What You Can Accomplish by the End of this Book

To say, "Prepare your acceptance speech" would be overextending it a bit, but the truth is that you can theoretically use iMovie to create a feature film, award-winning documentary, or even just the best darn vacation video you've ever seen. As you delve deeper into digital video and nonlinear editing (NLE), you'll realize that more options and more control can be had with more sophisticated (and pricey) systems, such as Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro. But nothing says you can't do what you want with iMovie.

Stepping out of the clouds, you should easily (there's that word again) be able to shoot, edit, and distribute your movie. In the process, you'll find a new respect for film and video you can't help it. After using iMovie for a few hours, you'll start watching television with a new eye that picks up aspects like pacing, framing, transitions, and audio that you never may have noticed before.

That's been my experience, and now look at me: I've written two editions of a book about iMovie. And assembled some of the best darn vacation movies you've ever seen.