Instructions

Step 1 - Develop your Story

Decide what you want to say about the book you selected and how you want to say it. Think about which scenes in the book  will help you in create a trailer that shows what the book is about in a short amount of time. Most book trailers should be between one and two minutes. It helps if you sketch out your ideas and organize them first.  This is called a storyboard.  This is done by hand.  There is a storyboard handout to use if you wish. 

Ask a classmate or two to look at your storyboard and ,make suggestions.  It is much easier to make changes now before any of the technical details are done

Step 2 - Collect your Images and Sound Files

Open Microsoft Word and go to online clip art. Look for about 10-15 images and/or photos that would best illustrate your ideas. Download them all to your picture folder and then insert them into one Word document. From this document, you can easily copy/paste them into your Powerpoint.

Step 3 - Produce your video with Powerpoint or Movie Maker

Using your storyboard, go to PowerPoint and create your slides. Type in the words that you need to get your story across. (Remember, this is an advertisement for your book, so don’t give the story away.)

You may use Windows MovieMaker if you choose. Click here for a tutorial.

Step 4 - Add Audio

Add sound to make your book trailer really exciting. You’ll also need to go to Formatting Palette andmake the sound run across all slides.

Freeplaymusic is a good site to use for your soundtrack.  Remember you must credit the artist and website in your trailer.

http://freeplaymusic.com

Step 5 - Add Credits

Set your powerpoint to run by itself. Watch it several times to make sure that you have enough time to read the slides and that the music matches the slides.  On your last slide called “Credits”, be sure to list all the web sites or sources that you use

for your clip art, images, and sound.

is like trying to go some place you’ve never been without directions.  Using a storyboard will reduce production time and frustrations.