Script for Intro to MovieMaker

Below is my Script on MovieMaker -- The vodcast will follow shortly!

Most computers running Windows will have Microsoft MovieMaker Live.  If not, you can google MovieMaker and download it to your computer.  Make sure you download a valid copy from the Microsoft Windows website.  Microsoft MovieMaker is great for those who are used frequently using Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.


There are three main areas of the screen.  The top area style will be familiar to Microsoft Office users as it will have the Ribbon menu at the top to select different options quickly.  The left side of the screen is a preview media player to see what your video will look and sound like as you edit it.  The right side holds your photos and videos in the order they will appear in your movie.  If you want a photo in a different spot of your movie, you can simply click and hold, then drag it to where you want it in your movie.   


To select the most popular options in video editing you can select the Home section in the Ribbon menu. You will see that by just clicking a few icons you can add videos and photos to your movie; you can add music, narrate your movie,  or you can even auto-create your entire movie to a specific theme that will have presets of transitions, panning, zooming, and flow.  Also the on the Home section of the Ribbon menu, you can create title screens, credit screens, and add captions to certain photos.    


When you save your movie, you save it as a project so that it keeps all your photos, music, and selections in one folder.  When you are ready to finalize your video, you can share through different mediums like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, or Flickr.  You can also create movie files to replay on your computer, your favorite mobile device, or share by email.
I hope this shows you the basics and simplicities of Microsoft Movie Maker.  For users familiar with Microsoft Office products this will be a cinch to adapt and create something to make you proud!

Personal Digital Story Video

Personal Story - Script

Below is my personal digital story script to create a quick video.  The video will follow:

Several months ago my wife and I were having a…”discussion”.  The topic was of adding an addition to the family.  My argument was that we didn’t have the time or resources to provide a healthy upbringing.  Her argument was a counter to every excuse I had.

A couple months after our “loud conversation” we brought home new life.  And although he was cute, I was not looking forward the upcoming responsibilities.  I would lose a sense of restfulness by having to wake up a couple of times in the middle of night to provide his needs.  I would constantly have to watch over him to make sure he was not getting into…“trouble”.

He was growing so quickly and every day I wish I had put my foot down a little more firmly in order to avoid this painstaking daily situation.  There’s the feeding, potting training and having to deal with destructive surprises every now and then.  With so much newness in my life, especially at work or things relating to my work, this was something that didn’t seem like a priority. After, what continues to be, a huge physical investment, little did I know I would receive a huge gradual and mental reward.

I never grew up with dogs, but I did have a comprehension of their species and my understanding of them was that they need lots of room to be themselves.  Although I never wanted a dog, I did care about them enough and respect them enough to know that they deserve more than what I could provide.

So, what do I do in order to embrace my new family role?  I research.  I began to read and embraced the philosophies of the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan.  His teachings for a happy and healthy dog are Exercise, Discipline and then Affection…in that order.  Although, I wish I was home 24-7 and didn’t have so many other obligations in order to properly raise the dog, I’ve tried to fulfill these things as best as possible.

So what, exactly, have I gained?  When the Dog Whisperer visits with people on his show, he usually has to fix people problems before he fixes dog problems. So I thought, to myself, what do I need to “fix” about me in order to maintain a healthy connection to my dog.

Even though I feel I never have time for, Roscoe, I can’t ignore the fact that it’s not his fault for misbehaviors and wild actions. So it helps me to identify weaknesses about me that need to become strengths in order for the dog to be a happy and healthy dog.  For every weakness I identify, I ask two other questions: 1) where do I need to work on that weakness in other parts of my life and 2) what would it look like if the weakness became a strength?   

The weaknesses I’ve identified are patience, consistency, leadership, and at times, compassion.  These are things, not only Roscoe needs from me, but other people in my life a well.  I hope that I become more patience, more consistent, a better leader and a compassionate individual to others as well. 

Never did I think a dog could change aspects about me.  It’s great being around an animal that can pick up on my emotions; emotions that I can’t hide with a fake smile or sarcastic humor.  It’s also great having to communicate with something on a basic level.  If I’m not all there, he picks up on it, and instantly attacks my weaknesses.  He forces me to be on my A-game, with patience, consistency, leadership, sprinkled with compassion.