Pick of the Week :: iMovie ‘09 & iDVD The Missing Manual

Spring is almost here and the window to edit down those video clips and movies your shot over the holidays is closing fast. If you don’t get to them now, Spring will spring and then your not so relaxing summer will arrive, followed by the beauties of Fall. Next thing you know, you have another round of holiday videos to shoot! Who has time to deal with that 2009 crap when 2010 is upon us?! Listen, everyone hates watching a 27 minute video for those 48 seconds of pure funny, bliss, or ‘moment’. You’re boring your friends and family with those other 26 minutes and 12 seconds. They may never tell you, but, well, you are. So if you ever want those videos to be anywhere other than a hard drive or a drawer, this pick is for you (plus, you’ll need a Mac).

iMovie ‘09 and iDVD: The Missing Manual is the pick. iMovie and iDVD are already on your Mac (unless you did something funky) and they’re quite powerful and ready to go. All you have to do is figure out how to use it. With this book, you’re not alone. I always say the right book is the most affordable training tool around, and this book falls into that category.

So what’s in the book?

• First, it’s full color throughout (not a dopey 8 page ‘color insert’)
• Some background on choosing a camera
• The basics of getting your movie on the Mac and understanding project, events, and the iMovie workspace
• Creating a movie by editing and arranging clips, cropping
• Using transitions, themes, video effects, green screen and picture-in-picture
• Even adding subtitles, credits, a sound track

So really from beginner to power user, the book takes you through the application.  There is a complete section on exporting your work so you can share it on your own website, YouTube, the iPhone, well, really anywhere you want it to be viewed.

Then there’s the iDVD section. This is likely one of the most under-used applications in the iLife suite. It’s very powerful and anyone can make remarkable DVD menus with this tool. It’s wonderful if you want to throw your parents a professional quality DVD instead of sending them to YouTube for a 3″ x 5″ look at your last adventure.

More? You got it. From The Missing CD ROM you can download additional content like:

• Bonus appendix: The Basics of Lighting, Composition, and Camera Technique
• Movies on Custom Web Sites
• Bonus appendix: More Chapter Markers

And, how do we know David Pogue is the right author for the book? There are plenty of Mac maniacs around, but, before he did a deal with CNBC, he used to produce those clever weekly videos we watch on the NewYorkTimes.com all on his own using his Mac, iMovie, and some clever plugins.  So you have a guy that not only can explain things really well, but he has the hands on experience.  The perfect combo for  a topic like this.  Years ago he made a video about how he makes the videos. Unfortunately that one’s not available anymore. I was only able to come up with a broken link to a Real Audio archive (nice work NYTs).

[NOTE TO DAVID POGUE: If you still have that video, and I bet you do, how about popping it up on YouTube? Sure, it might be dated, but it was a good one.]

So there you have the pick of the week: David Pogue’s iMovie ‘09 & iDVD: The Missing Manual. Buy it, read it, and make your own awesome videos that won’t bore the life out of your friends and family!

TECHSHELF PICK OF THE WEEK ::

iMovie ‘09 and iDVD: The Missing Manual
by David Pogue & Aaron Miller
978-0-596-80141-0
$49.99 retail (don’t pay that much though)