Video Production Books

iMovie '08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual

David Pogue

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Apple -> iMovie + iDVD
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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Music -> Audio & Video Editing

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Whether you consider yourself a pro or a hobbyist, you have to admit that Apple's iMovie 08 and iDVD 08 are amazing right out of the box. Unfortunately, the box doesn't include much of a user's guide, so learning about these applications is another matter. iMovie 08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual gets you up to speed on all of the themes, motion graphics, titles, effects -- everything that lets you turn raw digital footage into highly creative video projects. You get crystal-clear and jargon-free explanations of all the iMovie 08 and iDVD 08 features, including the new video library, how to view transitions, titles, and sound in real time as you add them, and ways to publish your creations directly to YouTube. Renowned author David Pogue -- tech columnist for the New York Times -- uses an objective lens to scrutinize every step of process, including how to: Work on multiple iMovie projects at once and drag & drop clips among them Output your creation to a blog, its own web page, or as a video podcast with iWeb Use "Magic iMovie" to import your video and make a movie for you Integrate with other iLife programs to use songs, photos, and an original sound track And a whole lot more From choosing and using a digital camcorder to burning the finished work onto DVDs, posting it online, or creating versions for iPod and iPhone, iMovie 08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual zooms right in on the details in a concise and understandable manner. The book also provides a firm grounding in basic film technique so that the quality of your video won't rely entirely on magic.

iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual

David Pogue

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

While the last version of iMovie gave moviemakers the ability to capture and edit widescreen High Definition Video (HDV) from the new generation of camcorders, iMovie 6 is all about the ease of moviemaking itself. iMovie 6 includes five professionally designed themes with backgrounds, motion graphics, titles, and effects that act as building blocks for your projects. You can preview transitions and stunning new video effects--such as time-lapse video--in real time using the full screen. Or edit audio and add sound effects with a new built-in sound studio. For presenting your movie, Magic iDVD offers easy-to-use themes, including new widescreen options.

Whether you're a professional or an amateur moviemaker, this is amazing stuff. But if you want to learn the full capabilities of these applications, Apple documentation won't make the cut. Instead, iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual is the ideal third-party authority that covers all of these changes through an objective lens. This witty and entertaining guide from celebrated author David Pogue details every step of iMovie 6 and iDVD production. The book shows you how to:

• Work on multiple iMovie projects at once and drag & drop clips among them
• Output your creation to a blog, its own web page, or as a video podcast with iWeb
• Use "Magic iMovie" to import your video and make a movie for you
• Integrate with other iLife programs to use songs, photos, and an original soundtrack
• And a whole lot more

From choosing and using a digital camcorder to burning the finished work onto DVDs, posting it online, or downloading it to an iPod, iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual zooms right in on the details in a clear, concise, and understandable manner. The book also provides a firm grounding in basic film technique so that the quality of your video won't rely entirely on magic.

The Power Filmmaking Kit: Make Your Professional Movie on a Next-to-Nothing Budget

Jason Tomaric

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Focal Press Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $23.95

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Amateur Production
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Direction & Production

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Think big, spend little! Everything you need to make your movie is in this complete resource kit.

The Power Filmmaking Kit is a comprehensive, multimedia book and DVD package that empowers you to produce your own Hollywood-quality movie. Emmy-award winning director Jason Tomaric produced an independent film using only local resources for under $2,000 that not only got picked up for distribution, but is also used as a case study in top film schools. This book shows you how to do the same, regardless of your budget or location. You'll learn how to achieve professional quality on a microbudget, using the resources you have at hand.

The book includes:
* Coverage of the entire filmmaking process. It's all here, from writing, directing, and cinematography, to acting, editing, and distribution.
* Step-by-step instructions, tips, diagrams, charts, and illustrations for how you can make a Hollywood-caliber movie on a next-to-nothing budget with little upfront money and access only to local resources.

The DVD includes:
* Time and Again, the profitable, award-winning, internationally distributed independent film made for under $2,000
* One hour of video tutorials unveiling how the movie was made...interviews and behind-the-scenes case studies on directing, production, and editing
* Complete rough footage from a scene for editing practice
* Forms, contracts, and more resources
*The Producer's Notebook includes scripts, storyboards, schedules, call sheets, contracts, letters from the producer, camera logs and press kits from "Time and Again." See how the production was scheduled and organized, read the script, follow the storyboards and watch the production unfold from beginning to end.
* Blank contracts and forms that you can print out to use on your own film

* Everything you need to make a low-budget movie is in this complete resource kit.
* A complete kit that's a blueprint for making a professional-looking film for under $20,000. Includes a DVD packed with video tutorials, rough footage, important paperwork, contracts, movies, trailers, and more
* Learn how to get professional quality on a low budget, using the resources you have at hand.

Final Cut Studio On the Spot, 3rd Edition (On The Spot {Series})

Richard Harrington, Abba Shapiro, Robbie Carman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Packed with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers what you need to know-on the spot. It is suited to editors of all experience levels, whether you are:

* Migrating from another NLE
* Upgrading to Final Cut Studio 2
* Seeking a handy reference to raise your proficiency

No need to wade through tomes of documentation. Final Cut Studio On the Spot presents immediate solutions in an accessible format. Step-by-step instruction by Apple Certified Pros shows you how to:


* Optimize system performance
* Create impressive titles with Generators, Motion, LiveType, and Photoshop
* Build Commercial-quality transitions
* Work quickly with buttons and keyboard shortcuts
* Color correct to save vital shots, and keep them broadcast legal
* Fix and mix for professional-quality audio
* Use the compositing tools of master editors
* Design and import graphics seamlessly
* Integrate with other applications including Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Color
* Troubleshoot and recover files
* Manage media and backup strategies
* Export and publish finished projects to tape, DVD, or the Web

Key Features:
* 400 time-saving workflow techniques
* Concise presentation is great for as a reference or a casual read
* Covers the major Studio toolsets for the editor

The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 6 (Focal Easy Guide)

Rick Young

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great illustrations - to the point descriptions! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

If you need to get up to speed on Final Cut and new features --- this guide gives you concise information and visual backup to explain a complicated edit process minus having to wade through a typical 600-800 page manual (use the official manuals as a reference when you have time!) --- plus the size makes it portable enough to take with your laptop on the job. This is my 4th Rick Young manual --- his choices and descriptions have never disappointed me - I have referred many novice editors to his books. The feedback has been positive.

What the larger Apple manuals are great at --- is providing practice material and step by step instruction --- sometimes it's best to start from page 1 --- especially as a newbie to editing. However --- Rick Young's series of condensed guides --- serves as a tremendous handy abridgment with the MOST important details needed for most conditions when you don't have time to drag out the BIG books. His manuals are written from an editor's perspective with brevity in mind. Think of it as a "greatest hits" version of editing information. You won't be disappointed.

Editorial Review:

Software packages are complex. Software books don't need to be. Simplify your life with The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro! This concise, full-color book lives up to its name by paring down the software to its essentials. You learn the key features and essential workflow to get you up and running in no time.

With this book you can start cutting immediately, whatever you edit, whatever the format. This is an ideal introduction whether you are a professional moving over to Final Cut Pro from another package or system, a new user, or just someone who wants to get the best results from Final Cut Pro, fast!

* Save time, learn all you need to know to edit with FCP in hours
* Concise full-color coverage, suitable for all OSX versions of FCP

Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook

Jason Osder, Robbie Carman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Today's digital production tools empower the small team to produce multimedia projects that formerly required large teams. Orchestrating a production requires more than proficiency with the postproduction tools. Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook offers a cookbook of postproduction workflows that teams can follow to deliver an array of products to their clients. It describes appropriate postproduction workflows, team roles and responsibilities, and required equipment for some of the most common media productions.

Combining the wisdom of traditional roles and responsibilities with an understanding of how FCP facilitates a new flexibility where these roles/responsibilities can be redistributed, this book sheds light on workflow processes and responsibilities, and includes 7 real-world workflows from a diverse range of projects:

* Money-Saving Digital Video Archive
* Long-Form Documentary with Mixed Sources
* Web-Based Viewing and Ordering System
* 30-Second Spot for Broadcast
* Multi-Part TV Series with Multiple Editors
* DVD Educational Supplement
* Music Video with Multi-Cam Editing and Multiple Outputs

The book also provides access to a companion website that features additional electronic chapters focusing on Final Cut Server, Apple's powerful new media asset management and workflow automation software.

Written with a unique iconography to better convey key points and applicable to all levels of FCP users, Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook is a vital reference tool for every postproduction house.

* Real-world workflows and case studies provide blueprints that readers can follow to efficiently coordinate multimedia projects
* Clearly defines team member responsibilities and details their roles in efficient postproduction workflows
* Provides technical and administrative direction that smoothes the way to expanding a studio's postproduction repertoire

Cinema 4D: The Artist's Project Sourcebook, 2nd Edition

Anne Powers

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Graphic Design -> 3D Graphics
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Graphic Design -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Make the creative leap to 3D. Realize your artistic vision with this treasure chest of instructional projects. Get the essential concepts and techniques without drowning in the technical complexities.
This new edition is an artist's sourcebook for the visionary in you that wants to master 3D-and have fun in the process. It serves as a complete guide for the creative use of CINEMA 4D R10 and all of its modules.
This new edition features an engaging full-color presentation of short, playful projects show you how to put this powerful toolset to work. You will master R10's improved workflow, scene management, enhanced animation timeline and searchable object manager, as well as its:
* MOCCA 3 system, including Joints, Skin Objects, the Weight Tool, the Morph Tool, Visual Selector and Clothilde
* MoGraph module for motion graphics, type manipulation and the animation of multiple forms
* Bodypaint 3D for applying 2D drawing and painting skills to 3D models
* Advanced modeling tools such as the Brush tool
* Interface with third-party applications including Z-Brush, and Adobe's Creative Suite
You also get inventive quick starts for other modules including Hair, Sketch and Toon, Advanced Render, Dynamics and Thinking Particles.

The companion DVD is bursting to the brim with project source files, extra projects, tutorial movies, guest artist tutorials, inspirational galleries and unique C4D Teacher Files (C4D scenes with embedded step-by-step instruction).

* A tutorial-based exploration of the modeling, animation and motion graphics possibilities of C4D
* Covers MOCCA 3, MoGraph, and the integration with After Effects and other tools
* Companion DVD with tutorial media, bonus tutorials, instructional movies and C4D teacher files.

Videomaker Guide to Digital Video and DVD Production, Third Edition

Videomaker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good Book on Production; Little behind on modern technology 4 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I wanted a book that would help my amateur videography skills. I decided to go with the Videomaker Guide based on its original Amazon rating, and the history of Videomaker magazines.

I found a lot of useful information in the book that I'm just starting to use such as lighting, filters, sound, and shooting angles. I've already started to apply the information from the book into a music video and a short film. So far, the information has been a plus, and I've used the book for reference to expand my amateur knowledge.

A minor negative on the book was that some chapters (back-to-back) seemed to state the same message. Although they were written with different examples, the same points were expressed.

A major negative on the book is that most technology and software that was referred to are about 3+ years behind. I was thinking some chapters might be updated to reflect the future of DVD production and using updated software video editing programs. However, there were no updated chapters. Lucky for me, most of my current knowledge of video editing is with today's software programs and hardware.

Editorial Review:

From the editors of Videomaker Magazine comes a guide that takes the novice, step-by-step, through the elements that create a quality video production. The Videomaker Guide provides information on all the latest tools and techniques available to help you shoot like the pros. The series of short sections covers what you need to know and is easy to dip into as a reference on a shoot.

The third edition is bursting with new material and has been updated to include topics like shooting, serving, encoding, streaming, editing tips, making streaming slide shows, MPEG, and DVD and CD authoring and burning.

Whether you're a novice videomaker or prosumer, learn to make better, more exciting video with the Videomaker Guide.

· An easy-to-reference manual with quick solutions for video production
· Section on DVD authoring
· Concise information on all phases of production

Digital Television, Third Edition: Satellite, Cable, Terrestrial, IPTV, Mobile TV in the DVB Framework

Herve Benoit

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Manager's Guides to Computing
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Digital Television is as an authoritative and complete overview that describes the technology of digital television broadcasting. It gives you a thorough technical description of the underlying principles of the DVB standard and the various steps of signal processing. Also included is a complete technical glossary of terms, abbreviations, and expressions that gives you quick reference.

Now in it's 3rd edition, Digital Television, this book is completely up-to-date with standard and new technologies including:
- DVB and DVB-S2
- IPTV
- Mobile TV DVB-H
- HDTV
- High Definition formats 1080i and 720p
- Compression including MPEG, H.264, and VC-1

If you are looking for a concise technical briefing that will quickly get you up to speed without getting lost - this is the book you need.

KEY BENEFITS

* Enhance your knowledge of digital television with this authoritative, technical introduction
* Learn underlying priciples of the DVB system, compression technology, IPTV, Mobile TV, and more
* Understand analog and digital formats and signal processing from transmission to reception

The Complete DVD Book: Designing, Producing and Marketing Your Independent Film on DVD

Chris Gore, Paul J. Salamoff

Amazon Price: $19.67 List Price: $26.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Michael Wiese Productions Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $12.71

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Extremely Thorough but Technically Overwhelming - at least for me... 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Have you ever been to a party or watched a show on PBS where a very knowledgeable person expounds on some subject and you find yourself drawn in because they are a great speaker, or the subject matter is fascinating but you come away telling your partner: "Wow, that was really interesting. I have no idea what they were talking about."

That's how I felt after reading the first half of this book.

I know very little about all the technical aspects of DVD creation, authoring, processing and packaging. Frankly, I know just enough about my computer to completely fry my hard-drive (which I've done). I have used editing programs and DVD authoring programs in the past (and still use) but these are very much "over the counter" programs usually bundled with my DVD burner and extremely simple to use: Add titles, add content, stick in a DVD-R disc and push a button. Two hours later, you hope it works.

Paul J. Salamoff does an excellent job going through the step-by-step process of creating the DVD. He has thought of everything from the title colors to the hidden eggs. Using programs such as "Final Cut Pro" and "DVD Studio Pro 3" and "Adobe Photoshop," Paul goes through the meticulous step-by-step process of telling the reader how to create their DVD. Assumptions are already made. Assumption 1: You already have your film in the "can" and on your computer and assumption 2: You have a computer that can handle everything you have got.

Paul is extremely thorough and detailed from the Preparation of the Video and Audio to the layout of menus, overlays, subtitles, slide-shows and bios. It is all very fascinating - even if I do not thoroughly understand it. Though they do include dozens of screenshots and graphics.

Here, try this from the section regarding "Control Commands:" COLOR COMMANDS Use these commands to select a value between 0 and 15. These colors can be preset in DVD Studio Pro (Preferences > Color Palette). $ColorIndex1: Text Color ($ColorIndex1 = 1)

Now, if you understand that (and many others like that) - then this book is for you. If you are like me and that makes about as much sense as cotton candy on the moon - then maybe you should skip to the second section.

The second section is all about marketing your film. Dealing from everything from duplicators to distributors to foreign markets. Chris Gore goes into great detail about the hills and valleys of this process of getting your film out there in the marketplace. This section enlightened me to things that I was not familiar with when I go to my local "Best Buy" and buy "Crappy Movie 4 - SPECIAL EDITION." There is a detailed process and one you should follow if you have your film in hand and want to get it out to the marketplace.

Together Chris and Paul have done a great job of explaining pretty much everything you need to know about this process (including an EXCELLENT resource section in the back of the book). Here are a few other items I would have liked to see:

1. A section on what type of computer you are going to need including processor speed, monitor size, video card, hard-drive space, etc. If I have my film in hand, I am going to want to know what my initial investment is going to be.

2. An honest to goodness recommendation of software to use. Paul uses DVD Studio Pro 3 for authoring but says: "This is not an endorsement of DVD Studio Pro 3..." Well, gosh, why not!? I would have rather seen, straight up: Buy this type of computer and buy this type of software. There are other types of software and they do this and this and that and that - but here is why I am using and recommending this!

3. Resources by location. In the back of the book there are some resources listing out DVD Production Services and DVD Packaging Services. They're listed out alphabetically. If you are looking for one by location, you have to scan each one. It would have been excellent to include the same list via location.

If you have a film that you are ready to put on to DVD - this book is an excellent resource for you. Especially if you can understand all the technical talk. If you do not understand the technical talk, I would still suggest getting the book and the recommended programs and try to put it all together. It seems, relatively, simple. At least from what I understand.

Oh, and in all fairness to Chris and Paul, I am going to give the book to a friend of mine who has more knowledge on the technical aspects of this process (he would understand the $ColorIndex1 sentence above) and have asked him to review the book. I figure that with two authors, the book could have two reviewers. Look for his review soon.

Editorial Review:

Learn from this comprehensive book, a soup-to-nuts approach to releasing your independent film on DVD. From package design to marketing to authoring to menu architecture to promotion to publicity to penetrating retailiers and even negotiating the DVD deal.