Video Basics 3 (Paperback)

by Herbert Zettl (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Video Basics is written at a level that works for students and the organization and graphic material that goes with the text is superior."

"Great organization and coverage of essential topics in a very practical way. This works great for me in teaching interdisciplinary video courses, TV production, and general video courses."

"Greatest strengths are clear layout of text, pictures and graphics; clear explanation of production skills and concepts; good mix of technical skills necessary to production with conceptual skills necessary for a wider view of purpose. Also, accompanying DVD is an excellent resource that has gotten better with each revision."

"The book is well organized and contains information which would make it easy for virtually anyone, anywhere to teach these skills. Perhaps the single thing which I like the most is the CD-ROM. This fall I plan to integrate it to a much greater extent than I previously have, with particular emphasis on the self-paced tutorials and on-line quizzes." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Meeting the instructor's needs for a briefer book, this text distills video basics so that they can be covered in a single term. The book moves students from video concepts and processes to production tools and techniques, and finally, to the production environment (studio or field, inside or outside) and its effects. A more conceptual framework leads the student from the idea (what to create) to the image (how to create) on video.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 3 edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534526241
• ISBN-13: 978-0534526245
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,094,378 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative, April 23, 2002

By	Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Video Basics (Non-InfoTrac Version) (Paperback)

This book gives a broad overview of the field of video. It is intended as a textbook for students in a university video course, however, the information that it contains will be valuable for anyone interested in improving their video skills, especially in professional contexts. Since the book is a textbook, each chapter begins with a list of key terms and definitions, and key concepts are highlighted in the text and repeated at the end of the chapter. Each chapter also contains instructions for a lesson in Zettl's Video Lab on CD (not included). The book covers many topics related to professional video production, including the video production process, the video team, video cameras, lighting, sound, editing, and the studio. I found the language to be very straightforward and highly informative.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers a lot of bases with good detail, June 26, 2000

By	Traci Lawson (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Video Basics 2 (Paperback)

The only way to become comfortable working with studio equipment is to actually use it, but this book will be an excellent guide to tell you how. It explains lighting (one of the most important parts of a video shot!) and audio, how a camera works, and how to get the shots you want. It also explains what makes a good shot, and what makes a bad one, and what a logical sequence would look like.

Everything is illustrated with very clear pictures, diagrams and sketches. It is a very visual book, which is essential, because if you are attracted to working with video, it is likely that you are a visually oriented person and would benefit from many pictures and illustrations! This book delivers. It shows as well as it tells.

Everything you need to know to make a good production is here in this book. Of course, a teacher actually showing you how to use the equipment is the best way to learn, but this book will help you review and perhaps go more in depth.

It is also an excellent reference to learn all of the TV lingo from. I bought it as a textbook for a university course, and it is one of the only course textbooks I've had that I have chosen to keep. If you are starting a career in TV broadcasting, or think you might be interested in the field, I highly recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great book!!, August 8, 2002

By	Christine (Syracuse, NY United States) - See all my reviews

i am an electronic media communications major and this book has been used for a number of years in my school's communications program. video basics 3 has everything you need to know and everything is explained in much detail, yet not too complicated. there are great illustrations throughout the book that are very helpful as well.
i bought this book used from my campus bookstore and i gotta wonder, why would someone return this book at the end of the semester? i still have mine and have re-read it through quite a few times, most definately something worth holding on to!