Clearly, lots of folks have enjoyed this book and found it useful. My experience is a little different.
Every review is really an interplay between the reviewer and the thing being reviewed. It's essentially about the fit between the two. While I suppose it's possible for a book to be objectively bad (although it may be possible to find someone who likes anything you can imagine), it's certainly not the case that any book (or movie or song) will have universal appeal. It's largely subjective. Again, it's about both the reader and the book and how they fit.
For me, this book wasn't a great fit. It largely overlooked what I consider a fundamental element of any attempt to communicate -- understanding your audience. Stockman seems to assume that the audience for his readers' videos is impatient and demands visual and emotional impact. This isn't a bad assumption in many situations but it won't always be true.
Not every situation calls for the fast pace and emotional punch of a 15-second commercial. Sometimes, too little can diminish a video's value. A couple of examples: (1) If I want to learn how to do something, a detailed explanation is what I'm after. When I want to know how to fix an appliance, repair a broken vase, master linear perspective, properly tune an instrument, or a host of other things, I'm less interested in inspiration or emotional impact than I am in clarity and thoroughness. In such cases, clear exposition should be the guiding principle. The intended audience isn't looking for entertainment but information. They want to see and hear how do do something. Too much drama would actually be wasting their time. A bit of redundancy might not be such a bad thing. For example, showing the same action from a different angle might make it clearer. (2) Some videos intended to serve an archival purpose may benefit more from over-inclusion than from over-exclusion. If you found footage of a loved one who had passed, would you really want it to have been ruthlessly edited? Or would you want it to preserve as much of it as possible? Would a punchy narrative be necessary or even desirable? When I think of deceased loved ones, it's hard for me to imagine images or video I'd want to discard because of imperfect focus or lighting. The material wouldn't be intended to entertain so much as to serve as a reminder. For me at least, a more complete reminder would be preferable to a string of 5-second cuts.
I guess my point is, sometimes, the goal isn't a YouTube video that will generate a slew of clicks but something intended for an audience (probably smaller that Stockman envisions) for whom less isn't necessarily more and whose interest isn't sheer entertainment. Yes, such videos can be improved by good lighting, appropriate camera angles, clear audio, and some logical structure. But they don't really fit with a lot of the points Stockman emphasizes.
This isn't a shortcoming of Stockman's book so much as a different intended audience of video watchers and book buyers. If you want to shoot eye-grabbing videos for YouTube, there's nothing wrong with the information Stockman provides. But if you have a different audience in mind -- one with a longer attention span, greater patience, and a stronger focus on information than entertainment -- you may find only a limited portion of the content in this book useful.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
![How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro by [Steve Stockman]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DJSGBA1TL._SX260_.jpg)
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Paperback, Illustrated
"Please retry" | $9.97 | $2.05 |
- Read with Our Free App
-
Audiobook
$0.00 - 108 Used from $2.05 36 New from $9.97
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Best Filmmaking / Videography or everything related to Video Book! Very very Pleased :)
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015
The best Videography / Filmmaking I ever own! If you are an amateur/beginner, you will love this book. I am a filmmaker and i bought this book to my son, and what I studied in my career is here, everything so should know. The way they tell you is also great and fun.Shiping was perfect, arrived 2 hours before as expected, and the book itself was perfect too, I love it smell !!!Thank you so much and I hope you could make another updated Edition Steve Stockman, this book is from 2011 but is allright.
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Martin Beecroft
Excellent no nonsense guide for film novices
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 2, 2018
HughesyMK
Great book, informative read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 5, 2018Rutlemaniac
...and the book doesn't suck
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 4, 2019Amazon Customer
Fantastic practical guide
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 22, 2020
