Copy and save video clips as separate files

Hi, Rikki,

You are following the correct procedure. Your export options (format, resolution, quality, compression, etc) appear on the first screen that pops up after you click on File.

When you first start exporting a project as a movie file iMovie will deposit a temporary file on your desktop to assist with the exporting. The temporary file has zero bytes in it and cannot be opened. It will remain on your desktop until the export is completed, and then will disappear and be replaced by a fully playable exported file. You should wait until the export is completed before closing iMovie. Sometimes the temporary file will remain on the desktop for a few seconds before disappearing.

If the above does not solve it, try deleting preferences, as that procedure often cures export problems. Open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects.  Now try exporting again. Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project.

-- Rich

What have you already tried, and how did it fail?

I would simply add the long video to the time line, then cut out a section you want to share, and use "Share > Export File" to save the shorter file in a folder.

Repeat this for all clips you want to share. Then share the exported clips by Mail or any way your want.

When you say "files" I assume that you want to copy and save selected clips from one large iMovie project into different iMovie projects to share with others.

It is very easy to do. Create a new project that you want to share out. Then go back to your old project and select a clip in the timeline by clicking on it. Do an Edit/Copy of the selected clip. Then open your newly created project and do an Edit/Paste of the clip into the timeline. Your edits will carry over.

You can copy and paste the clips one at a time, or select a range of clips by selecting the first clip and then shift-selecting the last clip in the range.

If you don't want your edits to carry over, then instead of selecting the clip in the timeline select the clip in the Project Media browser view (that displays when you click on your project's name under the heading Project Media at the top of the the media sidebar). The clips in the Project Media browser are unedited and can be copied and pasted as unedited clips into a new project. The clips can also be dragged into one or more Events for use in several projects.

-- Rich

Great! Glad it working for you. 😊

-- Rich