Video Editing Books

The iMovie 3 Visual Quickstart Guide is a thinner book than most others
in the VQSG series. It has only 170ish pages and is labeled for the
beginning to intermediate user. After looking through the book, though,
I don't see any topic that is not covered (and I have used iMovie
pretty extensively). So I think that maybe there isn't such a thing as
an advanced iMovie user; advanced users are probably using Final Cut.
For any iMovie 3 user, this book would seem to satisfy the need.

iMovie is meant for the novice user; it is meant to give the average
person the ability to produce videos that look semi-professional and
can be easily burned to CD-ROM or emailed. This book undeniably meets
this demand. OK, you say, but what about iMovie 4, the newest version
of iMovie? Well, I chose this book for two reasons: first, there is not
a good selection of iMovie 4 materials yet, and second, only buyers of
iLife '04 and new Macs (since March 2004) would have that program
whereas iMovie 3 is still a free download and usable by anyone with
10.1.5 and up.

Although people argue that iMovie 4 is worth the upgrade, that is
another discussion. My focus on the utility of this book is intended to
reach a larger audience. This book contains EVERYTHING you need to know
about iMovie 3 and has added sections on using a digital video camera
and integration with iDVD 2 (only available on Macs with a Superdrive).
The iMovie 3 VQSG is an excellent resource to have around and will
likely find a home in my classroom where my students can benefit from
it.

iMovie and iDVD are two of the iLife programs that ship with your Macs. Many folks think that, because they are the "simple or basic" programs, that they don't have a lot of features or can't do professional looking movies.

The fact is, you can get VERY nice results with these applications. There was a fellow who won a prize at Sundance Film Festival for a movie he made entirely with a cheap miniDV camera and iMovie. If you have budding aspirations as a filmmaker, or you just want to video a birthday party or wedding, you can get great results, too.

Jeff Carlson's book is aimed at beginner-to-intermediate users. It takes a visual, step-by-step approach. Everything is explained well and accompanied by lots of photos.

I was really pleased to see that he devotes the first 50 pages of the book to explaining how to use the DV camera, including how to take good video to start out with. He covers focus, depth-of-field, lighting, composing your shots, how and when to move the camera, etc. The term "garbage-in-garbage-out" was invented for computers, but it is really true with video and photography, as well.

Part 2 covers iMovie in logical order. He starts with an overview, then tells you how to import footage, edit video, edit still pictures for video, edit audio. He pays nice attention to the audio portion, including how to adjust the audio that came with the video, adding sound effects, music from iTunes and GarageBand, and adding audio from other sources. He also covers transitions, adding titles and making them look good on-screen, and adding visual effects to the movie.

Carlson calls Part 3 "Sharing." He tells you how to get your finished movie back to video tape or export it in other formats, such as QuickTime. Depending on the QuickTime compression scheme, you can put your movie on a CD, the web or send it via e-mail. And ... of course, you can send it to iDVD, complete with chapter markers.

Part 4 tells you everything you need to know to make a DVD. He tells you how to apply themes, customize them, create sub-menus, add chapters to an existing iDVD project, and creating slide shows with background audio. Then, he shows you how to create a project archive and burn the DVD. He finishes up with a chapter on troubleshooting.

iMovie Fast & Easy is just that...FAST AND EASY! Kevin Harreld does an incredible job of breaking down the information for the beginning user and helps them turn bad video into entertainment. The easy-to-read format and helpful tips create a great "beginner's guide," and a book that even the seasoned user will refer to over and over!

INCREDIBLE!

Although this is technically an autobiography, this book provides excellent insight into the devlopment of television, specifically the history of kinescope and videotape recording and editing. When there are no rules, who makes the rules? The author was involved in early West Coast kinescope recording, which was the only way to record television programs in the early 1950s. As videotape came into use, it was used to record and time delay shows for the West Coast. The author pioneered many early techniques, crude as they were, that helped make videotape a more effective production tool. The chapter detailing how 'Laugh-in', one of the first shows to use a fast-paced edit style, was produced, is excellent. This aspect of televison technology has not been well documented. This book provides excellent insight into the early days of network television.

I am currently taking a videography class where we are using iMovie. When I finished reading the book, I was able to go to class and edit my first film project with confidence. Prior to reading this, I had no knowledge of using iMovie. The book is broken down into simple steps which are easy to follow. Of course, it doesn't cover everything in depth, but provides an excellent foundation for further learning. I am totally sold on the Visual Quickproject Series and hope they write more books on other software packages.

Nonlinear Editing is an exceptionally well written and organized instructional manual on post-production film editing. Ideal as a reference tool for film producers and directors, Nonlinear Editing is designed as a quick and easy-to-follow guide providing a practical, one-volume introduction to the efficient management and operation of nonlinear editing systems. Experienced educator and film editor Patrick Morris describes the technology involved, the essential techniques to be mastered (including on and off-line editing), project management, rendering effects, working with graphics and audio, and adding third party applications. Highly recommended for film school curriculums and professional reference collections, Nonlinear Editing is a complete media manual and "on-the- job" guide for all nonlinear editing needs.

OK, so I'm biased. I'm the author.

But the book is out of print and I thought, what the heck, I should say a few words. Very few. It didnt' sell well and I figure I made about $.037/hr for the work I did. But that's my problem, not yours.

I recently re-read the book. The technology section is dated, but if you find a used copy and are interested in video, it is still a useful introduction to the subject. Very readable, not too technical.

If nothing else, buy a copy for your local library. I won't make a dime, but the book contains many references to timeless books on the subject that will help any beginner.

Good luck!

Correction to the review from Book News Inc. The Authors are professors at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS and professional filmmakers. Everything else in the review is correct.

In contrast to the towering arrogance of many critics, academics and novelists who have published reflections on the craft of writing, Lodge stands alone as an enduring voice of common sense - probably because he's worked as all three. This breadth of experience keeps him grounded in the real world - which is good, because that's where writing and reading are actually done. In this collection of essays, he never disappears into theoretical ivory towers, nor does he make ridiculously large claims for the art of the novel or the enormity of his own talent. His essays are characterized by a generous, unpretentious ease. This book will be immensely enjoyable for writers and readers alike, but particularly for writers. Lodge's refreshing honesty about his own writing practices and experiences - especially in adapting his own novels and others - is a treat.

I had a big video-slideshow project that I needed to get done in a short amount of time, and I didn't want to hire someone. I decided to take on Premiere myself. Although I'm very good at learning from books, I knew the learning curve would be steep. Jeff's video was the perfect shortcut. It was well worth the investment. His instruction was clear, fun, and easy to follow. He is very good at picking the things you really need to know and taking you right to the heart of each topic. He also throws in useful practical tips that it might otherwise take you a long time to figure out. I am very glad that I made the decision to purchase and use this video; I can't imagine how many hours I saved!