On Apr 24, 2008, at 2:06 PM, Robert M. Erickson wrote:
>
>
> clipping them from the dvd is the hard part as you need some
> software to do that. i think this is your question. the short
> answer is you need some movie editing software and i do not know
> what is available on campus maybe someone else can help you there.

This is known as DVD Ripping software. It is often more trouble than
its worth: limitations sometimes include limiting you to extracting
entire chapters from the DVD when you only want a couple of minutes;
taking longer than "real time" to import the video (i.e., it takes 10
minutes to rip 2 minutes of video); and decryption of copy-protected
DVDs (possibly illegal).

It is sometimes simpler to treat the DVD as you would a VHS tape: put
it into a stand-alone DVD player, and pump the analog TV signal back
into the computer, using video capture and editing software as you
might handle a mini-DV cam corder.

That said, you can probably find the help you need at the Center for
Multimedia Development in the basement of the library. There are a
variety of Macintosh workstations there that can do either of the
above: Direct software decryption and ripping (using an application
called Handbrake), or import from an attached DVD player. And yes,
even though they are Macs, they can, in the end, produce a .wmv file
(Window Media Video) suitable for Windows Powerpoint use.

Moreover, there is on-site student staffing during the most popular
hours of the day (see schedule at http://tinyurl.com/yrl8uq
  ). They get this question quite often, and should be able to offer
you assistance.