I would GREATLY appreciate it if you could PING the tech list on my behalf. I'm a quick study in general when it comes to A/V stuff but would value ANY instruction or tips that come from FReepers. Thank you!
Just about any video editor can capture a still. Pinnacle Studio is one of the most user friendly, but unfortunately tends to freeze on my pc. ( more RAM might fix that issue). I believe Windows movie maker can also do it if you want to play around with it before buying something.
This won't fit your $100 budget, but a Mac mini with iMovie and iDVD software does a great job on this type of project.
Try VLC player, it's free!
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
Have you already captured the video to a computer? Just play it with this software and take a snapshot when you want. You can also capture it from your camera with this program or Windows Movie Maker which comes with Windows.
Capture the frame with VitrualDub.... Paste into Paint ...
Priced right too...
This is to go along with all the other options mentioned here. Anothe video editing software option is Roxio's Titanium Toast, now in its eigth version. Follow the link for more info: http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/overview.html.
Another way to bedazzle your friends is to use a burner that has Lightscribe technology. I use this little baby at the link: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10071. After you place your info on the disc, you simply flip it over and literaly burn the label on it. You can design your own artwork. It's a neat way to finish your project. Looks great, too. There's several brands that use Lightscribe technology, so it's your call.
When you say "action shots" are you loking to get captured still images off of a old video (photo montage), or do you want short clips from old videos (video montage) ?
Some friendly suggestions:
1. There is freeware out there that can take care of your needs. Those telling you to go buy a new Mac are out of their gordes.
2. You might need to borrow a better video card and you would do well with at least 1GB of RAM, and 2 hard drives. One for windows and the video capture software, one for the video file to be saved on. Borrow a video card from a friend/colleague, or use your $100 budget to get a new card. Someone's kid is a pc gamer who has a dual output 512MB or higher video ram card that can appear at 2048 x 768 resolution or better. Most new cards can do widescreen dual screen, which would be even better for your wall projection. I haven't seen a projection screen at PC monitor resolution for sale in years.
3. You need to take your video and record it into a digital stream. This can be time consuming, give yourself plenty of time to record these videos. (Not sure in what format your video is in). Use www.virtualdub.org software for this. Rip at highest quality you can, remove audio capture to save yourself time. You are trying to prevent "shearing" and to keep the blacks actually black.
4. If you are doing video montage, try the free
http://sourceforge.net/projects/movica first.
5. keynote.org is a good way to control a "powerpoint like" presentation
6. Make sure your PC has a dual monitor card running and you have 1 monitor next to you and one as the wall projector. This is another reason you'll need a high end video card. Disaster prevention step.
7. Practice, through in a classical CD and practice scrollling through the montage.
This project sounds pretty cool, good luck!
If it is on DVD, then WinDVD or CyberLink PowerDVD can capture screen shots at any time by the click of the mouse and automatically save in .gif or .bmp format.
If they are in .mpg format then you can use any of the other software products mentioned here to enter into an editing session and do screen caps from within.