Video Field Production [Hardcover]

Ron Whittaker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 155934444X | ISBN-13: 978-1559344449 | Publication Date: November 1, 1995 | Edition: 2

This core text provides detailed, real-world instruction in small format, single-camera video field production.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 2 edition (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155934444X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559344449
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,273,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for video production, November 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Video Field Production (Hardcover)

I was introduced to this book by the instructor of a community-television video producer's course. He specifically referenced the chapter on editing. I liked Whittaker's writing style and approach. Whittaker covers many, many topics with a good overview and enough depth for understanding, but neither bogs down, nor is too simplistic. The structure of the book is that you can jump around and just read the chapter that interests you at the moment, be it editing, pre-production planning, audio, copyright and legal, etc. That being said, the book was written in 1995, and is beginning to show its age. Missing are discussions of the mini-DV video format and the newer non-linear editing software (e.g. Final Cut Pro 3.)In short, there needs to be an updating. Same goes for the fairly comprehensive bibliography (nothing newer than 1994)- but many of those texts have since been updated and are still in print - so at least it points you in the right direction. Perhaps Whittaker's planning these updates in the next edition. Mindful of that, it's perhaps best to keep the cost down with a used edition. At any rate, the book is a good addition to your video production reference library.

2.0 out of 5 stars Badly-Dated Text Does Little More Than Whet the Appetite..., December 14, 2006

By 

Kris C. Jones "Video Editor" (East Ridge, TN (Chattanooga), TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Video Field Production (Hardcover)

I just finished an introductory-level course which used this book as its primary text. The school's bookstore wanted $95.00 for this book new, which is already over ten years out of date in a field whose technology is becoming obsolescent at an ever-increasing speed.

The other disturbing aspect of this text is its use of improper technical terminology I have never come across in the field nor in related texts on film production. It became so annoying I found myself correcting the text's numerous errors as I read.

A glance through the book's glossary will find many key terms (some even highlighted in the text itself) not even mentioned. A perusal of the index reveals the same (however, you WILL find textual references with their given page numbers to almost all of the fifty states as well as many of the major countries of the world!) This kind of indexing reveals a very limited understanding of how a textbook operates as not only an instructual aid but as a future reference tool.

The author also feels it necessary to give repeated "shout outs" to Richard A. Colla, who he claims to be a "renowned director". I've never heard of him, but Alfred Hitchcock's list of films is relegated to Psycho, North by Northwest, ETC...) Shame...shame...