Make multiple movies at one time from one large video file

You can, but it really sounds as if you should be using keyword collections for this rather than projects. I think this is the same in both applications though it might be a bit easier to navigate recently opened projects in FCP.

I have little knowledge of iMovie but what you want to do it very simple in FCPX - I do it all the time.

I have Libraries containing my large video files, and I add keywords to help me find the sequences I want (sometimes I use them years after shooting). My Projects are in different Libraries to the ones containing the original footage.

When required, I simply drag or apply the clip I want to the Project I need it in. FCPX comes up with a warning if you drag a clip from one Library to another, but I use referenced material all the time, so even though the thumbnail is copied to the new Library, the original clip is not duplicated. (The warning can be disabled in preferences, too).

Andy

@Tom

if I remember correctly, Keywords were allowed in the previous version of iMovie; the actual one axed that... (???!!)

@jdirkins

What Tom said…

In traditonal edit.apps, you had to create 'drawers' to put in a clip; one clip = one drawer (=folder, bin, younameit).

In FCPX you can apply as many tags as you want to a clip, section of a clip, overlapping parts of a clip etc...

Esp. for your task, this feature is huge! make a selection, apply as many keywords as you like, next.

Those keywords offer keyboard shortcuts, so you tag a whole game in minutes ... half an hour 😉

Plus: you get automatically collections - which is 80% of your projects done. Select it, and only your highlights or JohnsBest or FailOfTheYear are shown...

My habitual procedure every week:

while ffw in 4x speed, I favorize my 90min recording, resulting a few dozen 'clean' scenes, 90min>>20min:

my fingers on J/K/L, the thumb on Space for Play, hitting I and O to mark scenes, hitting F to mark it as a good one

step 2: filter set to Favorites Only, now skimming thru , I apply "good", "slowmo", "diff angle", "fun" and/or "year in review"

That's done incredible fast, and when you're used to it, you 'stare' at the preview window only, no need to change hands btw keyboard and mouse/trackpad...

forget the limitations of drawers - tagging is the magic sauce 😀