2. Editing

(i) Importing video clips

(ii) Adding video clips

(iii) Transitions

(iv) Video Effects

(v) Editing the length of a video clip

(vi) Adding text

(vii) Adding a narration

If you have decided to create some of your own content for your video documentary, then you will need to film this using your storyboard as a guide. Remember to use different angles to make it more interesting! You will also need to shoot a lot more video that you will actually use. Editing is a very lossy process!

Once you have all your video available to use, it's time to start using Windows Movie Maker! Access it by going to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Windows Movie Maker

The first screen you see should look something like the one below:

(i) Importing video clips

To get video clips into Movie Maker, simply click on 'Import' from the 'File' menu and navigate to your video file. Movie Maker will analyse the video and automatically divide it up into smaller scenes. You can join these together or use them individually, it's up to you.

(ii) Adding video clips

At the bottom of the screen is the timeline where you can drag-and-drop video clips to form your documentary. If you want to crop a video clip, simply use your mouse to 'grab hold' of either the start or end of the clip and move the slider to the correct position. The best way to learn how to use the program is to experiment. Try out different things on the video clip you have added to the timeline - if something goes wrong, simply press 'Undo'!

(iii) Transitions

You might want to add a 'transition' between two video clips. You can do this by going to 'Video Transitions' on the 'Tools' menu. You will then be presented with many transitions effects, which you can then drag-and-drop between the video clips on your timeline!

(iv) Video Effects

If the video clip is too dark, or you want to add a special effect (e.g. making it look old), then you need the 'Video Effects' option in the 'Tools' menu. You will be presented with a number of options - simply drag-and-drop them on top of the video clips you wish to modify.

(v) Editing the length of a video clip

You can edit the length of a clip by clicking on 'Show Timeline' above the storyboard you added your video cilps to. Once you are there, 'grab hold' of either the beginning or end of the clip and trim it to the desired length. You can get back to storyboard mode by clicking on 'Show Storyboard'.

(vi) Adding text

At some point, you will probably also want to add text on the screen - this might be at the beginning of your video (title), at the end (credits), or during the film (e.g. names, places, events, dates). You can do this by going to 'Titles and Credits' on the 'Tools' menu. You will then be given a choice as to where you wish to add your text. Make your choice, enter your text, and then change the font and colour as you wish.

(vii) Adding a narration

One final thing you might want to do before exploring the even more advanced functions of Movie Maker is to add a narration. You can do this by clicking on the small microphone icon just above the storyboard/timeline. Make sure you have a microphone plugged in and then follow the on-screen instructions (you might want to ask someone who has done this before for some help...)