Movie help for beginners

Okay... 2 things I'd like to do with movies (made or to be made with my digicam, so nothing fancy...):

1. Is there a way to show movies in portrait format and not landscape? Like, say, you make one of someone spinning and want it higher than wide? Or is that just not done?

2. Can anyone recommend free software to take pictures from a movie, i.e. stop the movie and save it as a pic, or is it easier to just make a screenshot?

1. Turn the camera 90degrees to whichever side you want, you chose!

2. Screenshots will be fine, easy as

I thik its generally best ot have a bit of a google when dealing with video editing. Most questions are out there, you just need to find them.

1. tried that... the video is fine but all the players I have play it in landscape format, which means I'll have to turn the laptop or find a new player

I originally had a flick through these Google results but then found this one

What program are you using to edit your vidyo?

I hadn't started using any programmes yet, wanted to ask you guys first. Some internet forums can be a bit scary when you search for help. The few times I've tried the slightly techier ones for computer problems most people were unable to reply in a way I could understand

OK then, in whcih case I would recommend Windows Movie Maker2 as it is free, really easy to use and your computer should already have it. If it doesnt, then its a free download.
Its what I have made all my (simian and me) videos on, and they came out rather well, even if I say so myself

It cant do as much as other programs like the Adobe ones, but its good until you get a feel of making movies.

thanks

Don't want to make anything big and professional anyways, just to see Ronan and Meenik spinning without getting a stiff neck