Need Video Making Advice

[Beverly]

Chad's great video has inspired me to see what kinds of videos I could make, but I need some advice.

Have an Olympus C-5050 that makes movies in the .MOV format. Have cobbled together a short movie using Microsoft Movie Maker, but it has its limitations, the first being that I have to convert the .MOV format to .wmv format.

Need advice as to which video making software folks are using and why, as well as any format tips you can provide. Am hoping to go software shopping later today or tomorrow, so all suggestions are welcome

If you have any on-line video making software suggestions, please provide links.

Here's a quick sample what my Olympus can do. Comments are welcome...

http://www.lostmymarblz.com/P1010008.wmv

TIA