag the pieces to the timeline
• Insert transitions
• Render the movie and export the file to the movie format desired

Simple, right?? There is really nothing very difficult about creating video AND it's fun!! There are just a few jobs that are demanding. (The editing of audio and video clip requires attention to detail and becomes time consuming because you will keep playing with the clips to make it perfect!! If you can control your urge to make everything perfect, then you will indeed enjoy the art of creating digital videos!)

Your task is to create a sample thiry-second video using one of the free movie editing tools! Make sure that your finished video meets the criteria from the checklist and should include the following:

• A minimum of five still images
• A title slide, a "credits" slide, and at least ONE "silent screen" slide are incorporated as needed to tell the story as there is NO narration included in this video. "Silent Screen" slides are just black screens with words on them to tell the story--just like you have in old silent movies!
• A minimum of 2 Transitions included (fade-in, fade-out, page peel, pinwheel, etc.)
• A minimum of 1 special effect should be included
• Music is optional but could be included.
• Finish the movie as a movie to be sent via CD.
• Submit the CD-ROM with your completed video to Dr. F!

2) Construct your video:

Use the Movie Maker 2 Cheatsheet to construct the activity. Use the criteria sheet to be sure you have completed the activity correctly.