Secrets of Videoblogging (Secrets of...) (Paperback)

by Michael Verdi (Author), Ryanne Hodson (Author), Diana Weynand (Author), Shirley Craig (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Here’s the perfect introduction to the art of the videoblog, or vlog,
whatever your subject. Filled with both technical and creative tips, this
fun, fast, full-color guide provides everything you need to get started
vlogging. You’ll learn:

• How to find and keep track of your favorite videoblogs
• How to create your own vlog under Windows or Mac OS X
• Where to find free vlog-hosting services
• Tips on lighting, shooting, sound, and video compression for vlogs
• Where to download free, legal music for your vlog
• How to build an audience with RSS feeds
• And many more insider secrets

Vlogging pioneers Michael Verdi and Ryanne Hodson are co-founders of NO
DE101, an international network of videoblog classrooms, and FreeVlog.org,
NO DE101’s online equivalent. Verdi also vlogs at www.michaelverdi.com,
while Hodson produces vlogs at http://ryanedit.blogspot.com and
http://revlog.blogspot.com.

Video training pioneers Diana Weynand and Shirley Craig are co-owners of
Weynand Training International, an Apple Authorized Training Center that
provides training services to the entertainment industry. They vlog at
www.weynand.blogspot.com.



About the Author
Producer, director, and editor, Diana Weynand is the co-owner of Weynand Training International, which provides training services to the entertainment industry and is as an Apple Authorized Training Center. She is also the author of several books, including Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5.

Shirley Craig is a co-founder of Weynand Training International, a film and television training firm. The British native is an industry veteran who worked as production coordinator for "The Other Half of the Sky," an Academy Award-winning documentary, and produced “The Naked Truth," another award-winning independent film.

Ryanne Hodson is co-founder of Node101, a network of videoblog classrooms being created internationally and Freevlog.org the online equivalent to the Node classrooms.

Michael Verdi is a videoblogging pioner, co-founder of Node101, and co-creator of FreeVlog.org. His seminal "Vlog Anarchy" post is cited in the Wikipedia entry on Vlogs and is often used as a call to action for the creation of personal media.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (May 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321429176
• ISBN-13: 978-0321429179
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #480,667 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the camera and get started!, May 8, 2006

By	R. Hand "wherever you go, there you are!" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just received this book and read it in an evening. Now, that is an easy read. Both interesting and full of the basics for any videoblogger. Michael and Ryanne aren't just some author pair that "teach" the subject... they live it, hell, they may have invented it.

This is an excellent text book (but an easy read, not your typical text book) for everything videoblogging related - how to find videoblogs to watch; how to get started videoblogging your story; what you need to film, edit and produce your videos; to the little details of getting permissions; adding free music to your video; all about compression and finally attracting an audience.

They know their stuff. They know how to teach their stuff. And they live their stuff everyday.

Their stuff IS videoblogging!!!! This one is a must have.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, clear, and fun to read---If you want one book on vlogging this is it, May 27, 2006

By	Jonathan Goldstein (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Full disclosure----I know the authors and am mentioned in the book.

OK, now onto the book itself. I'm going to buy 4 copies of Secrets of Videoblogging for the technology education afterschool program I help run in NYC. The book is a great reference, with clear step by step instructions for how to produce the videoblog that meets your needs.

Ryanne and Michael have been educating people about how to set up their own videoblogs at the website freevlog.org for some time now. They bring their expertise to bear in this book going wider and deeper. They go into all the technical aspects of videoblogging as well as the genre, legal, promotional, and social aspects of the form. There's more to videoblogging than just the technology and this book gets at that. Figuring out how all the different puzzle pieces fit together can be a challenge, and this book will help the newcomer synthesize the various parts involved in videoblogging.

One thing that is really handy are all the case studies of current videobloggers to illustrate how people are using the medium today.

I have been videoblogging for around a year and a half. I speak about it at museums, universities, and conferences. I write about videoblogging. I produce my own videoblog. I run a program where we teach dozens of teens to videoblog. And I still learned so much reading this book. If you want to videoblog, you are a videoblogger who wants to keep growing as a storyteller and media maker, or you just are interested in learning about this new medium, get this book. I would particularly recommend it to educators. I showed it to some high school students I worked with and they couldn't stop looking at it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you need to get started blogging with video, July 15, 2006

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I've been a blogger for almost five years now, and only now am I starting to catch up with the vlogging (videoblogging) wave. So this book seemed like a natural choice to get my questions answered.

Not only was I not dissapointed, but I learned a whole lot more than I expected. From coming up with a style for your vlog, to planning your vlog posts, including a host of tips on how to best shoot, edit, compress, publish and promote your videos, the book covers all the bases you will need to know about in order to get your video blog off the ground. The only part where I felt it could have gone into a little more detail, including publishing options such as Google Video and YouTube, is where it talked about video hosting options.

"Secrets of Videoblogging" doesn't take much time to read, yet if offers tons of rewards for those curious about video blogs and how to get one going. I don't know about you, but I am going to get my camera ready to shoot some video. See you in AskManny.com!