The Video Production Handbook, Fifth Edition by Jim Owens, provides the latest step-by-step process of video production up to output distribution. This book is a great help in starting a career, or giving additional information to those who are already in the video making industry. This book shows how to use the tools in production with different budget sizes and incorporates it to an idea to produce an effective video output.
Book Description
The 5th edition of this handbook presents an up-to-date full video production process. It is incorporated with concepts and techniques that may be followed to create video projects in the simplest method possible. It is especially crafted to suit beginners and students, presenting the subject matter in a direct and clear style. In addition, colored photos and illustrations were incorporated to give a better understanding on its text.
Topics
Topics covered include the following:
- The beginning of an idea
- How to write scripts
- The pre-production process
- Crew development
- Presents latest equipments and techniques
- How to work effectively with actors
- The lighting for a set
- Selecting appropriate audio material
- Video Editing
- The post-production process
- Distribution
It also includes practical tips, informative interviews with professionals, complete resource for instructors and many more. These are all presented in a detailed and balanced manner.
All of these are contained in the 416 page book. The text is full English, white background, with 450 colored photos and illustrations captioned. The title cover is printed with direct information on what this book is all about. It is legibly presented, and attracts reader’s eyes. Moreover, it weighs about 2 pounds and measures about less than a foot, making it convenient to carry and use.
Review
The Good
Jim Owens’s fifth edition have kept up with the technology today and upgraded its content to fit modern vidoegraphy. Including up-to-date techniques for different video materials, this handbook guides new videographers on their journey towards video production success. The addition of full-colored images and illustrations helps a lot in understanding the information presented in the text. It also diminishes boredom build-up, which a lot of readers experience when reading instructional manuals or books. In addition, it can be used as a material for instruction, with the addition of detailed teaching aid.
The Bad
The information presented in this handbook is suited to entry-level or beginner level videographers. Most of its content focuses on the overview of basic video production. It has a taste of professionalism, but it is not exactly professional in a sense, even though it presents many forms of videography, either basic or professional. Moreover, acquiring this book does not insure that readers will be successful right away. Since it is an entry-level guide, the lessons in the book need to be practiced constantly for mastery and experience.
Bottom – line
The Video Production, fifth edition handbook by Jim Owens is a great jumpstart for many aspiring video producers. Even those who are already doing videography may find this handy. It is a good reference material whenever you need it in your video production jobs.