iMovie ’11 makes it easy to create trailers on your MacBook or MacBook Pro from your content by providing story boards and sample music built right in. There are even fun transitions, cast close ups and credits.

How to Make a Better iMovie Trailer:

Casting Call: Take a look at the various trailer types to find the trailer that matches your setting. Pay particular attention to the number of cast members that can be a part of the Trailer.

Set up Your Shots: once you find the trailer you want to shoot for, look at the Storyboard and Shot List in iMovie. This will let you know what types of videos you need to shoot. Many users will find that without planning they don’t have the right mix of action, landscape, group and close up shots. Print out, or write down the shots you need on an index card.

Shoot Early and Often: when you head out, start shooting early and often. Remember that you are making a movie trailer so you’ll need a good amount of footage to edit down to the best parts.

Short Focused Videos: You don’t need to shoot video the whole time you are out. Instead shoot a collection of small clips. This makes it easier to edit on your MacBook later. This also makes it easier to find the right shots later on.

Make Multiple Trailers: All the planning in the world can’t prepare you for the editing room so spend an extra 10 Minutes on your MacBook Pro and make a few trailers. In our experience your second or third effort usually outshines the first creation.

After you get the hang of it you’ll notice that it is easier to find the shots you want and visualize the video in your head. When you’re done, don’t forget to share your clips with friends and family; they’ll enjoy a 60 second iMovie trailer much more than an hour long tour of NYC.

Here’s one of our iMovie Trailers:

For more tips, check out our look at iTutor for iMovie which can show you the ins and outs of Apple’s movie making software.

How To Make Better iMovie Trailers [iMovie '11] is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

It is expected that the sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will equal or surpass the record set by Grand Theft Auto IV name last year. In fact, the game is so popular that it shattered the existing pre-order record at Gamestop. To celebrate the launch many game stores will be doing midnight launches for individuals who pre-ordered the game and plan to stay up all night playing with friends in the multiplayer part of the game. One of my local stores has even invited the National Guard to come in and host laser tag for players who are waiting to pick up their copy of Modern Warfare 2!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, through Steam and on Windows PCs with a high end graphics card.

Campaign Mode:

The campaign mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will have players traveling all across the globe to fight the revived terrorist organization and may even bring the fight to Washington DC. One of the new additions to the Modern Warfare 2, which made it in at the bequest of fans, is a snow level which includes walking on the edge of a cliff and even some snowmobile fun. The campaign will be of similar length to the original Modern Warfare game, clocking in at 6-10 hours; but the real longevity of the game will be playing through the campaign with your friends online and enjoying the lauded online multiplayer mode with up to 18 other players.

Online Multiplayer:

The console versions of Modern Warfare will come with leader boards and the ability for players to download new content in the future to keep the game fresh. Gamers can play with up to four gamers locally in the multiplayer portion of the game or take on the enemy together in a 2-player co-op version of the game locally or online.

The online multiplayer element of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 lets up to 18 players battle it out in scenes from the game in the included maps, as well as on maps that come in the 2 already promised downloadable map packs. The map packs will come first to the Xbox 360 and then to the other versions of the game sometime after launch. New to Modern Warfare 2 are customizable kill streak rewards which let players take command of a C130 gunship and other special weapons for achieving kill streaks.

Ratings:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is rated Mature for players 17 and up so if you plan to get this game as a gift for someone under the age of 17 I highly recommend that you do your research to learn what the player will experience in the game and talk to their parents to make sure they find it appropriate. If you want to know more about the game or what you can expect you should read the What They Play page for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. After the game  is released this page will contain information about what parents can expect in the game and allow you to ask about in game content so that you can form your own opinion about whether or not it is a good fit for your game room.

Special Edition Versions and Accessories:

In addition to the standard version of the game which retails for $59.99 there are several special bundles and controllers being released in conjunction with the game.

• Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Console: Comes with 2 controllers and a copy of Modern Warfare 2. – $399.99
• Xbox 360 and PlayStation Modern Warfare 2 Veteran Statue Bundles: A 1/6-scale statue of Soap” a Call of Duty veteran who returns to action in Modern Warfare 2. – $139.98 with game, $79.99 statue only
• PS3 Bluetooth Modern Warfare Headset: Modern Warfare skinned bluetooth headset - $39.99
• Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Throat Communicator: Lets you communicate just like the soldiers in Modern Warfare 2. – $29.99
• Modern Warfare 2 special skinned controllers: Available both for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. – $49.99

If you have a gamer, especially one who enjoys first person shooters, on your shopping list this year Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 should be at the top of your list. Even if they’ve already purchased the game they may like one of the themed accessories mentioned above to enhance their gaming experience.

Once the game comes out be sure to look for myself and the rest of the notebooks.com staff playing online. You can catch me on Xbox Live under the Gamertag Ca1vin.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Gift Guide is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.