IMovie Projects Gone?

All of my IMovie Projects dissapeared in IMovie, but when I searched for them in Finder they would be in an IMovie Original Projects file. I tried opening them, but they won't open.

I've been on the phone to apple three times today, for a total of about six hours. We've restarted, booted in safe mode, run disk repairs/ verify disk twice, deleted and reinstalled iMovie - all to no avail. One of the higher members of the tech team has emailed me Captuer Data but can't contact me till Tuesday. With Capture Data I created one file without, and one file whilst running iMovie.
I'm absolutely clueless about what has happened.

Similar Messages

  • I have been working on an iMovie project. I turned off my computer and when I turned it back on to continue working and entire section of about 80 photos was gone. The music attached to these photos remains. Can I retrieve this work?

    I have been working on an iMovie project. I turned off my computer and when I turned it back on to continue working and entire section of about 80 photos was gone. The music attached to these photos remains. Can I retrieve this work?

    I am at Snow Leopard and have only played a bit in IMOVIE - so can't speak for Mavericks - but -
    In general as I work a lot in Photoshop - when you are happy with something save it and continue on - If you have Time Machine Running and you want to try things next that may or may not work - force a time machine backup - that way the version you are happy with will be available for 24 hours (and wish this was a setting one could extend) 
    If you turn off your mac - or end a program without consciously saving something you may lose what you worked on.
    If IMOVIE did not ask if you want to recover what you were doing your update may be gone - but try posting new question - asking about automatic backups in IMOVIE and how they work.

  • My macbook suddenly shut down, and when rebooted, imovie project was completely gone.  No record of it at all.  Have been working on it for days, and it has always been there.  Any way to restore it?  Thanks.

    My macbook suddenly shut down, and when rebooted, imovie project was completely gone.  No record of it at all.  Have been working on it for days, and it has always been there.  Other projects are still there.  Any way to restore it?  Thanks.

    I figured it out!!!
    Hey guys! Here's what I did that saved my project.
    -SHORT VERSION-
    Use the Finder window on your Mac to copy and paste your old project (the one not showing up in imovie) to a new folder so that iMovie will see it.
    -LONG VERSION-
    CONDITIONS:
    The project has to exist on your hard drive. To see if it's hiding around somewhere go to:
    Home (your name)>Movies>iMovie Library (right click and select Show Package Contents)
    In the iMovie Library folder (the default is usually the date) open it to see if your Project is inside. If it is, you are in luck!
    RESTORING PROJECT:
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    start a new folder under the iMovie Library (again, the default is usually todays date)
    Close iMovie
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    Paste a copy of your project;s files into this folder.
    When it is done copying, open up the "Original Media" folder and all of your images and clips should be present.
    reopen iMovie. Your project should show up in the Libraries list.
    *If your full project isn't showing in the iMovie timeline (mine just had empty bubbles where all my clips and audio should be) try dragging and dropping the clips and images from the project's "Original Media" folder into the import section of your project. Once the files were reimported, iMovie recognized them all and put them back in the correct place for me.
    Hope this helps someone!

  • IMovie Project contents gone missing – what's broken and where is it all?

    I used the latest iMovie (iLife 09) on an dual-core Intel Mac tower to make a 6-minute movie for a client. First time I've ever used iMovie. Worked great and I subsequently used iDVD to burn it for standard DVD player viewing. Now when I open the original iMovie project there is nothing there although it's file size indicates there is clearly content. Nothing appears when I move my cursor around the screen and the project name does not appear at the top. I don't know how an iMovie project tracks its content "links". I'm wondering if I may have moved some files or renamed them and the iMovie project cannot find what it's looking for. Any idea what this newbie has done? Thank you all in advance.

    It depends on whether you want to move everything (projects and events) or just the events which are the space consuming items.
    Rather than go into a long winded reply here I suggest that you type the following topics into iMovie Help.
    It is a great information resource:
    1. Copying or moving a project
    2. Copying or moving video from your event library
    3. Consolidating a project's media.
    Your other disc should show up as an icon at the end of your project library and in the event library there is a disc button just to the right of Event Library.
    Hope that helps.
    Z
    PS If you import directly into iMovie then you will have to move your imports to the other drive as per above.
    Otherwise if you import video files to your computer then into iMovie, import them into your other drive instead of your primary.
    Message was edited by: zyfert

  • IMovie 11 / iDVD movie project gone!

    First of all, I had problems, preparing my 83.4 mb movie for iDVD.  I have a file, (Movie)DVD.dvdproj that it rendered, but there is no movie on iDVD.  Additionally, I saved my copy of the movie file from imovie foldr to an external hardrive.  Then the project disappeared.  I have worked months on this.  I have files that look like the original finished project, including one that I have that looks like the it must be the original (film).rcproject.  It's the right file size, but it will not show up in my iMovie project library, nothing will work, and I can't get the iDVD to work.
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    macbook intel pro snow leaopard

    Ziatron wrote:
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    I have found that whenever I want to make a DVD is best to use iMovie 06 or Final Cut express.
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    The difference is the single field processing used by iMovie 11 (for faster editing) and the fact that it throws out every other horizontal line.
    Final Cut Express and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 will give full quality but are more complicated to use.
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    The wedding was shot in 50i (PAL). But the camera can also shoot 25p. For future reference is there an advantage of one over the other?
    Thanks
    Graham

  • I need help asap. Does anyone know how to recover iMovie project that just disappeared?

    I went to hit play on my iMovie project, which is finished and had been playing great. this time I hit play and the screen goes black and now it appears the project is gone. The title is still under the folders section, but no clips in there. I've looked in the Trash folder on the desktop and it's not in there. I can't locate it anywhere. I spent over 100 hours on this and am devastated, as it's for work. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to recover this project? I did save as a .mov file on my external HD, which I have re-imported - however...now it's a different looking project. I can't edit it, nor can I share it in any format under the iMovie>Share tab. Help -- someone has to have some ideas...

    Do you have a Time Machine backup running on your system?  Backup to an earlier point in time.

  • How can I move an iMovie Project to an external drive in latest version (10.0.7)

    I am trying to transfer an iMovie project from my desktop to my laptop to work on it anywhere. I have seen ways to do this in earlier releases but they do not work for the current version (10.0.7.)
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    To make sure that all required media is in the library contain the project you need to "Consolidate media"  see:  http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mov882dee351
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    Geoff.

  • How do I recover an iMovie project that "disappeared" from iMovie, but its' thumbnail/package contents is still in Finder?

    I created an iMovie project and finalized it, but when I tried to look for it, it was gone in the iMovie project library. I can find it on"finder", and open package contents etc, but it won't play in iMovie. How do I recover it? Its really important!

    I think the trick is to 'Considate source media' on the new library.  See: 
    http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mov882dee351
    Geoff.

  • Lost iMovie Project

    I created an iMovie and published it to the internet via MobileMe. I broadcast the connection to a dozen folks and all received and viewed my project. When I went back to iMovie to make some changes, my project was no longer displayed in the Project Library. Search as I may, I could not locate the project. Any ideas as to how I might retrieve my project for further editing?

    Hello. I have had a similar problem. I published my project to the Media Browser and used IDVD to successfully burn a DVD. When I went back to Imovie09, the project was gone from the Project Library. It IS in the Imovie Projects folder with the .rcproject extension. However it is tagged with an Imovie Icon. The other projects that correctly display in the Project Library have a film clip icon. When I click on the project it opens Imovie but the project is still not in the Project Library. How do I get it back?
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  • A number of imported photos from iphoto in imovie project all show the same image whilst the preview before dragging them in is correct. What could be the problem?

    A number of photos from iphoto used in imovie project all show the same image when playing back. The previw when clicking and dragging them and also the pictures in the storyline. Yet when playing the clip a previous immage keeps on appearing. What could be the problem?

    You created a mess and there is no solution - with the actions you have taken those photos are gone unless you have access to them from some other source - they existed in two place - in your iPhoto library and on your backup drive - you have traded the backup drive and restore an earlier iPhoto library so all you have is what you have
    LN

  • Long distance iMovie project collaboration?

    Hey guys/ladies,
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    I have searched for guidance in this area fairly extensively, however I just can't seem to come up with a solution.  I am new to this whole Mac and iMovie thing (in fact, I bought a Mac just so I could collaborate with him using iMovie).  It seems that you can't just drag the project folders to Dropbox, transfer to the other Mac, and everything works.
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    Thank you for your suggestions. 
    I don't quite understand what you mean by "editing file".  Could you explain?  Also, are you sure this works because you've tried it or is this just something you think might work?  I ask because I've previously gone through the Apple instructions for how to transfer an iMovie project from one computer to another and I got the sense one had to do it that way rather than manipulating files in the file system.
    I did look into WeVideo but it is quite limited compared to iMovie.  For example, you cannot change the video speed at all, whereas iMovie allows full control of that.  iMovie can grab this market if they sort this out.
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  • Why can't I open my iMovie projects?

    Hello!
    I have upgraded to the new iMovie, but I have had this problem before too. So I have an External Hard Drive (It's called "Seagate") that I have saved iMovie projects for a while now because I needed more space on my Mac. But I can't open the projects anymore? I can't even click on them. It just showes me this:
    Can anyone help me to understand how to open it? Or is it impossible and the project is gone forever? Please help, I would be so thankfull.

    Did you update your iMovie 9 projects from within imovie 10?
    See: http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mov902ad0c31
    I'm puzzled where your screen shot comes from.   Top left on the iMovie 10 window should display "LIBRARIES", followed by"All Events" and "All Projects".  Below this there should be an entry for each library.
    Geoff.

  • IMovie project photos not updating

    I'm using iMovie11 with photos from my Aperture library. I use the media browser to add photos to my iMovie project. Can anyone tell me what iMovie's expected behavior should be after I'd done the following:
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    2. Did some editing of said photos in Aperture. Aperture prefs set to "Always" share previews with iLife and iWork.
    3. When the same Aperture album is viewed in the iMovie media browser, all of the green checkmarks next to the photos I had added to my iMovie project are gone (though the photos are still in the iMovie project).
    4. None of the photos in my iMovie project show my new edits.
    Is this how things should work? Does this mean that I have to delete and re-add any and all photos I edit? They don't update after they've been included in an iMovie project? In this specific case, that means over 200 photos with accompanying audio clips.
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    With iMovie 09, you would have to delete and re-add after you did further editing of photos in Aperture or iPhoto. I assume (but have not confirmed) that it works the same way in iMovie 11.
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  • My iMovie project is in the finder but will not open!

    I was finishing up a project in iMovie '11 that I had been working on for several weeks, when my computer made me restart. When I reopened iMovie my older projects were listed but this one was gone. I went into the finder and found the project still in the iMovie Project folder as a .rcproject, yet when I try to open it, iMovie opens and shows the other projects but not this one. I have tried repairing permissions, I tried deleting that iMovie preference file that I saw in other forums and I tried transferring the project to another computer to see if it would open there. But when I did this, all my other projects would show up except for this one. Can someone please help me to open this project?? It's really important. Thanks.

    Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Are you running iPhoto 7 (08) or iPhoto 6? iPhoto 08 has events instead of rolls. What do you see when you double click on the thumbnail?
    TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
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  • I lost an iMovie project.

    I wrote this as a response to another entry with a similar problem, and started with an answer from someone else. (Geoff?) 
    I have the same problem, namely my only project disappeared after I finalized it. It contained still images, videos (both .avi and .mov), and voiceovers, and was about 44 minutes in length. I have iMovie 9.0.9. Before finalizing, I had shown it several times using both Apple TV and Chromecast. I was very happy with it, but wanted to make a DVD. I do not have iDVD, and according to Apple and the community, I cannot get it, so I thought I could finalize it and drag the file to a flash drive and take it to an older Mac with iDVD to burn a DVD. After finalizing and dragging it, it is now gone! And it is very incomplete on the flash drive.
    Using your suggestions above, I found a folder called "proxies". In it were voiceover files that I could open right there using quicktime. It also had many cryptically named folders with names ending in Eavi and Emov. I assumed they were the movie clips I had used in my project. Inside each of these were different numbers of data files. I could not open those folders or files, but after trying, I could not get back to the "proxies" list.
    In preparing this memo, I tried to reproduce my "journey" through the guts of my Mac, and now I cannot find the "shared items folder" in the "new event" folder!
    I probably should have been more careful, and instead of dragging the project, should have tried to copy it to the flash drive. Why it is incomplete, I do not know, unless I inadvertantly disrupted the transfer.
    I sure would like to recover this project. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Hi great2ode,
    My understanding is that when a project is finalized using the menu option "File > Finalize Project", all the exported files are saved in the project file. To access them, in Finder navigate to your User folder Movies/iMovie Projects. Locate your project then right-click (or control-click) on it. From the pop-up menu select Show Package Contents. Inside that folder you will find the exported movies in the Movies folder.
    The movies will have a generic name (such as, medium.m4v, large.m4v or 720p.mov and so on). You can copy (or move) the files to another location and rename them if desired. They can also be opened in iDVD from iDVD's Media Browser > Movies panel. The best option is to copy the files, leaving the originals in the package contents folder for possible later use elsewhere (such as in iTunes or uploading to YouTube or Vimeo etc.).
    John
    NOTE: After finalizing, or simply exporting from the Share menu item, the iMovie project should still be listed in the Project Library. If it has disappeared from the Library, hopefully it is still in the iMovie Projects folder in the Finder - and all exported files are in place in the project's package contents folder. Finalizing creates a movie in all sizes (resolutions) supported by your project.
    Message was edited by: John Cogdell - added NOTE

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