Do-It-Yourself Book Videos
Screenshot #1 | Screenshot #2 | Screenshot #3
This is a basic "how to" for Windows Movie Maker, a free program pre-installed on Windows computers. It's easy to use, but has a tendency to crash on long or complex projects, so save often! There's a learning curve involved. My firsts efforts were okay, but I've learned a lot since I made my first videos. The next ones will look much nicer.
The total cost of this 30-second demo video was nothing; all resources were free. The demo mixes stock video footage with static stock photos, uses two title overlays, and loopable audio.
Getting Started
To Add Stock Images:
1. Open Movie Maker.
2. Import stock images into the Movie Maker Collections window.
3. Drag the images down to the storyboard work area.
4. Save the project file.
To Add Stock Video Footage:
1. Import the video footage (if in .MOV format, convert to .AVI format.)
2. If desired, clip footage into smaller sections using the clipping tool while previewing the clip.
3. Drag selected clip(s) down to the storyboard work area and position as needed.
Note: Yes, it's possible to mix video footage and static images!
To Add Music Clips:
1. Import selected music files into the Collection window.
2. If necessary, clip out a portion with the clipping tool while previewing.
3. Drag the music clip down to the Audio section of the storyboard work area.
To Add Audio Files:
1. Import selected audio effect clips into the Collection window.
2. If necessary, clip out the portion with the clipping tool.
3. Drag the audio clip down to the Audio/Music section of the storyboard work area.
4. Note the times (in seconds) in the video preview, and match sound clips to the video. Arrange as needed.
Note: Here's a "cheat" to add sound effects and music: Create a project file with images and music first, then save as a movie. Next, create a new project file, import the newly created movie, and drag it down to the Video/Audio section of the work area. Add additional sound effects, then save as a new movie.
To Add Text, Titles, or Credits:
1. Click on "Add Title" from the Movie Tasks menu.
2. Choose to add text before, on, or after a selected clip.
3. Add text, then format font and animation style.
4. Edit title overlay images later by right-clicking on them.
5. OR create text images in a graphics program and import them the same as stock photos.
Getting Fancy
Adding Special Effects to Music/Audio Files:
1. Preview raw video file to make sure images and music mesh.
2. In the storyboard work area, click on the music clip.
3. From the main menu, click on "Clip," then on "Audio."
4. Click on "Fade In," then repeat process and click on "Fade Out."
5. Adjust the volume if necessary.
6. Adjust clip length by clicking on it in the storyboard area, then dragging it in/out to the desired length.
7. Move the clip by clicking on it and then dragging it to a new position.
Adding Special Effects to Photos/Video Footage:
1. In the storyboard work area, click to select an image or clip.
2. From the main menu, click on "Clip," then on "Video."
3. To fade in from black, click on "Fade In." To fade out to black, repeat process and click "Fade Out."
4. OR click on "View Video Effects" from the Movie Tasks menu. This opens a menu with effects in addition to fade in/out from black.
If you use this option, it's easier to do so in the "Show Storyboard" view.
5. OR right-click on a clip and add/remove video effects.
Note: Transition effects can be used in addition to video effects. Click on "View Video Transitions" from the Movie Tasks menu.
Adjusting Time Frames:
1. To alter the length of images, footage, or audio, click on the clip in the "Show Timeline" view of the storyboard work area. Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the image and use the red arrow symbol to lengthen/shorten the clip or image.
2. If the "Show Timeline" is too small, click on the + magnifying glass icon to enlarge.
Note: The default frame length for stataic images is 5 seconds. Effects and transitions don't work well on very short clips.
Saving the Project File As A Movie
1. When done, save the movie in high-quality video format (NTSC). After experimenting with different save-as formats, this one seemed to work the best. For large video files, though, you might also wish to save it in high-quality video (small) format.
Tips/Suggestions/Notes
1. Try a practice video first, keeping it short and and simple. Experiment with effects, mix images with video footage, etc.
2. Avoid the impulse to add lots of flashy effects, which can draw attention away from the video subject.
3. Text can include intriguing character snippets and/or raise questions that won't be answered unless a viewer reads the book.
4. When writing text, think "hooks," back cover copy, and genre-speak. Melodramatic, yes, but it's shorthand readers recognize.
5. Always include a book cover, your name, and a website link at either the beginning or end of the video.
6. When using stock images, resize and/or crop them to uniform size, such as 320 W x 240 H (standard small web video.)
7. "Clipping" video footage or audio clips doesn't alter the original files.
8. Post or link videos to YouTube, Google Video, newsletter, email loops, blogs, message boards, or an Amazon blog.
9. Don't forget to send them to your editor and agent as well!