Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is an excellent overview of pretty much everything you'd need to know as a beginning professional videographer or video producer. While the book is aiming to address an audience of amateur do-it-yourselfers as well as those aspiring to work professionally with video, it's written mostly in the tone of a textbook, and is focused a bit more heavily on television and industrial style productions, where professionalism is the key factor (above drive, innovation and spunk, for example). That's a good thing, because it makes for a clear and thorough read. At the same time, it's not as exciting to read as some of the more popular books aimed more at amateurs and "guerilla" style filmmakers (like What They Don't Teach You at Film School or Make Your Own Damn Movie!).
I detected a bit of unevenness in tone, as well, probably accounted for by the multiple authors. Some of the later chapters read much better than the fairly dry early chapters. For a better read that is both exciting, even toned and equally comprehensive, even if focused on documentary filmmaking, I'd recommend The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide.
Still, this is a reliable and thorough guide to pretty much everything you'll need to know and take into account in order to begin serious video production. It is very well illustrated and the information is presented in a logical and clear fashion. It's not going to motivate you to just get out there and make a movie, but if you are already motivated it will give you the information you need to be sure you do it right. I expect to refer to it regularly, and recommend it to anyone who is serious about making movies (documentary, feature, and commercial) on video.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition
Click here for more information about Video Production Handbook, Fourth Edition
