Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

Book Trailers with iMovie

STEP 1 – Have your students select a book that they have already read to create a book trailer.

STEP 2 – Show them sample Book Trailers from YouTube. Below are a few examples.

Julie of the Wolves

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

STEP 3 – Talk with them about the purpose of a book trailer. Also discuss that a book trailer gives you clues about the book and tries to entice you to read it, but does not give away the ending.

STEP 4 – Allow your students time to open up iMovie and view the different templates that are available. Allowing them to work from a template makes it easier to compile the final project.

Open iMovie Click File, New Trailer

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

From this screen they will be able to preview the different templates available within iMovie

STEP 5 – Once they have selected the best template for their book they will highlight it and click create

STEP 6 – It will then require them to name their project

Have them name it the title of their book Then Click OK

STEP 7 – From this screen allow students time to review the outline and storyboard

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

Provide students with a iMovie Trailer Planner – Brain Storm Sheet. This will help them brainstorm what the trailer might include and then narrow down the content to essential and important details.

STEP 8 – Then provide your students with a fillable planner for the specific template they selected

Click the links below to access a fillable PDF for each template

Adrenaline Bollywood Coming of Age Expedition Fairy Tale Family Indie Narrative Retro Romance Scary Superhero Swashbuckler Teen

Action Adventure Blockbuster Documentary Epic Drama Film Noir Friendship Holiday Love Story Pets Romantic Comedy Sports Spy Supernatural

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

STEP 9 – Once students have filled in their script they can then determine what types of images or video clips they will use with each section of text

Give students time to either capture pictures and video on their own or browse the internet for images to use

Below are a few recommended websites for image searches:

o Pixaby o Flicker o Morgue File

STEP 10 – Have students create a folder on their desktop to organize all of the images they are downloading/saving

STEP 11 – Once they have completed their brainstorming and collecting their images/videos they can begin compiling their trailer in iMovie

Students will use the Outline section to enter information such as:

Movie Name Cast Studio Credits for pictures

Click in the text boxes to type in text

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

STEP 12 – Next students will begin on the Storyboard section of their iMovie trailer

Again, click in the text boxes to type in text To add images and video click either of the import buttons

Once images have been imported you can click and drag them to the desired thumbnail on the storyboard

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

Once all of the images/videos and text have been added, be sure to preview the trailer in full and make adjustments as needed.

STEP 13 – The last step will be to export the project so it can be moved as a movie.

Click File, Share, File Select the size you would like to export it as, and click next

Lastly, simply select where you would like your file saved

Kristy DillonLast Updated: July 2015

iMovie Trailer Tips

Planning and Storyboarding is Key!

Use as few words as possible. Trailers are fast-paced and text is never on the screen for very long. This is great for reinforcing lessons on word choice and editing.

Shoot or choose photos and videos in landscape (horizontally). Vertical videos and photos will have black bars on the sides of the screen.

Allow students choice of working alone or with a partner (groups of more than 2 at one computer do not work well)

Assign students a computer when you begin because iMovie trailers and videos cannot be saved onto a flash drive until they are completed. So, students will need to use the same computer each time they work on their iMovie until it is completed.

Give your class plenty of time to work on their movies. It will take several sessions for most students to complete their trailer.

Resources

Plan a Better iMovie Trailer