Customer Reviews

Digital Moviemaking 3.0

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I can do it on my own, right? I've got the camera, right? I don't need anyone else's help...right?

I had hoped that when I cracked open this book it would provide me with a step-by-step guide on how to make my film with my Canon HV20. I've got the script, kinda. I know where I want to film, sorta. I can do it...maybe.

Though I had hoped to find a big warm shoulder of love and acceptance and "you can do it!" spunk, what I found was better. A tough-love, don't take any crap, here's what you're going to face...now FACE IT! Which, in reality, is what I really need at this point.
This book takes the digital movie industry and, frankly, smacks it upside the head (in a good way). Though the first few chapters have a tendency to bog down in minutia that I don't really understand: "A 4:1:1 signal would have full luminance but only a quarter of the original Y'CbCr color value and only 8% of the original RGB color." The author does an excellent job of pulling you through all of that and explaining it in a clear way, to the chapters regarding lighting, cast and crew, production, editing, etc.

If I have only one issue in regards to the book, it is that Mr. Billups does not spend any time actually talking much about the story that you want to shoot. A seminar I took in 2007 a Producer got up and frankly said: "Is your story worth shooting? Or is it crap?" Now, I don't expect a book on digital movie making to really devote a chapter to whether or not I'm wasting my time making a glorified home movie - but it would have been nice for some emphasis.

But that is a small dent in this otherwise smooth machine. What I like about this book and Mr. Billups's approach is that he's honest. Straightforward. No BS. And that's what I need before I step out into the darkness with my camera in my hand and go: "what the hell am I doing?"

This book details everything you need to know about Digital Movie Making, explaining it all in a clear and concise way. Buy a copy before you start filming, you'll be glad you did.

I read his first two editions of the book, and this is his re-vamped third edition (hence the "3.0"). Totally worth buying anew even if you only want and need to understand THE NEW RED CAMERA. His chapter on this Next Big Thing is so easy, with the use of muffin cup visuals, I smugly chuckled because I could now hold my own next to those filmmaker guys in those damn ubiquitous director baseball caps and goatees, grabbing at explanations and hovering over jibberish-filled camera manuals as if they were mysterious Ouija boards.

I already said this of Billups' work: "If Bukowski or Henry Miller knew how to fix anything at all--even a toaster--and tried to write about it, they would've sounded like Scott Billups, who takes technology out of protected pockets and puts it between his legs where all good art and life resides."

Best of luck to you all, for making it in New York now pales in comparison to understanding all of this new technology. Scott is your gondola guide. Love him. Buy him flowers. Give him vitamins and keep him alive for subsequent editions.

--Erika Lopez, writer girl

Don't buy an HDV camera before reading this book. The author goes to great length to cut through the HDV sales hype and explains, in detail, why you should not expect true HD quality from that format due to compression issues and data rates. He also provides good, practical advice on non-camera equipment needs and post-production techniques. The book's only real shortcoming is the periodic typo that was missed by the author's spell checker, but this kinda adds a bit of humor to the book.

This is easily the epitome of what I was looking for. I'm not in film school and so I was looking for something to truly propel me to better understanding and knowledge of the digital movie making world. It's completely practical; more practical than any film texts I've read (not saying much though, I haven't read too many). Scott Billups knows his stuff and teaches everything from practical camera essentials to technical camera specs themselves. Great book!

This book is not really geared towards the average weekend warrior, but alot of the information can still be vital in getting the best image possible out of whatever gear you have. The author shoots for the studios and networks, so much of the discussion is about $100k cameras, cranes, computer automated match moves and compositing etc., but the principles of setting your exposure and checking the histogram to get a good shot should be applied by everyone. He offers some tips that won't break the bank like using filters, scrims and even mirrors to redirect free sunlight to get that shot. He uses analogies of crayon boxes and muffin tins to make it easier to visualize more technical topics like color space, data transfer rates and resolution. This provides a good foundation to help understand the limitations of prosumer grade cameras when it comes to data throughput and compression compared to the studio films using Viper cameras. Just lower your expectations and make the best with what you've got.

Most people can probably skim over the pages on cranes, trucks full of lighting packages and keeping the 200 people in your crew happy on location, or even the pages on $10k jib arms, steady cams and dollies, unless you're in the industry or your name is Rockafeller. He does discuss when it makes more since to rent, rather than buy, so maybe that is in your budget, but I don't think I'm really in his target audience from a production standpoint. I have no plans of having a feature film telcined for Sundance, but if you are, you should read his discussion of film festivals and the importance of getting an image that will stand up to large screen projection before you start shooting. This is a book written by a professional for professionals, which is good, because at least he "knows of which he speaks" and you can trust the information. I'm sure I'll refer back to it from time to time, especially if I upgrade to a new camera so I can make an informed decision with regards to capture chips, codecs, manual settings, and features. Who knows, maybe in the not too distant future I'll be able to hop in my hover-car and fly down to the local electronics store and plunk down 300 shektars on a new Viper 4k prosumer camera with prime lenses. Then maybe the Weinsteins will up my budget $10 million so I can cast my wife Charlize Theron in the lead role of my film "When Pigs Fly".

I'm taking producing classes at UCLA and this is one of the best books I've had to read. The author gets right to the "meat" of it, talks about what's working and what's not working, and has plenty of his own best practices to offer to up-and-coming filmmakers. I highly recommend it.

Now available in edition 3.0, the Digital Moviemaking series of books goes back a number of years, helmed by author Scott Billups, who has been intricately involved in a lot of DP and effects work in commercials and specials for the likes of the History Channel, HBO, and the Discovery Channel. Scott has worked in numerous areas of the Hollywood and upper indie markets. In this book, he explores much of the insight he has gained on the many different aspects of the digital filmmaking revolution and how it serves potentially, to replace 35mm film as the moviemaking canvas of choice.

Digital Moviemaking 3.0 feels a little uncertain as to identifying its main audience. Its progression from a studio mindset in the beginning to a truly a no-budget mindset toward the end may have been an intentional way of showcasing evolution, but if that is the case, it feels a bit uneven. However, Digital Moviemaking 3.0 does a good job of providing some very useful technical ideas for filmmakers, regardless of their budgets. In addition, for those who read through to the end, you will be rewarded with some truly excellent, creative hacks and ideas for no-budget filmmakers.
--Excerpted from full review at MicroFilmmakerMagazine.com

Reviewer: Jeremy Hanke
Final Score: 8.1/10
Issue: February 2008

Possibly one of the best film books I've read in a long time. Buy this book you will not regret it. He gives a lot of information while also getting to the point. If you are interested in digital moviemaking and don't know where to start, read this book first. You will be better prepared once you've this book.

"A must have" for every digital moviemaker.

Thank you Scott Billups for sharing your knowledge.