Guide to High Definition Video Production, The: Preparing for a Widescreen World [Paperback]

Clay Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 1996

The REBO Guide to High Definition Video Production is the first and only book on high definition video to focus on production, not politics. It's a practical book about what it really takes to produce programming in high definition video starting from the very earliest days of production right on out to the most up-to-date techniques and equipment.

Given the inevitability of the widescreen market acceptance of some form of high-resolution, widescreen video transmission, film and video production professionals will find the book's emphasis on the real-life issues involved in using high definition in film-style and live, multi-camera productions invaluable in `Preparing for a Widescreen World'.

The book is organized into sections based on the major components of a production--from Production through Post Production, Engineering, Creative Considerations--and includes the experiences, insights, and anecdotes of some of the most experienced High Definition producers, directors, DPs, and engineers in the world. The Guide...was written to appeal to people with various levels of technical knowledge. It includes an introductory section on video technology, anecdotal non-technical case studies, and the hard-core technical information that producers and engineers need to know to get their jobs done.

REBO has led the way in field-testing new equipment and ground-breaking applications for all aspects of high definition video technology since 1986. The company remains the only independent concern in the world involved in every aspect of high definition from production, post production, and programming through education, to research and applied technology development. Each year REBO is recognized internationally by a diverse body of professionals for its achievements. Accolades include the Prix du Court Metrage award for Best Fiction Short at the Cannes International Film Festival; special recognition from NASA for the first high definition videotaping of the shuttle launch; and, for six straight years, the highest awards at the International Electronic Cinema Festival in Montreux and Tokyo.

Clay Gordon is a twelve year veteran of computer graphics, interactive media, and video production industries. He has undertaken a wide variety of research, design, development and writing projects for clients as diverse as IBM, Interactive Digital Solutions, AGFA Matrix, AV Video, Millimeter and Wired.

Prepared by the leading HD Production company in the U.S.
Written to appeal to non-technical as well as technical readers
The only book of its kind to help us prepare for HDTV production

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (April 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240802659
• ISBN-13: 978-0240802657
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,978,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Should be titled the History of High Def, February 10, 2005

By 

C. Perrone "Editor" (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guide to High Definition Video Production, The: Preparing for a Widescreen World (Paperback)

Unfortunately, this is more a guide through history than through the inner workings of high def today. Too much has taken place since '96 for the book to be of much use to those trying to produce and post in HD now. The price tag is hefty, and should be an incentive for the authors to offer updates to those who've already purchased, and found the book sadly lacking.

5.0 out of 5 stars Please Consider the Context, November 22, 2005

By 

Clay A. Gordon (New York Metro Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guide to High Definition Video Production, The: Preparing for a Widescreen World (Paperback)

C Perrone "Editor" is not incorrect about his assessment of the book: his review was written in 2005 about a book published in 1996 (and researched for close to two years prior to publication). I agree that it would be nice to write an update, but the publishers have never asked me.

A little history ...

I agree that, from today's perspective, it reads as a history of HDTV, but that's a problem with all books rooted in a particular point in time. In 1996 it was the first book to talk about HDTV production from the perspective of television and film production, not politics.

Ironically, we could have had a much better television system a decade ago. HDTV was, and still is, a production system, not a distribution system - except for theatrical environments. Incorporate a simple line doubler and it would be very hard to tell the difference between widescreen component D1 and most native HDTV resolutions in the average viewing environment.

All that needed to be done was for the FCC to decide to broadcast widescreen D1. This format could have been broadcast using existing towers, transmitters, and infrastructure with only minimal compression. However, the broadcasters looked at the introduction of HDTV as a way to grab enormous quantities of spectrum for free (HDTV bandwidth is six times that of NTSC bandwidth). It was always about politics and money, and when money and politics mix, the American public loses.

FWIW,
Clay Gordon
The author of this book.