DVD-R larger than 4.7 GB?

It sounds like you are simply using a DVD disc as a data disc.

iDVD is designed to take you source video content and compress it with mpg-2 compression so it can be played on DVD players.

iDVD can produce NTSC format discs which are 29.97 fps or PAL format discs that are 25 fps.

If it IS your intent to simply use a DVD disc as a data disc and your computer supports DL (double layer) media, you can get close to 8 GB on a DL disc.

Tell use what you are trying to do so we don't have to guess.

What is the playing time for your movie? THIS is all important.

ALSO: I suggest you go back to your creation step and render your movie at 29.97 fps and NOT 24 fps!!!!!!

QuickTime in iDVD will convert your 24 fps content to 29.97 fps SIMPLY BY DUPLICATING EXISTING FRAMES!

As a point of reference: DV video -that iDVD is designed for - runs about 13 GB per hour.

One hour and 56 minutes is cutting it too close to fit on a single layer DVD - even in Best Quality mode.

BQ offers 'up to 120 minutes on a SL disc' - but things like menus - especially motion menus - can eat up a lot of the space.

If your drive supports double layer discs you will probably need to use a DL disc. If you can't/don't want to use a DL disc, you will have to cut your movie into two parts.

Darn. Ok thanks. What is the longest video you
think I could stretch my single layer DVD?

My GUESS is about 110 minutes

How can I tell if my drive supports double layers
discs? I have a G5 with the pioneer DVD burner.

Do an 'About This Mac' under the blue apple at the top left, then select
More Info' and then 'ATA'. You may need to click on the small triangle in front of the drive to see the full information.

also, what is BQ?

BQ = Best Quality mode

1. What size/dimension settings (ie. 320X240 QVGA)
do you recommend for exporting video for DVD to play
on a regular TV and a wide screen TV.

iDVD expects NTSC 4:3 video imports to be 720x480 (rectangular-'thin') pixels. If you use 320x240 it will be sized up and look 'ugly'.

2. If I am exporting video for streaming flash
internet video, is there a recomended fps for that?

Not an iDVD issue. Your streaming frame size and frame rate needs to be matched to the bandwidth you and your viewer have.

3. Does it matter if I use a DL DVD-R or DVD+R?

A good question - I haven't had cause to use any DL discs. Someone else will probably jump in and make a suggestion.

Just to answer the "how long" questions:

We routinely create projects (motion menus, drop zone movies, music) featuring movies 1 1/2 hour. Generally, the quality is good but occasionally the compression struggles with certain scenes ... fast motion, low setup.

If the absolute best quality is what you want, I would try to keep the projects under an hour

As I said, though, our 90 minute projects usually meet customer expectations

You originally said: My first project compressed off of imovie at 15 frames/sec (quicktime movie settings.) Portions of the video were choppy because of the frame rate.

Why aren't you simply sending the movie DIRECTLY to iDVD from iMovie. You don't have to save a QuickTime movie to do this.

Exporting from iMovie to a QuickTime movie will not preserve your chapter marks.