Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution [Paperback]

Brian McKernan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071429638 | ISBN-13: 978-0071429634 | Publication Date: March 31, 2005 | Edition: 1

This is the first complete overview of digital cinema technology, clearly detailing how each phase of the moviemaking process, shooting, postproduction, delivery, and exhibition, are changed by digital technology. With its huge cost-saving potential, digital cinema is the biggest thing to happen to the movies since sound. This title includes digital Cinematography - how to photograph and shoot in digital, and how it's different from film; plus, Nonlinear Editing - software, basic techniques and cost savings.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

READERS ON BRIAN McKERNAN
***** "A must for anyone who cares about navigating the new world of digital content."*

***** "The digital revolution 'Bible' ... an invaluable resource for anyone seriously interested in video, TV, streaming, and movies, and ... it's a great read."*

***** "A must-have ... reveals the lessons learned from decades of failure and success ... and gives roadmaps to the future."*

* On Creating Digital Content: Video Production for Web, Broadcast, and Cinema, co-edited by Brian McKernan

INSIDE THE PARADIGM SHIFT THAT'S REMAKING THE MOTI0N PICTURE INDUSTRY
Not since the advent of sound has technology so greatly impacted motion pictures. With its huge cost-saving potential, digital technology can alter every aspect of the movie-making process, from shooting through postproduction to delivery and exhibition.

The digital cinema revolution is the result of years of progress in the technologies of film, computer graphics, and high-definition television. Now Brian McKernan, founding editor of Digital Cinema magazine, provides an up-to-date look at how new digital technologies are reshaping the movie industry.

• Digital cinema -- how it came about, its history and pioneers
• Understanding digital image compression
• The latest camera choices for digital cinematography -- from high end systems to the affordable world of indie filmmaking
• Audio and the cinema -- why sound is half the picture
• The revolution in postproduction -- the convergence of computer graphics, HDTV, film, and video
• Nonlinear editing—software choices, new techniques, and digital compositing
• Digital intermediates--color grading, changing the shot after the shoot, film transfer, and film recording
• Independent digital filmmaking in Hollywood and across the nation -- the democratization of the movies
• The new role of the cinematographer in the digital age
• Understanding digital projection technologies
• What digital cinema means to indie productions, exhibitors, film distribution, and the future of the movies

You'll also find insights on the cost-vs.-quality controversy, the impact of digital cinema on creative freedom, and the integration of film and digital from such leading filmmakers as George Lucas, Robert Rodriguez, and Michael Ballhaus ASC.

About the Author

Brian McKernan has been writing about media technologies for more than 20 years, and is the founding editor of Digital Cinema magazine. The co-editor of McGraw-Hill's Creating Digital Content, he was editor of Videography magazine from 1987 to 1999 and the Age of Videography special edition. He originated the Digital Cinema Summit at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual conference and is the co-founder of the Digital Cinema Society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (March 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071429638
• ISBN-13: 978-0071429634
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Digital Cinema, August 5, 2007

By 

L. Bourgeois (alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution (Paperback)

I found myself thinking, "The stuff that is in this book is outdated." The cameras that he says are new were true for the time but not now.

This book did a great job of explaining to me, the history in cinematography. And again for me, if I was interested in history it would have been a decent book, hence the moose 3. However, I am new and getting into this field of digital cinema and I didn't find it as useful as I would have liked. I think this kind of stuff really is better learned on line and from websites and web blogs.

I read up on Mr. McKernan and apparently he is looked at in high regard for his quality and wealth of information. So that in it-self must make the book at least half good. I did enjoy learning some of the lingo. It was an easy to read and understand book. It was laid out in a fashion I could follow. It taught me things like interlacing and frame rate, camera choice (for its time), film is digital, small info about final cut, and a host of other things that will be helpful I am sure.

I believe the greatest piece of info in the book for me was chapter 10 on the indie films. This is more along the lines of what I was hoping to get in this book, but then again, it was only dedicated seven pages. So I got somewhat of an overview of independent film making. The book itself read as an overview, as each of the chapters were only allotted a mere 8-10 pages each. Not a lot of information can be conveyed to help someone learn if the first few pages of the eight are given to the history.

This is a history book for the class room of those pursuing digital cinema, not a book for someone interested in learning the hear and now of digital cinema, for that you need the internet.

Its appears to be the case in both book reviews that they are dated and the technology is far behind now. I will look more closely in my future obligation of book reviews, or perhaps I would lean to internet site reviews.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Digital MovieMakers!, April 27, 2005

By 

Steven Schindler (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution (Paperback)

This is a good introduction to all the big changes happening in moviemaking and movie projection.
Those changes all involve the move from film to digital that's allowing people who don't have millions of
dollars to make movies anyway with "prosumer" cameras-provided they know what they're doing and have
a good script.

I especially like Chapter Five, which explains all the latest digital cinema cameras-both the expensive ones and the ones indy filmmakers are using to break into the industry.

The book also has interviews with different filmmakers that gives a varied picture of how digital is enabling indys to make inexpensive movies while also enabling big studio filmmakers to make even more amazing big, expensive movies.

If you ever wanted to make a movie, now is the time. Anyone who's into filmmaking and digital media should read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and informative book on digital cinema!, May 3, 2005

By 

Elizabeth Patrice (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution (Paperback)

This book is excellent in describing the new revolution in digital cinema. I found it to be extremely helpful, descriptive, and informative. It is wonderfully worded and written with knowledge. I believe this book to be one of the best out there when it comes to this topic. A must-read for directors, producers, etc.