Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Gerald Millerson (Author), Jim Owens (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240520807 | ISBN-13: 978-0240520803 | Publication Date: September 19, 2008 | Edition: 4

Techniques matter! Great ideas don't automatically translate into great programs. It's not enough simply to show what is going on. The way you present your subject will influence how your audience responds. You need to choose your picture and sound carefully, to convey your ideas in an interesting, persuasive way. This book will show you how.

Video Production Handbook shows the full production process, from inception of idea to final distribution. The book focuses especially on why each step occurs as it does and provides guidance in choosing the simplest methods of creating the shots you want in your video project. Concentrating on the techniques and concepts behind the latest equipment, this book demonstrates the fundamental principles needed to create good video content on any kind of budget.

Suitable for students and beginning videographers, the new edition of this classic text retains its clarity and directness but has been completely revised and updated.

This practical sourcebook has been specially prepared to give you an at-a-glance guide to quality video program-making on a modest budget. Emphasis throughout is on excellence with economy; whether you are working alone or with a small multi-camera group. The well-tried techniques detailed here will steer you through the hazards of production, helping you to avoid those frustrating, time-wasting problems, and to create an effective video program.

For many years Video Production Handbook has helped students and program-makers in a wide range of organizations. Now in its thoroughly revised 4th edition, Video Production Handbook guides you step-by-step, explaining how to develop your initial program ideas and build them into a successful working format. It covers the techniques of persuasive camerawork, successful lighting and sound treatment, and video editing. You will find straightforward up-to-the-minute guidance with your daily production problems, and a wealth of practical tips based on the authors' personal experiences.

* Highly visual: hundreds of full-color illustrations demonstrate techniques
* Modern: Up-to-date information on current equipment, techniques, and new distribution outlets such as the Web and mobile phones 
*  Balanced: Production techniques are covered in detail, but ideas and creative problem solving are given equal weight
* A complete resource: Detailed teaching ancillaries are available for instructors

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The reader can discern that the concepts they are reading about are tried and true professional practices-not just something a scholar has dreamt up on his own."
Dr. Joey Goodsell, University of Alabama, USA

"This is the ideal book for the 21st century."
Dr. Osabuohien P. Amienyi, Arkansas State University, USA

"Overall the information relating to television production contained in the handbook is spot-on, good, valid information clearly presented with plenty of relevant pictures and illustrations. I particularly like the broadening of the information to embrace webcasts, streaming, etc... Also, I enjoyed the inclusion of quotes from a variety of sources within the industry (especially well-known/famous names) which both enlivens the text and broadens the interest generated for each subject."
Tony Grant, Producer/Director, Director of Photography, Lighting Camera, UK

"The textbook provides an exceptional analysis of the art and craft of television and video production.Its real strength is in its excellent practical advice on how to actually create video productions."
Steven Keeler, Division Chair, Cayuga Community College, USA

"This is well-written to appeal to a new student of production. The language is simple and direct, and any "jargon" is clearly defined right away."
Phil Hoffman, University of Akron, USA

"The text reads well. Simple short paragraphs that do not fill the page with superfluous details."
Frederick P. Burger, Monroe Community College, USA

"Jim Owens and Gerald are to be commended on a very thorough explanation of the entire production industry. I don't think any stone has been left unturned. I'll wager there is more information in this book than a student would get in four years of school. It really is well done. In fact, it should be required reading even a lot of people who already 'work' in the industry."
Doug Jensen, Vortex Media, USA

From the Back Cover

Techniques matter! Great ideas don't automatically translate into great programs. It's not enough simply to show what is going on. The way you present your subject will influence how your audience responds. You need to choose your picture and sound carefully, to convey your ideas in an interesting, persuasive way. This book will show you how.

Video Production Handbook shows the full production process, from inception of idea to final distribution. The book focuses especially on why each step occurs as it does and provides guidance in choosing the simplest methods of creating the shots you want in your video project. Concentrating on the techniques and concepts behind the latest equipment, this book demonstrates the fundamental principles needed to create good video content on any kind of budget.

Suitable for students and beginning videographers, the new edition of this classic text retains its clarity and directness but has been completely revised and updated.

. Highly visual: hundreds of full-color illustrations demonstrate techniques.
. Modern: Up-to-date information on current equipment, techniques, and new distribution outlets such as the Web and mobile phones
. Balanced: Production techniques are covered in detail, but ideas and creative problem solving are given equal weight.
. A complete resource: Detailed teaching ancillaries are available for instructors

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 4 edition (September 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240520807
• ISBN-13: 978-0240520803
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Radio > General Broadcasting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very useful textbook, especially for those planning to work professionally with video, August 19, 2009

By 

Nathan Andersen "film lover, philosophy profe... (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

(What's this?)

This is an excellent overview of pretty much everything you'd need to know as a beginning professional videographer or video producer. While the book is aiming to address an audience of amateur do-it-yourselfers as well as those aspiring to work professionally with video, it's written mostly in the tone of a textbook, and is focused a bit more heavily on television and industrial style productions, where professionalism is the key factor (above drive, innovation and spunk, for example). That's a good thing, because it makes for a clear and thorough read. At the same time, it's not as exciting to read as some of the more popular books aimed more at amateurs and "guerilla" style filmmakers (like What They Don't Teach You at Film School or Make Your Own Damn Movie!).

I detected a bit of unevenness in tone, as well, probably accounted for by the multiple authors. Some of the later chapters read much better than the fairly dry early chapters. For a better read that is both exciting, even toned and equally comprehensive, even if focused on documentary filmmaking, I'd recommend The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide.

Still, this is a reliable and thorough guide to pretty much everything you'll need to know and take into account in order to begin serious video production. It is very well illustrated and the information is presented in a logical and clear fashion. It's not going to motivate you to just get out there and make a movie, but if you are already motivated it will give you the information you need to be sure you do it right. I expect to refer to it regularly, and recommend it to anyone who is serious about making movies (documentary, feature, and commercial) on video.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 'Suitable for students and beginning videographers'..., August 20, 2009

By 

Sam M. Tannenbaum "Sam" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

(What's this?)

...that's what the back cover says, and it's right. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I ordered this, but the information is very, very basic, and pretty obviously written to be used as a textbook- the authors assume no prior knowledge of anything related to video production. That's not a bad thing- you have to start somewhere, right?- but I found myself skimming ahead quite a bit, especially in the first third of the book, and I'm by no means any sort of expert or anything (I've never even taken a video or cinematography class). I think even the beginner is going to have an easy time with the early material, and maybe a little less space could have been used for some of the conceptual aspects.

Still, the book is laid out very logically, and contains material on all major basic aspects of video production. The writing is excellent, and the principle that video production is art comes through strongly. I got a real sense that the authors were artists, writing for aspiring artists. The sections on camera techniques and lighting techniques were especially helpful to me. The authors frequently open new sections by posing focus questions, which is a nice feature for when one uses the book as a quick reference.

Very basic, but helpful and intuitive. It's a good reference to have handy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice primer, August 5, 2009

By 

John A. Suda (Rochester NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

(What's this?)

Easy to use and affordable video hardware makes it easy for everyone to produce videos of mediocre to poor production quality. Such clips are readily available on YouTube and elsewhere on the Internet for personal viewing on a desktop computer, laptop, mobile device, or cell phone.

Good production quality video requires the producer to know what he/she is doing. That involves utilizing the right equipment, tried and true photographic and cinema graphic techniques, editing visuals and sound effectively, and formatting the results appropriately for the viewing audience.

That's where a book like "Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition," is valuable. The newest edition updates essential material which represents long standing practices in the film and video production industries. That involves script writing, camera and lens techniques, working with actors and production crews, lighting setups, audio capturing and processing, editing, and more.

The book is designed as a teaching tool and comprehensively covers all of these traditional elements while also providing material on the latest technology and video hardware and digital/computer-based peripherals like storage devices and media. The book is intended to be introductory and addressed to the novice video producer. Depth of treatment is sacrificed for breadth. There are sections, for example, on copyright and contract issues, and editing, that just barely introduce the topics. But, the concept here is to present nearly everything the beginner needs to know without getting bogged down in excessive details and complications.

The first chapter is an overview of the video production process. There is a full chapter on describing the typical production crew and what each member does. Another chapter deals with organizing a production shoot .There is an emphasis throughout on choosing and using the latest hardware for video, audio, lighting, and backgrounds.

That approach works well here. The presentation is relatively light and easy to digest. The book is rich in production values - full-color graphics, easy on the eyes layouts, plenty of illustrations, and glossaries in each chapter itemizing those topics covered therein. There is a handful of checklists for various production processes. The fifteen chapters cover all of the basics of quality audio/video production with high regard for clarity. The presentations assume no technical background and the lowest level of consumer investment in equipment.

For educators, there is an associated online instructor's website with access to PowerPoints, video demonstrations, and other teaching materials. Video Production Handbook is a fine primer for aspiring producers.