When you build iMovie projects, the program copies all of the imported assets in to a directory specifically for that project. However, if you import a new file with the same name as an existing file, the import will not be updated in the project.

Example:

1. You have a video and add a narrative called “My Narration.mp3″ that is 1:00 long saved to your desktop.
2. Later, you edit the MP3 on the desktop and add 15 seconds to it bringing the length to 1:15.
3. If you delete the narration from the timeline in iMovie and import the new version of the MP3 from your desktop, you’ll end up with the old copy that is 1:00 long, not the 1:15 version.

In other words, the original file you imported isn’t replaced, which makes sense to me as I can imagine scenarios where a user might accidentally change a file. The problem is iMovie never tells you that the assets haven’t been updated.

Here is what should happen:

1. iMovie should compare the two files and determine if they’re different
2. If the files are the same, it should prompt you that no updates have been made to assets
3. If the files are different, it should prompt you to overwrite the original asset or to add the second asset in to the project (and it should automatically rename the asset for you)

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