Method and apparatus for generating a fully intra-coded video frame from a received progressive refresh bitstream representing a series of inter-coded video frames. Intra-coded macroblocks of received video frames are identified, selected, processed and stored to facilitate later combination into a single fully intra-coded composite video frame suitable for use during VTR trick play operation. As part of the intra-coded macroblock selection process, in various embodiments, the large sets of adjacent macroblocks are given priority over previously selected macroblocks that correspond to non-adjacent positions within a video frame or which correspond to a smaller set of adjacent video frames. As part of the macroblock processing performed prior to storage of selected intra-coded macroblocks, the amount of data used to represent each intra-coded macroblock is reduced and the macroblocks are processed so as to be represented in a consistent manner which facilitates the subsequent combination of intra-coded macroblocks from different frames into a single low resolution frame suitable for use during trick play operation.