Video Production Books

This is one of the best technical book about the craft of Film & Video I've ever read.
Buy it!!

If you are serious about filmmaking, this is a must read.

great book if you plan on going into the film industry. i would recommend this book.

The Filmmaker's Handbook is exquisitely detailed in it's delivery of filmmaking knowledge and know-how. It cover's everything from film to video and from the film industry to the television industry, delivering updated information that will prepare even the most amateur videographer for the professional industry. However, it would be a good idea to start with some basics before tackling this book because it IS quite detailed and technical in it's delivery. Overall though, it is an excellent resource! Bravo!!!

I bought this book few months back in order to study the film making process. The book has details for practically everything and best for beginners as well as professionals. however since the version dates 5 years old so I'd suggest anybody interested in learning the aspects to consider this book as a base and then also subscribe to a magazine as you'll have a know how of latest stuff happening in the movie making technology. something like movie maker magazine. anyway the book still deserve 5 stars for its content.

This is a required text book, and is used in many colleges. It is a great book and it is so good to read that studying is not a chore

I only disagreed with the format used for montages. You don't need alphabetized bullets for each montage sequence. Readers aren't that dumb. Otherwise I refer to it constantly.

Great reference book for the screenwriter. I've written a couple of screenplays, and thankfully I got this book. It let me go back and fix all the little formatting things that probably tagged me as an amateur. This book is seriously detailed mechanics.

John August put me onto this book. He said it pretty much covered every question he gets asked about screenwriting format issues. And he's right.

Even if you've already written enough screenplays to think you have format down, I guarantee you'll find this a handy reference. It's precise, concise and easy to understand. A good book to have on your desk.

I'm a working screenwriter with two produced films under my belt and several more in development, but I still refer to this book on a constant basis. No matter what kind of formatting question I have, this book has the answer. I don't think I've been stumped yet. Case in point: Today I was writing a scene where I wanted to smash cut to some footage from a character's amateur documentary with a minimal break in the pacing. I didn't know how to do it. So on a long shot, I scanned the index of this book and found "home video" addressed on p. 22. Sure enough, Christopher had the answer for me. (You just put "Home Video" in parentheses at the end of the slug line.) So thanks Chris for getting us all of us on the same page. Now if only you could do the same thing for comic book scripts!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I have been searching for hours for a book on FORMAT. I don't want a book on how to write screenplays because I want to write my own screenplay my own way, not someone elses. I only wanted a book on the technicalities of the physical script and this is perfect!

I loved this little book! Not only was it a quick read, but it was also filled with a variety of solidly helpful information for new and experienced screenwriters. I found the "10 Point Checklist for Completed Scripts", the "Big Eight" and the section on pitching particularly useful and now put the information to use on every project. The book is certainly worth more than you pay for it!!

An industry veteran of 25 years, Kathie Fong Yoneda is both a story analyst at Paramount and a script consultant. Her background as a development executive gives her an excellent perspective for helping screenwriters can break down the gates to Hollywood. And this book aims to do just that.

The book is divided into four major parts: working on the script, meetings and pitches, submissions and relationships. It is a very clearly structured guide to the do's and don'ts for writers looking for their breakthrough (hint: the first step is to WRITE A GREAT SCRIPT!).

Yonada includes advice on how to behave towards executives, how to find an agent, the special vocabulary used in Hollywood, how to start a writers group, even how to prepare for a conference. All of this is written in a clear manner, making the book a very useful reference.

The downside to this is that most of this information is out there already. If you read screenwriting magazines and keep up with recent books on the business side of screenwriting, there will be very little here you don't know already. Moreover, the book is very "pro-system" -- there is no criticism of the way things are done, and the advice is very much "mainstream" common knowledge.

I don't think this book has very much to offer veteran writers who are already well acquainted with the vagaries of getting their scripts through the Hollywood maze. For writers who are starting out, however, the book will serve very well to inform them about the basics of getting your script sold to Hollywood.

After writing my first screenplay, I was stuck on how to sell it. I have ran my own business for over tens years and have a natural flare for marketing - thinking that selling a script would be commonsense WRONG! After reading The Script Selling Game I was blown away by the fantastic real life tips and jargon given. It's motivated me more than ever to see my projects on the silver screen. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT breaking into Hollywood - You MUST BUY THIS BOOK! It's easy-to-read and only an insider would know how to write it's contents.

The book never forgot who was reading it. If you are at a point in your career where you need guidance in what to do and what's important, this book offers you that. Kathie Yoneda, I feel, just got the balance right between fact, figures and emotion. Kathie actually cares.

The Script-Selling Game is your "Biedecker's", your "Fodor's", or your "Lonely Planet" guide to the exotic, exciting, sometimes confusing, sometimes dangerous yet ultimately rewarding territory of Hollywood Script Sales.

Kathie Fong Yoneda has not only explored this territory, she has actually carved out, tamed, and settled a lot of it in her years as a studio executive. Her expertise in the special jargon, the specific tools, and the appropriate approaches will help you craft an effective presentation of your unique creative project, be it a feature film, a TV series, or any other media production.

Read Kathie's book. Smile, frown, gasp.... Yes, Hollywood can be just as she says. It's a closed world unless you have an interpreter and a guidebook. Thank goodness hers is accessible, informative, specific, and comforting. Well then, follow her guidelines, learn to speak the language, do the currency exchange from creativity-to-commerciality, and watch the barriers go down and the doors open up for you.

Sure the program comes with a PDF manual but having a printed reference can make learning so much easier. This is not a book on technique, it's a book on features, functionality and workflow. I primarily use Final Cut Express, thankfully most of the tutorials contained in the book are applicable. There's nothing terribly exciting about the book itself, the information is presented in a no-nonsense fashion. If your looking for anecdotal storytelling, humor and opinion you'd do well to consider another title. I keep it handy at all times, it's saved me a lot of time and frustration...well worth the money.

I like Lynda's personal publications best but anything bearing her title "H.O.T." is worth having. Very practical and useful. Norman Borge

When looking for a book on FCP, I just read the various reviews. Even though some others looked quite interesting, I chose this one and am glad I did. I wanted a specific type of instruction because I have some expert-level chops and ignorance at the same time. I'm new to video but am a professional recording engineer by trade. I'm fully conversant on the Mac and non-linear audio programs so I needed a book that got both completely simple (for video concepts new to me) and also provided some depth at the same time.

The type of instruction in this book is having the user execute step-by-step, starting at the most basic level but progressing into more complex stuff fairly quick.

I forget the wording but there's some Chinese proverb........something like
You tell me, I hear
You show me, I see
I do, I learn

That's me and this book suits my learning style nicely. I'm sure there are other books as good but I doubt that any are better, hard to see how you could go wrong with this one.

I consider myself to be a "seasoned user" of Final Cut Pro. I have been editing with FCP since the original release of version 1.0 and have worked on numerous documentaries, features, commercials and episodic television.

I learned about this book from the Apple website. This is the official textbook used for Apple Pro Certification (FCP Level One). So I decided that I would "forget" everything I already knew and begin with Lesson 1. I'm very happy I adopted that attitude because there are so many neat little tips that I picked up in the first few lessons. Now I wonder how I ever survived without them. Those tips have already saved me a lot of time. I have only completed one-third of the lessons thus far and I can already see an improvement in my productivity.

Every chapter of the book is a "hands-on" lesson. The files and media for each lesson are provided on a DVD-ROM (included). You will first copy those files to your hard drive and then open each lesson file and then follow the step-by-step instructions in the book.

I'm looking forward to getting my Level One certification with the help of this book, and I can't wait to continue onto the Advanced Level certification with the second book.

Please note this is essentially the same book as the the "Final Cut Pro HD" book. The DVD is the same and so are the exercises. I had a chance to compare both and noticed only only one minor detailed (a detail is now circled on a screen shot) and, of course, there could be some that I missed. Even so, the back cover of the HD book acknowledges...

"This book was previously published under the title "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 4. If you previously purchased this book, there is no need to purchase this revision: All the project files and exercises in the previous edition can be used with Final Cut Pro HD."

Bottom-Line: Newbie or Pro? It doesn't matter! This is a GREAT book to own if you use FCP.

Until I purchased this book, I had owned FCP4 for six months. I had learned my way around the software well enough. I felt comfortable, but not necessarily proficient. In order to improve my editing time, I went ahead and ordered this book, also with the intent of getting my Apple certification, as this is the same text used in their classes. Normally, I am the type that I will skip sections that discuss things that I'm certain I know, but I went ahead and followed every step in the book.
What a difference! Each chapter takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, using video clips on the included DVD. After 3 days and 10 chapters, I was hardling touching my trackball. Not only had I learned quite a few shortcuts, but the book helped me understand the editing process itself a little better. I feel that this text is very well laid out, easy to understand, and can be done relatively quickly with a sharp learning curve. I highly recommend this to anyone new to Final Cut Pro. With a little time and effort, you'll be flying around the video editing, the soundtrack design and the Live Type titling package. And, after you have completed this book, go ahead and buy Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Editing and Finishing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 4, you will not be disappointed.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts - does what it says.
This book will help you create a story and the characters within. I've read other books on storyboarding, but this book should be the one to start with. Then move on to Ron Bluth's - Art of Storyboard & Wendy Tumminello's - Exploring Storyboarding

Initially I thought this was going to be a book only about storyboarding, but as the title suggests, it "Prepares" you for the story boarding process. It was great to have all the different aspects of character and story developement all in one book.

Ms. Beiman's book is exceptional; it not only discusses storyboarding, but also the entire pre-production process, from character design to art direction to using cinematic lighting and camera angles. I'm never boarding without using tonal drawings again!

I'm going to be the Teaching Assistant for the Storyboarding class at UCLA's MFA Animation Workshop in the fall, and I'm going to tell all the newbies to GET THIS BOOK!!!

This is a truly wonderful book filled with practical, concrete knowledge about how to plan for an animated production.

In the past, I have seen a few somewhat superficial treatments of similar topics, and I was initially a little bit skeptical of this book. Suffice it to say that my expectations were vastly exceeded. Storyboarding is a central part of animated movie production, and it has finally gotten a definitive treatment in book form. This book is highly entertaining, beautifully illustrated, and really packed with information.

Many readers of my own book Introducing Character Animation with Blender are interested in creating animated movies. I highly recommend that they take a look at this inspiring and informative book to ensure that they get off to a good start.

Well written and well organized, "Prepare to Board!" is a wonderful source for learning the ins' and outs of animation boarding.

Nary a step in the process is glossed over or a stone left unturned. I'm quite impressed with the book all around, and have learned a lot about the inner workings of animation.

A definite recommendation.

As a screenwriter, this is the 14th book I've read on the subject, and by far the best. Derek Rydall not only prepares you externally to be a script consultant, he prepares you internally as well; forcing you to peel back the layers of your own psyche, and examine your inner obstacles to your own success.
Derek is not afraid to share his failures along with his successes, to help you avoid making the same mistakes. Each chapter starts with a few appropriate and inspirational quotes that create the setting for the chapter, and inspire the reader. What can I say? If it's not in the book, you don't need it! Five stars for this book that helps you shoot for the moon.
-- Scotland Miles
Screenwriter and Author

Read and analyse your script from cover page, FADE IN to FADE OUT. Derek Rydall packs a lot of useful information in this well thought out, well written book. This is the meat and potatoes of the biz.
Do yourself a huge favor and read this book before you submit your next script. Chapter Two shows you how the studios see the difference between an amateur wannabee and a pro. Chapter Four brings in a wealth of good advice from well known experts like Linda Seger, Michael Hauge and David Freeman. David Freeman's sample scene analysis alone might make the difference between being kicked up the ladder or kicked out the door. You need every tool you can get your hands on to make your script a contender. Make this book part of your arsenal.
Whether you want to get your scripts in the door or want to be a script consultant this could be your blue prints to success.

Can anyone who has ever been to a movie not have looked at some of them and wondered how such trash got produced? No one would start out with the intend of making a bad movie. You have to wonder how a group of people, presumably experienced and not unintelligent have produced something like that.

This book is written by a script consultant who tells what it's like to review and consult on the movie that's about to be made. While we all think that we could do this work, here's what the work involves. Here's how to get started. The best advice that I think he gives is work with someone in the business to at least establish the contacts.

This is a business like any other. You need at least the understanding of who does what. It is unlikely that very many of the readers of the book will actually become successful at script consulting, but it is still interesting reading to see what is done. It's an interesting insight into the movie production business.

There are plenty of movies on the market which feature substandard writing - so bad that even an audience member might think they can do better, let alone an aspiring screenwriter. If you're a member of the latter group, I Could've Written A Better Movie Than That! How To Make Six Figures As A Script Consultant Even If You're Not A Screenwriter is for you. It tells how to use this sense of perfection to earn cash as a script consultant, and comes from author Rydall's years of experience in the industry. Chapters show how to analyze stories in any form, write coverage, repair scripts, negotiate contracts and more. Plenty of books tell how to write the script: few, except for this, tell how to make money repairing one.

I really liked this book and I believe that there aren't any others like this one. It talks about how you can start a highly lucrative business as a script consultant and a re-writer.

The only thing that makes me hesitant is the ease (or difficulty) in establishing credibility as a consultant if one hasn't written anything worth mentioning.

Other than that, this is an incredible book and I hope that not too many people read it because it's an INCREDIBLE business idea and I want to pursue it myself.

The book "Sound Design", the expressive power of music, voice, and sound effects in cinema, is one of my favorite in my collection. I always recommend it to colleagues and customer. During my technical seminars-workshop and product training sessions, I have often taken inspiration from the book, particularly the sections "TRY THIS" that the author has included in various parts inside it.

The book is written with great passion!

Sonnenschein effectively covers the theory behind shaping the soundtrack, and gives great examples of the ideas in action. I loved the candid quotes from masters like Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Walter Murch, Dane Davis, and others. I started noting down all of the films he mentions as examples of good sound design, until I noticed Sonnenschein was one step ahead and had already noted them all in the back. Only 4 stars 'cause I personally wanted more technique and a little less theory.

This eloquently written book describes the rhyme and reason behind all the sounds - music, effects, and dialogue - that are blended together to create the sophisticated soundtracks we're accustomed to. Sonnenschein, a director, musician, and award-winning sound designer, combines practical wisdom with sound theory and exercises to inspire and educate both new and experienced sound professionals. The book will appeal to non-professionals and other filmmakers as well because it's fun, entertaining, and enlightening. The author clearly loves and knows the world of sound and it's a joy to be brought into this world.

This was an interesting book, and it really gave me some new perspectives on sound design. Sonnenschein focuses on the organization and mindset of sound design, rather than the technicalities. I especially liked the excerpts from top sound designers such as Dane Davis (The Matrix, Drugstore Cowboy), Gary Rydstrom (Backdraft, Saving Private Ryan), and Ben Burtt (Star Wars, Indiana Jones).

My only knock on the book is that Sonnenschein was repetitive at times. The book would be about 30 pages shorter if he didn't repeat points that were made in previous chapters. Never the less, it was an interesting read, and I still think it is a great resource.

I am very glad, that I found this book. It helps me think about making sound design in a very deep point of view.
I love it!!!
Thank you David Sonnenschein:-)

Jan Sleska
student of sound engineering

This Movie Is Great It Has The MG-42 Bullets Going Right Through The Water On The Beach.The Blood,Gore,Gun Realism Is Great.It Also Is A Heart Touching Movie.The Action Is Great,The Guns,The Cool Guys,And The Nazis....

This Movie Is Great It Has The MG-42 Bullets Going Right Through The Water On The Beach.The Blood,Gore,Gun Realism Is Great.It Also Is A Heart Touching Movie.The Action Is Great,The Guns,The Cool Guys,And The Nazis.If You Like SPR(Saving Private Ryan)Than Play The Game MoH:AA(Medal Of Honor:Allied Assault)For PC It Has The Same Weapons And The Same Missions Like The Real WWII.Good Luck

I think Spielberg's a genius. There, I've said it. He takes simple men, surely John Miller, Captain, 2nd Ranger Battalion is just that, a simple man, and paints a canvas of such detail of Armageddon, putting these simple men all over the painting. Hell. The end of the world. Good versus evil. Call it what you may. "I'm a history teacher," he says in the movie in one extraordinarily tense scene. "I teach history in a small high school in Pennsylvania. . . .when I'm done here I don't know if I can go back to it."

I'm reminded of another 'simple man' that came from Pennsylvania in novel lore. Lieutenant Harry Brubaker, the lawyer who flies F-9 Panther Jets in Michner's brief story about the carnage in Korea, 'Bridges at To Ko Ri.'

But the point is Spielberg tells us that they were all simple men and we don't believe him at first. We keep looking for Arnie Schwarznegger or Chuck Norris or The Rock. But they are and were normal guys, guys from Brooklyn New York and Brooklyn Michigan. Guys from towns you never heard of in Iowa, where Jimmy Ryan and his brothers came from. Just guys in the greatest carnage the world ever knew. And Spielberg shows us what they did. They changed the world.

The five Sullivan brothers all went down with their ship in the middle of the war and after that the powers that be would not commit one brother in a theater of combat where another brother was also serving in harm's way. So here, one of Jimmy Ryan's brothers is killed in the Pacific and one brother is killed in Anzio Beach. And Sean Ryan is killed in the landing at Omaha Beach. And Captain John Miller and a squad of men he picks are asked to find him to send him home.

A wonderful book to compliment a movie that should be preserved forever about an ubelievable body of men and women. "Was I a good man," asks James Ryan 50 years later? My Dad asked me the same question a few years ago. Five stars is not enough. Larry Scantlebury.

I think this story is a very good story it really shows how the war really whent. my favrit character in this story was mellish well i'v seen the movie and i think he is the cutest i also like capazo he was really cool i think uhpum was a bit of a wimp but apart from that i think it was really cool.If i was to give this movie/book a raiting out of 100 i would give it 100 becaust it is so good.

Saving Private Ryan and The Triumph and the Glory have sparked an interest in me about WWII. The novel isn't quite as good as the movie but anyway this book is a great behind the scenes look at the making of a terrific movie.

This book and media, After Effects Apprentice, was a great introduction to Adobe After Effects CS3. The tutorials were well thought out and taught solid AE skills.

Highly recommended!

I received this product pretty quickly and it was in very good condition!
Seller, keep up you good service! you got a 5 star from me!

Clear, methodical approach to training on this difficult application. I highly recommend the book! And--there's some video gems on the DVD too!

A hands on approach to learning Adobe After Effects software. An excellent choice for anyone who wants to jump right into After Effects and for those of us who learn the best by examples and using the software right away.

I wanted to be a step ahead of the rest before I entered into my first class dealing with after effects. This book did it in record time! I even finished the second book in the series before our first project. I learned the ins and outs and beyond, and I didn't know how to do anything with AE before hand. I HIGHLY recommend this book as well as it's counter-part!!!

I read this book in three days really, I couldn't put it down. The book is the best around for every detail in trying to prepare a documentary. It describes how, why, when, and what types of equipment to use for your projects in a professional way. It also tells you how you can save money and get help from around you to fund your documentary. This book explains how to be no, low, or high budget and still produce a professional result. I can say that I now have a down and dirty attitude from reading from a guerilla style way of shooting films. "GET THE BOOK NOW"

This book is outstanding as far as the logistics of shooting a documentary goes. It's simple and yet very insightful and covers every aspect of production from nuts to bolts.RRP

This might be the best "quick start" guide you're likely to find on any subject.

Anthony Artis' knows video and he knows how to teach. More important, he knows how to get even a rank beginner out into the field and started shooting video. Artis' writing is sharp, clear, direct and street-wise with a touch of warmth and humor. Reading "Shut Up and Shoot" is like a long conversation with a smart friend who knows all about how to shoot video.

If you're already an experienced shooter, read this book anyway. Artis will make you a better shooter than you are now.

This is the book that I was looking for, for a long time on how to do a Documentary. I like the step-by-step process that he takes you through.
I also like the section on equipment recommendations.
I highly recommend it.

I bought this guide for my 14 year old son who made his first documentary 'One Light' without any experience or knowledge at 13. He wants a bit more professional production this time in a small budget and after spending a lot of time looking for a reasonable Film making camps for teens we resorted to self learning for him and came across this guide and I am very happy about it.

He has learnt quite a bit from it. I think it is a great beginer's reference guide and covers almost all aspects of DIY project.It is simple enough for him to read and incorporate the pointers for his next production plan.


This guide could be supplemented with another book that covers developing story and plot in more depth.

Gurmeet