From Sourdough to Storytelling: My Dive into iMovie and CapCut

This week, I decided it was finally time to dive into the world of video editing. As a Grade 7/8 teacher, I see my students using iMovie and CapCut constantly, especially our Grade 8s, who create The Thunderbird News, a weekly newscast covering everything happening in our school. Their work is nothing short of incredible—using green screens, layering sound, adding text, and producing seamless transitions. Honestly, they are miles ahead of me when it comes to editing skills. So, I figured it was time to actually open these apps myself and see what they were all about.

For my little experiment, I decided to document something near and dear to my heart: reviving my sourdough starter after a long stint in the fridge during dance competition season. (Side note: My 6-year-old daughter was my photographer, so I apologize in advance for any creative camera angles!)

iMovie vs. CapCut: First Impressions

I spent time playing with both iMovie and CapCut, and here’s what I discovered:

iMovie:

✅ User-Friendly Interface – The layout is simple, making it easy to add and edit clips. 

✅ No Hidden Fees – Everything I needed was available without worrying about extra costs. 

✅ Smooth Editing – I could add background sound, fade in and out, and include multiple video clips without much hassle. 

❌ Limited Customization – Compared to CapCut, iMovie has fewer advanced features for effects and animations.

CapCut:

✅ Advanced Features – You can do some really cool effects, transitions, and text overlays.

 ✅ More Editing Control – Things like keyframe animation and speed ramping make it feel more professional. 

❌ Pro Features Come at a Cost – I quickly realized that if I used any premium features, I wouldn’t be able to download my video without paying. 

❌ More Learning Curve – While powerful, CapCut takes a little longer to navigate and master.

My Verdict? iMovie Wins (For Now!)

At the end of the day, I found myself preferring iMovie. While CapCut offers more creative freedom, I appreciated the simplicity and cost-free nature of iMovie. It allowed me to focus on learning the basics without getting overwhelmed.

That said, I can absolutely see why my students love CapCut—it lets them push their creativity even further. Maybe with more practice, I’ll be ready to level up my skills and dive deeper into what it has to offer.

Final Thoughts

This experience gave me a whole new appreciation for the work my students put into their weekly newscast. They aren’t just recording clips—they’re telling stories, layering sound, adding transitions, and making creative choices that elevate their work. It’s a reminder that when we give students the tools and the freedom to create, they rise to the challenge in ways we don’t always expect.

For now, I’ll keep experimenting (and enlisting my 6-year-old photographer). Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be able to keep up with my students’ editing skills! But for now, I’ll stick to my sourdough—and let them keep leading the way in video production. 

Bringing Crustopher back to life. – enjoy the video.

Karissa 🙂