Customer Reviews

24P: Make Your Digital Movies Look Like Hollywood

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I thought this book would cover the subtle details about shooting 24P and cover technical issues such as advanced camera settings (crushed black and knee settings, etc.) and other issues specifically related to 24P shooting. Instead, this book very light on technical content and reads like the $30 film school book lightly covering a variety of topics such as your film crew, audio, special effects, burning a DVD, etc.
For a Course Technology book, I was very disappointed as they typically have very thorough and technically challenging books such as "Windows XP for Power Users" over 1000 pages.
I'll stick to Focal Press books in the future such as "High Definition and 24P Cinematography" or "Cinematography theory and practice" which both exibit the type of detail and technical expertise that I expect to learn something from.

Most of what is in this book really has very little to do with making video look like film. Rather, Shaner spends a lot of time talking about very basic issues of general photographic lighting as well as audio editing -- not sure what audio has to do with the "film look" really. He also spends a lot of time talking about aspect ratio such as 16:9 which imply film format, but again -- it is a technique that has NOTHING to do with REALLY making video look like film. Finally he includes a short video that has been altered using the "Magic Bullet" software he seems to promote a lot. The sample he includes is quite awful. Honestly, the original unprocessed video looks BETTER the final "film look" outcome. The "film-look" template which is available with even the most basic digital editing software such as an entry level Pinnacle software.

I got this book as a hand-me-down a few months ago, so I speak as somebody who got it for free. The content in the book covers how to shoot video in 24P, so it can be easily converted to film. Lighting and sound are important for this. We need to understand that making video look like film is very difficult, this book gives some details of things to do and things to avoid to help assist achieving the "look." I thought it did a great job at describing techniques that will help get the film look from video. Truth is, unless you have a 24P camcorder in your possession, this book is of little use. But, if you do have one, this book will help you utilize the option so it will enhance your chances of getting the film look. Plain and simple.

If you already know Cinematography, and you think you may need to convert your video to film down the road, this is the book for you. Even if you just want a "better" looking movie, let this book tell you what types of lighting and equipment will help.

A misleading title to a book that self destructs as you read it accompanied by a defective DVD means that there is not much I can recommend here. If you want to know more about how to make your video look like film, you can find better sources on the internet for free. The information this book provides that is directly related to the title could easily be put into a pamphlet. What this book really is is a simple introduction to digital video, and as such, it is about as good as any. The book was new yet the back crumbled and pages fell out in clumps as I read. To top it off, the DVD would not play on any computer or home player. I contacted the publisher and ask for a replacement to which they suggested I contact the seller. I decided against that. Judging from what I already know, I doubt I'm missing much.

This book is my bible for filmmaking. AMAZING! An excellent book that covers all the bases of filmmaking from lighting and composition, to formats and equipment. A perfect starter book for the guerilla or even hobbyist filmmaker. Very easy to read and follow. The author doesn't bore you with a lot of fluff, just very straight and to the point fundamentals you can take straight to practice. I'm a google master and i've done and continue to do my research online but no single source will give you as much as starter/basic filmmaking techniques and information as this book. Excellently written, orderly and enjoyable to read.

Not to comment on any particular review, but browsers for filmmaking books may be interested in knowing that the short "Neo's Ring" on this book's DVD won a Platinum award at the Houston WorldFest. So it's impossible to understand how anyone who actually screened it would think that Shaner turns out anything but top-notch professional material. As to Shaner's qualifications, the front matter explains that he studied Hollywood-style film production at USC, wrote and directed a 35mm feature Lover's Knot that not only enjoyed popular theatrical release but also made its money back. More to the point for the 24p thing, he also shot the first 24p HD feature ever, Nicolas, with the same camera Lucas later used for Episode II. He's taught directing and digital production at UCLA Extension, and the folks at that prestigious film school refuse to employ instructors who don't know what they're doing!

The book is worth just having that picture!