Customer Reviews

No-Budget Digital Filmmaking : How to Create Professional Looking Video for Little or No Cash

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Using examples from his own long career, the author offers hints, tips and tricks on how to make videos on the cheap. Not only does he tell you how he produced videos with few resources, but he gives a wonderful overview of how you can make a living with your video camera.

On the other hand, although it says "digital filmmaking" in the title, there is really very little technical information about digital video here. Nor will you find much technical information on cinematography, directing, production or editing. If you need technical help, look elsewhere. But there is plenty of inspiration here.

If you can get past the endless typos and the author's annoying and unrelenting attempts at humor, you'll be inspired, but not educated.

This book is full of the author's entertaining video-shooting experiences, told in an entertaining style. It contains almost nothing of what the title and commercial blurbs suggest it contains. If you are (like me) an amateur video maker looking for tips on creating a higher-quality product while living off your day job,look elsewhere. His definition of "no-budget" includes having to rent an old helicopter, rather than a new one, for an aerial shot. The text is full of unexplained technical and slang references to filters, lights, and other equipment but it doesn't matter that you don't understand them because if you're really no-budget you can't afford them anyway.
There are a few real gems, like the opening chapter on the history of various video technologies, but these just emphasize the point -- buy this book if you want to be entertained, not if you want to learn anything practical.

Perhaps Chuck should follow his own advice on humor - perhaps less is more. Particularly saturated in the first few chapters, the reader has to wade through many asides and jokes that, by page two, are more irritating than funny. Also prevalent are spelling errors (though not Chuck's fault, I'm sure) - my favorite being the passage including the "peanut button and bubble gun."

That said, buried in all the attempted humor are gems of wisdom and advice from a guy who obviously has been there and knows what he's talking about. And, true to his title, Chuck really focuses on the no-budget project - whoever thought that you could shoot something with only [money]? Evidently Chuck has, and is more than willing to pass on tips on how you can do it yourself.

Also helpful is not only his practical advice - like how to use that Ikea China ball onset - but also his advice on how to network and to maintain contacts. Few other books I've encountered so balance both those aspects of independent or no/lo-budget filmmaking.

All in all, if you find Chuck funny, you'll have a great time. If not, the little gems you'll find here and there are worth sticking it out.

This book is well narrated and written with humor. It is easy reading for anyone, amateur or expert, interested in digital filmmaking. Chuck Gloman is a real pro who keeps the interest of the reader and the subject flowing simultaneously.

This is a very cool book for any novice, student or video professional who is faced with producing commercials and videos with very little budget to work with. Clearly the author has been challenged by a variety of clients on an assortment of projects. There is a lot to learn by reading his experiences and solutions to these challenges.

In production, we tend to think our creativity will be exercised primarily in the development of concepts and scripts, but often that creativity must be tapped for technical problem solving. This book inspires one to look at low budgets and logistical nightmares as opportunities to be creative...to "make the shot" in the face of adversity, with limited lighting instruments, small crews and even insufficient available cameras.

I found "No-Budget Digital Filmmaking" to be a wonderful addition to my library of film and video production books. Its a great reference one can turn too should similar challenges present themselves on any production.

Good job Mr. Gloman, and thanks.

Not the best of books, contains information that are erssentually no brainers - n o meat and potatoes as they say

Chuck's book is great for both the novice and experienced filmmaker. It is easy to understand and the layout of the book is helpful for easy reference. I especially appreciated the real-life scenarios discussed in the book, and was pleased that the focus of the book was on no-budget filmmaking, which is the reality for most independent filmmakers. A must for any digital filmmaker. I am aware of no other book that focuses exclusively on digital filmmaking in such detail. Chuck's book will undoubtedly inspire many digital films !

This book shows truly practical applications people run into during video production. Too many books don't deal with real world situations. No matter what your budget or production is, there's a chapter for you, all done with a sense of humor which is needs on any set.

This book was very helpful to me as a video producer and fun to read at the same time. We do a lot of low budget videos, so I was delighted to find all these helpful hints.
I loved the lists and the overall format.
It was written in a way that I was learning and being entertained at the same time. I actually retained a lot of what I learned.
Chuck's book made me chuckle, pardon the pun.
A "must read" for anyone interested in the zany world of video production.

This book was very helpful to me as a video producer and fun to read at the same time. We do a lot of low budget videos, so I was delighted to find all these helpful hints.
I loved the lists and the overall format.
It was written in a way that I was learning and being entertained at the same time. I actually retained a lot of what I learned.
Chuck's book made me chuckle, pardon the pun.
A "must read" for anyone interested in the zany world of video production.