iMovie MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables AI-powered video editing with iMovie on macOS. Drop videos in a folder, ask an AI to create a coherent story, and watch it automatically edit in iMovie.

Features

• 📁 Folder Watching: Automatically detects new videos in a watch folder

• 🎙️ Transcription: Uses OpenAI Whisper for accurate speech-to-text with timestamps

• 🧠 AI Story Analysis: GPT-4o analyzes transcripts and creates compelling narratives

• 🎬 iMovie Automation: Controls iMovie via AppleScript to execute edits

• ✨ Smart Editing: Automatically trims, arranges, and adds transitions

Installation

Prerequisites

• macOS with iMovie installed

• Node.js 18+

• ffmpeg (brew install ffmpeg)

• OpenAI API key

Setup

1. Clone this repository:

git clone <repo-url>
cd imovie-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Build the project:

npm run build

4. Set environment variables:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"
export IMOVIE_WATCH_FOLDER="$HOME/Movies/iMovie MCP Input"  # optional, defaults to ~/Movies/iMovie MCP Input

Usage with Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "imovie": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/imovie-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available Tools

1. scan_videos

Scan the watch folder for video files.

2. transcribe_videos

Transcribe videos using Whisper API with word-level timestamps.

Parameters:

• videoPaths: Array of video file paths

3. analyze_story

Analyze transcripts and create a coherent storyline.

Parameters:

• transcripts: Map of video paths to transcription data

• targetDuration: Target duration in seconds (optional)

• style: "chronological", "thematic", or "highlights" (optional)

• focusTopics: Array of topics to focus on (optional)

4. create_imovie_project

Create a new iMovie project.

Parameters:

• name: Project name

5. apply_edits

Apply edit decisions to create the final video.

Parameters:

• projectName: iMovie project name

• edits: Array of edit decisions with sourceVideo, startTime, endTime, position

• addTransitions: Whether to add transitions (optional)

6. export_project

Export an iMovie project to a file.

Parameters:

• projectName: iMovie project name

• outputPath: Export destination

• quality: "high", "medium", or "low" (optional)

7. auto_edit_videos ⭐

Full pipeline: Transcribe → Analyze → Edit in one command.

Parameters:

• videoPaths: Array of video file paths

• projectName: Name for the iMovie project

• targetDuration: Target duration in seconds (optional)

• style: Editing style (optional)

• addTransitions: Add transitions between clips (optional)

Example Workflow

1. Drop videos in ~/Movies/iMovie MCP Input/

2. Ask Claude:

   "I just dropped 5 interview videos in my watch folder. Can you create a 3-minute highlight reel that tells a story about my startup journey?"

3. Claude will:

   • Scan for videos

   • Transcribe each one

   • Analyze the content

   • Create an iMovie project

   • Trim and arrange clips

   • Add transitions

   • Export the final video

Architecture

┌─────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌─────────────┐
│   Videos    │────▶│  Transcribe  │────▶│   Analyze   │
│   Folder    │     │  (Whisper)   │     │  (GPT-4o)   │
└─────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └──────┬──────┘
                                                │
                                         Edit Decisions
                                                │
                                                ▼
┌─────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌─────────────┐
│   Export    │◀────│    iMovie    │◀────│   Execute   │
│   Video     │     │  (AppleScript)│     │   (MCP)     │
└─────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └─────────────┘

Limitations

• iMovie's AppleScript support is limited compared to Final Cut Pro

• Some advanced editing features may not be available

• Requires macOS (iMovie is Mac-only)

• iMovie must be installed and accessible

Future Enhancements

• Support for image overlays and B-roll

• Background music selection

• Custom title templates

• Integration with other video editors (Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve)

• Real-time preview before export

• Custom transition effects

License

MIT