Talk about a project that could really use a screen cast, its hard to get a good feel from the project site (more screen shots please!) exactly how it all works. A screen cast would be a great communication mechanism!
Turns out that one of the PMC members has done a couple of screen-casts about specific bits of BIRT:
Also, the final 1.0 release has substantial on-line help with lots of screen shots. Working though the tutorial in the on-line help, or at the link above, should give you an idea how BIRT works.
Ian Skerrett 
Talk about a project that could really use a screen cast, its hard to get a good feel from the project site (more screen shots please!) exactly how it all works. A screen cast would be a great communication mechanism!
Turns out that one of the PMC members has done a couple of screen-casts about specific bits of BIRT:
http://www.eclipse.org/birt/tutorial
Also, the final 1.0 release has substantial on-line help with lots of screen shots. Working though the tutorial in the on-line help, or at the link above, should give you an idea how BIRT works.