ASTROLANNE

Q: iMovie Nightmare

Hi guys,

 

So, I’m having a total nightmare with iMovie!
And I really need your help.

  

I am using iMovie 11, version 9.0.4 .... (or trying to).

And I am on a late-2011 MacBook Pro, using El Capitan.

 

The basic problem is:

I need to import ‘still' photos into my video project, but since upgrading my OS to El Capitan, it’s proving impossible.

 

Here’s what happens:

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

1. (a)   I try to use ‘file -> import’, but there is no ‘image / photo’ option there.

(The only 4 options listed are: 

‘Movies’

‘Camera Archive’

‘iMovie for IOS Project’

‘iMovie HD Project’

 

1.(b)  If I click on the ‘photo’ icon in the bottom-right toolbar  (next to Text, Music, Transitions)...

   it only offers me the option of ‘Photo Booth’ pictures.  ...Nothing else from my thousands of images on my Mac!

   Totally useless.

 

 

2)  So, I go for the only other option (as advised on Mac Help) :

‘Add picture to Desktop, and drag into iMovie from there’.

 

I make sure that my chosen images are under 4000px each (also advised), and I try various file types -

jpeg, png, pdf.... 

And drag these over into my iMovie project.

 

The pictures DO show up in the Timeline;

But they WON’T show up in the Preview!
Instead, when I hit ‘play’ there is just a black screen where the photo should be.

My video clips work fine, but not the still photos.

Not even Ken Burns can save me.

 

So I have no way of seeing how the picture will look in my finished film - or even knowing IF it will show up there!

 

2 (b)   I search online for answers to this, and try everything people have suggested.

(It seems to be a very common problem, since El Capitan! )

 

- I save the photos into ‘Photo’, and then onto my Desktop....

- I change the size of them to make sure they are under 4000 pixels each.... (as advised on the Mac Help site)

- I try saving them as jpegs, pngs, pdfs.... opening them in Photoshop & re-saving.... everything I can think of.

But still, Nada!!!

 

The pics still don’t show up in my Movie Preview.

 

 

3) On the Mac Help site, it tells me to try upgrading my iMovie version.

(My current version is iMovie 11, v.9.0.4)


So, I open up the App store, and try to upgrade.

I log in (fine), start the download.... & then get the following message:

 

‘Update Unavailable with this Apple ID:
This update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled’.

 

Which is ridiculous, as this is the first time I have tried to upgrade this software since I downloaded the whole El Capitan OS.

 

 

4)  I lose my mind.

 

I feel like I’m going round in circles... 

And I can also see that thousands of other people online are having this same issue, with photos not showing up in iMovie.

 

So - Can anyone out there help me?

I’m really stumped, and I can’t believe that iMovie won’t let me add a simple picture to my Movie Project!
This is ridiculous.

 

 

Waiting hopefully.....

 

Thanks,

Anne-Marie.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 12:32 PM

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Q: iMovie Nightmare

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Rich839,

    Rich839 Rich839 Sep 27, 2016 2:29 PM in response to ASTROLANNE
    Level 4 (3,690 points)
    iLife
    Sep 27, 2016 2:29 PM in response to ASTROLANNE

    Hi, Astrolanne,

     

    Try contacting Apple support from the App Store website and explain your situation.  If your Apple ID has changed since you bought the original software then you don't get the available update.  However, even if that is so, it is only a $15.00 problem because you can buy the upgrade for that.

     

    iMovie 9 is not entirely compatible with El Capitan, and many anomalies have been reported.  That probably explains your issues.

     

    Best,

         Rich

  • by ASTROLANNE,

    ASTROLANNE ASTROLANNE Sep 28, 2016 11:01 AM in response to Rich839
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iLife
    Sep 28, 2016 11:01 AM in response to Rich839

    Hi Rich,

     

    Thanks for getting back to me, much appreciated.


    I’m going to contact Apple support right now.... It looks like I’m going to have to deal with the software update issue with them over the phone.

    But I haven’t changed my Apple ID since I got my first Mac - back in 2004.

    So there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to update iMovie - or any other software. 

    (And I’ve seen lots of other people complaining about the same message coming up, without having changed their Apple ID).

     

    As for the iMovie incompatibilities -

    I am using ‘iMovie 11’....

    But the ‘About’ info says iMovie 11, version 9.0.4.

    (which is confusing in itself!)

     

    So, I am not using ‘iMovie 9’, as you mention in your reply.

    Do you mean that it’s version 9.0.4 etc which has the anomalies?

     

    If I can get this ****** software to update, then maybe it might work better....

    But really, it’s just not good enough, the fact that iMovie won’t work properly with El Capitan!
    Do Apple not realise that this is people’s work & livelihoods suffering here, not just their daily computer usage?

     

     

    Honestly, as a Mac fan since 2004, I’ve been left deeply disappointed by so many failed Apple developments and glitches over the last couple of years - since Steve Jobs died, in fact.

    It seems, to me & a lot of other Apple users I know, like the spirit and vision of the company died with him....

    Which is a real shame.

  • by Rich839,

    Rich839 Rich839 Sep 28, 2016 5:44 PM in response to ASTROLANNE
    Level 4 (3,690 points)
    iLife
    Sep 28, 2016 5:44 PM in response to ASTROLANNE

    iMovie '11 is iMovie 9, including all of the latter's updates, which includes version 9.0.4.  Yes it is confusing.

     

    That said, iM9.0.4 is an old version that is no longer being sold and that is not compatible with El Capitan.  That's why consumers need to keep up with the upgrades. Apple offers the upgraded iMovie app for free to users who satisfy the requirements.  Hopefully when you contact Apple support you will get the free upgrade, but if not, it's a $15.00 issue like I mentioned earlier.   I have a feeling that everything will work out fine. 

     

    Best of luck with this.

     

    -- Rich