Video Editing Books

I own about twelve screenwriting books, and I wish I would have read this one first! Although the title says "high concept", it also tells you how to use screenplay formula for non high concept movies, packed with lots of examples from movies like, Rocky, Forest Gump, and loads more.

I've read a lot of books on screenwriting in my quest to learn the craft. This one is the best as far as I'm concerned. Rob's book, like Blake Snyder's, reeks of experience. Tobin ties together character and plot into the same process. Something most of the others fail to do. I would also agree with the last reviewer, that Martell's book is worth reading. I would add Karl Iglesias's, Jeff Kitchen's, and Hauge's books too. Rob told me he is writing an update, but this one is fine.

When my agent said "You should turn your novel into a screenplay", I foolishly said "Sure!" You could see the dollar signs in my eyes, just like in the cartoons. But it was easier recommended than done. After spending hundreds of dollars on screenplay writing books (which are themselves a cottage industry), I finally decided I would do what Tony Robbins calls "expert modeling", that is, learn screenwriting from people who actually wrote and, more importantly SOLD screenplays.
I mean, home many screenplays did Syd Field, Robert McKee, Michael Hauge, Vicki King and all the other 'guru' out there ever sell? They must be too busy counting money from their seminars to write screenplays. Well, that and coming up with artsy-fartsy theories that make your eyes gloss over 5 minutes into the lecture.
I want my knowledge, fast and efficient, and that's where Rob Tobin's "How To Write High Structure, High Concept Movies" comes in. It's a lean 182 page paperback filled with great stuff. Loglines, structure, high concept, characters, conflict, every step in the process, every step in your story is explained here in great detail.
So needless to say, the other screenwriting books, except for Trottier's "The Screenwriter's Bible", Bill Martell's "The Secrets of Action Screenwriting" and Rob's book were donated to the public library.

- William Mize, Shamus Award nominee, creator of the Denton Ward and Monty Crocetti mystery series.

I have read this and the "iMovie 2: The Missing Manual". I like the Visual Quickstart Guide a bit better because it is very concise but not lacking in information (true of the series).

The thing with iMovie is that is seems like it should do more than it seems. While some of the techniques are not obvious, there are few of these (most presented in this book) that will definetly get your movies going. Get this book and look in the internet for additional sources of information.

Great for novices wanting to make their first iMovie (that was me) to those people wanting answers that don't come up until you start to really dig into iMovie and want more, more more (that is me now).

I spent an hour reviewing 4 versions at the bookstore, took this home, and think it's great. Very simple, very short, very much to the point, this is a great reference as well as a beginning tutorial.

So, it has depth, clarity, and brevity, admirable qualities all.

iMovie seems a very simple application (with a wonderfully simple interface) but there are a lot of neat tips and tricks to create very cool movies, videos, whatever.Cheers,

BilFish

Great for novices wanting to make their first iMovie (that was me) to those people wanting answers that don't come up until you start to really dig into iMovie and want more, more more (that is me now).

I spent an hour reviewing 4 versions at the bookstore, took this home, and think it's great. Very simple, very short, very much to the point, this is a great reference as well as a beginning tutorial.

So, it has depth, clarity, and brevity, admirable qualities all.

iMovie seems a very simple application (with a wonderfully simple interface) but there are a lot of neat tips and tricks to create very cool movies, videos, whatever.

Cheers,

BilFish

Microsoft brings the ability to make movies right to the desktop with Windows ME. This book takes that adventure and shows you the techniques that will have you making, editing and showing movies to your friends in no time flat.

Of course you do need to have a camcorder, a computer and Windows ME installed, but other than that this book is all you will need. Divided into three parts, The Basics, Movie Maker and Advanced uses the book makes sure you understand the concepts and best of all you learn as you go.

In Part 1 you learn about making movies, planning, production tools, shooting and editing and finally distributing movies. In part 2 you the chance to take your movies and put them in the Movie Maker application, you'll also start organizing, editing and sharing the movies with family and friends.

Finally part 3 has you doing more advanced techniques like working with stills, adding sound effects and how to use the media player to play the movies you have created. The Cd-rom include has media player version 7, some ready to use videos and stills to practice with, images and sounds and a few other production tools.

If you are into the creation of movies or want to have some fun with home movies this book should allow you the let out the creative genius inside. Overall a very good book.

Not only the handbook for Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, this book introduces the ways to film to make your home movie more interesting. Instead of shooting without any plan, home video amateurs can really take advantage of the suggestions in the book for better planning to get better entertaining result.

I think this is a good book on Movie Makers by author Seth McEvoy and on the cover it reminds me like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire becuase of the cover!

This is another good book I like.

The pictures are cool.

Great book detailing the ins and outs of entertainment scriptwriting contracts and negotiations. Recommend this highly!

As a budding screenwriter, I find this book helpful in a way that I can enrich myself with the knowledge that otherwise has to be earned through hours of lawyer's consulting fees. the

How do you know if you're getting a fair deal? How do you protect your original creation? And what does it mean when they tell you you're going to get a share of "Net Profits?" This is an invaluable resource for screenwriters. Stephen Breimer is an entertainment lawyer who really knows his stuff. It's great that he took the time to make this information available (for a lot less money than he'd charge for an hour of his time!). Screenwriters, don't be taken! Check it out (or better, buy it!).

Scriptwriting for High-Impact Videos: Imaginative approaches to delivering factual information

This book is more about how to convey thoughts and images, than about the mechanics of scriptwriting. If I am mistaken, please refresh my memory, since I have sent my copy of this book onward.

As the description says: it is about "delivering factual infomation." And, it lives up to its description.

It is no doubt a solid reference for business, technical, and academic scriptwriting applications.

Using Morley's book and his MS Word formatting templates, I have been able to make a great living the past 12 years writing and producing videos. This is the perfect textbook on the subject: like his scripts, its tightly written, with a strong structure and a wealth of detail where it is needed most, all in an entertaining style. The examples really make sense, the guides on research, treatments, and pitching alone are worth the price. Order the MS Word templates with the book, they are worth it in time and money saved. If you work in an organization without creative writers, and you need a script forged, buy this book and become a god in the office. I love you, man!;-) A great companion to this work is Donna Matrazzo's Corporate Scriptwriting Book, a Step-by-Step Guide.

Here are lessons learned from two decades of writing for a living. All of the concepts presented have stood the test of demanding clients and unforgiving deadlines. All of the ideas are supported by examples taken from the several hundred scripts the author has written and sold.

More than a book on writing, this steps you through an entire process for managing clients, organizing research, developing a creative approach, word-smithing the finished script and surviving in the food chain.

Two case studies (sales training and orientation) lend continuity throughout and show how each step of the process works within a real-world context. The appendix includes completed scripts for both case studies, a creative treatment for the orientation case study and a list of research questions. The questions alone have generated many enthusiastic comments from writers who modify and use them as an agenda for client input meetings. These writers credit the questions with saving time and enhancing their professionalism.

Excellent book for beginners & intermediates to video shooting. Covers all basics such as lighting, composition, audio, panning, shooting for different specific situations etc. Lots of diagrams and pictures that author uses to illustrate points.

However the editing section is only aimed at analog devices. There is no information on digital video cameras or frame rates and fields etc for PC based DV editing.

I found this to be a terific manual for using your camcorder and editing your videos. The only drawback is that there isn't a sequel in print at this time! More! I film, produce, host and edit a local access television show and this book helped tremendously. It is written to address the beginners questions as well as the "imtermediate" level. The local access television station is ordering more for manuals. Deborah Goodell, Critter Connection

A great reference tool that's much more informative and instructional than the documentation in Apple's DVDSP manual. When I want to learn how to do something in DVDSP 2.0 this book is the first reference tool I pick up, and I've rarely had to look elsewhere. Apple ought to have Erica write their tech manual on version 3.0!

Bob Stearns
Next Chapter Graphics

DVD Studio Pro Solutions has been just great while getting up to speed on DVD Authoring this year. Of the many very good books I've got, DVD Studio Pro Solutions was the most accessible of the books I've got (i.e. I could find out what I needed to know, when I needed to know it!)

As a film editor and friend of the author, I couldn't appreciate this book more. It gives a thorough background and overview of the world of editing film digitally, and does so with a straightforward style that is easily accessible to newbies and professionals alike. Mr. Fowler shows us the differences between the major nonlinear editing systems, and leaves readers prepared to cut a film no matter what equipment or technical situations we may face. The book is a necessary reference tool for anyone wishing to edit a film in the ever-changing realm of post production.

I felt an obligation to write a review on this book because it is an excellent book for beginners or reference, but has almost absolutely nothing to do with the title "Integrating Final Cut Pro, Avid, and Media 100."

I read the book from cover to cover. It is a basic introduction to editing from film, as well as non-linear editing (computers). It gives detailed information on what information is needed in order to get your film cut correctly, avoid drop frame and conversion issues, etc. I think that it is very rudimentary however. I am not an editor so I can't speak to that point of view, but as a director - I did not feel that the book taught me much of anything... and certainly nothing about integrating the three leading NLE systems.

I think the true niche for this book is beginning film school students, or people without a background in film editing at all. These people I believe would benefit highly. If you have worked exclusively with DV and video, and have no experience in film... then it would benefit you too.

Overally, I'm happy I read it, but I insist that if someone were trained already with a background in film, then this book will be too basic to be truly helpful.

Got the book for my Step Son, your guess is as good as mine, as how good it is.

Gabriella Oldham has collected a wide variety of editors from a wide variety of backgrounds to ask about editing.

A really useful book on the various approaches people have on editing and what their working methods are. Comphrehensive interviews from people who have worked on films such as Ben Hur to documentaries. Those who enjoyed this book should also have a look at Vincent LaBrutto's 'Film Editing'.

I have read all of the major screenwriting books from "Screenwriting: The Foundations of Screenwriting" by Syd Field to "Story" by Robert Mckee. I will have to say I was very lucky to find this gem. It is one of the best of all of them. The author does an excellent job of not only articulating the nuts of bolts of a great screenplay but also gives practical information on how to do it. This is something many others do not explain. The practical information is very important to your development since it goes beyond what most books offer, which is only theory.

Whether you are beginning your first screenplay or looking to re-write one you've already written, I highly recommend you read this book.

This is an amazing book. When I ordered it I thought it was going to be great. Instead, I learned that it was not a quick reference book. This book is good late-night read, but you'll be disappointed if you want a quick-reference book. Most of this read is more like advice, and very good advice at that. Many of the screenwriting books I read are for theme-driven screenwriters, while this book can have any audience of screenwriters-- plot-driven, character-driven, whatever. The screenwriting books I've read before use such movies as Citizen Kane, the Godfather, and others, which although are good movies, some are not contemporary enough for novices. She uses examples like Billy Madison, Spider-Man, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy , to name a few. This book is for people under the age of 35.