Video Editing Final Reflection
For the video artifact that we created, we chose to use Windows Live
Movie Maker. We chose this tool because it was already downloaded onto our
laptops. This made it a lot easier to add video and music. We also chose to use
this tool because we were all slightly familiar with it and wanted to learn how
to use it better.
The first thing we did to create our final video artifact was to make up
our plan. We printed out the story board off of the internet and we brainstormed
for a couple of minutes. Our idea was to make a three minute long video
representing the dos and donts of using the Eastland High School laptops. We
would also take photos of students using their laptops and put them in the
video. We decided to put a title slide and a credit slide on the beginning and end
of the video. To fill the silences and to create a good mood while watching the video,
we decided to use some music. After thoroughly weighing our options, we decided
to use the song Check It Out by Will.i.am and Nicki
Minaj. The song has a catchy tune and is school appropriate. To get some ideas
together about the dos and donts bit, we took a piece of paper and came up with
some model ideas that you would or would not do with your laptop. We made sure
to have five in both categories. The next thing we did was to decide who would
act in each bit and who would be the one filming. We decided that Izy would be
the all-time recorder. Christa and Megan would switch on and off between the
different bits that we perform.
To start filming, we went into the media center to get a quiet room.
While in the back room, we used different props such as, Cheez-its, bottled
water, and most importantly, our laptops. While Izy was recording across the
table, Christa and Megan performed the different skits. After finishing the
first four videos perfectly, we had to get Caitie Higley to help us out with the
Skype bit. Later in the hour we went out in the hallway and shot a couple scenes
for our “Do carry your laptop in a book bag and make sure to use two straps”
bit. Block day we shot the rest of our videos. Christa was not present because
she had gotten pink eye, so Megan did what was left of them. After being sure we
got all of the videos we needed, we went around the study hall to take pictures
of people who were working hard on their laptops. We took pictures of Shandi,
Kori, Tommy, Cooper, Austin, and Matt. We got all of the photos that we needed
and we returned to Mrs. Paulsen’s room to work on our final
project.
Megan opened up the Windows Live Movie Maker on her laptop to get things
started. She added all of our videos onto the project by using the “Add videos
and photo”button. She used the same button to add all of the pictures that we
took. We lined all of the videos in the order that we wanted them to appear. We
added the title screen and made it orange. Behind that slide, we added an
introductory photo with a transition. After the rows of videos, there are the
rest of the pictures. We made sure to put cool animations to each of the photos
to make them more interesting to watch. To get the music to go with our video,
we went into audacity and edited the song. I cut and pasted the section of
music that I wanted to be quiet and moved it down to another track. I then
decreased the gain on that track to make it quieter when it plays. I exported
it as an MP3 file and then added it to the project by using the “Add music
button.” After making sure that all of the music lined up correctly and all of
the videos worked, we finally saved and finished the project.
This tool did cause a few problems. When I added the music, it sometimes
ended way before it was supposed to. Another thing that it went wrong was that
sometimes the videos that we uploaded did not work. We sometimes had to delete
and re-add the videos back into the project. I would definitely use this tool again
because it was very easy for us to understand and use. It was a great tool because
it is already on the computer. Even if it wasn’t on the computer, it can be downloaded
for free, which makes the tool even better.