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Workman

How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro

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Newly updated and revised, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck is a quick and easy guide that will make your video better instantly—whether you read it cover to cover or just skim a few chapters. It’s about the language of video and how to think like a director, regardless of equipment (amateurs think about the camera, pros think about communication). It’s about the rules developed over a century of movie-making—which work just as well when shooting a two-year-old’s birthday party on your phone. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of the award-winning feature Two Weeks, plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. In other words, how to shoot video people will want to watch. Here’s how to think in shots—how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing “Record” for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject’s eyes. Why to “zoom” with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of video production: framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more. At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you’ve learned into practice, so the next time you’re shooting you’ll have begun to master the skill. Steve’s website (stevestockman.com) provides video examples to illustrate different production ideas, techniques, and situations, and his latest thoughts on all things video. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Workman Publishing Company


Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2011


Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 248 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0761163239


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 37


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.35 x 0.63 x 9.2 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #52,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3 in Cinematography (Books) #34 in Movie Direction & Production #1,872 in Reference (Books)


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • The Best Book on Video
When people ask me the best way to learn video skills, I point them to this book. Whether you’re just starting to get into video or have video experience, Steve Stockman gives you the tools you need to create videos people will actually watch. Of course, you have to learn the skills, practice them and then implement them. First off, Steve tells you up front that this book isn’t about equipment. And that’s a good thing because you may have the latest and greatest DSLR/mirrorless camera, an old hand-me down camera or your smartphone. This is a technique and skills book. Steve breaks everything down into easy to digest chapters and succinctly explains everything. He doesn’t overwhelm you with technical jargon, but writes in everyday, understandable language. You don’t need a videography/cinematography dictionary next to you as you read this. He provides everything you really need to know to get started, or get reoriented if you’ve fallen victim to all those fancy YouTube techniques or crazy transitions. I have both the Kindle and paperback versions. If you thumb through the pages of my paperback edition, you’ll discover all the notes, highlights and underlines I’ve made in it. It’s a book I reference again and again. If you want to make videos and don’t know where to start, then start with this book. Or if you started already and need some help to cut through all the other video stuff “creators” inundate you with, then cut to the chase and get this book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024 by Dan Clifton
    • Because no one ever received the Academy Award for Most Megapixels or Longest Unedited Shot.
No book I have ever read or course I have taken has ever educated so thoroughly, concisely, and simply as this one. As applicable to the corporate manager as it is to aspiring artist, it not only tells you how to shoot video that doesn't suck but how to communicate your thoughts and ideas in a way which will be effective and entertaining. Even though I grew up in theater and television, and am a decent and well-educated writer, even within the first few chapters I was able to shoot and edit professional level video as I could not before. The only limitations are my equipment, but with this book any equipment is adequate--even your smart phone--to turn those videos that even your mother wouldn't enjoy into ones that people who don't even know you will want to share. Most of all, I liked how it related storytelling visually to the techniques I already know in writing. And the results are obvious. Only a few weeks before reading this book I shot a video of my friends and their kids, edited it down to just a couple of minutes, and set it to music as a gift. Of course they liked it, but they didn't love it because it my video sucked. After reading just the beginning of this book and doing the first few projects, I shot a video of my wife going to a salon to get a haircut, focusing the story on the heroine who was our friend the hairstylist, and not only was she extremely happy with it, but so was the business owner who runs an art gallery and is involved in the artist community here in New York City. They even wrote a long thank you with a description of what they loved about my video--the variety of angles, the action, and how it told a story they didn't realize was there before. And that was just a haircut. Now people actually ask me to please bring my camera when they know I'm going to an event, because even though they all have cameras, they know mine will be great. This book can't give you talent, but it can enable you to express the talent and ideas you already have, and using equipment and resources you already own. But more than that, this book cuts through the hard mantle of jargon and lingo, and the intimidating descriptions of 'must have' equipment which other instructors will insist upon, to the essentials of expressing your ideas effectively in most any venue or genre. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2013 by John of California and Japan
    • A quick read with a lot of information.
The short chapter make this an easy book to pick up for a few minutes, get a new concept, and then out it down. It changed how I think about making videos. I just finished it, so I haven't got a finished video. But I shot one last night, and I shot it very differently, based on what he said. We'll see how it comes out. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2024 by Voracious Reader
    • Amazing book
This is a different type of read than normal books I had to read in college. I love the tone the author had and how he gave examples. I learned a lot from reading this!
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024 by Penny
    • This Book Has Improved the Quality of My Work
Firstly, as a book, it is a good read. I need to mention this: Unlike many other titles I've read lately, it was NOT littered with grammatical errors. There are many chapters, but they are concise, to the point, and in some cases have examples that you can watch on the author's website. The topics and chapters are well arranged, to permit you to start learning useful skills from the early pages. Secondly, and more importantly, as a guide, it is very useful. I understand fundamental principles of videography much more after reading this book (even after only reading it half-way), and this has deepened my appreciation of good movies and video. Of course, that isn't the reason that I purchased the book. The main reason was to help me make better videos. I can say it has definitely helped me do that, despite only half-hearted effort on my part. In addition to my own critique of my videos, other viewers that have seen them find my more recent work to be better than my earlier work. I don't need to get into contents of the book, as this is covered by others, or listed in the book summary. Suffice to say that I wouldn't add anything to the book, or take anything out of it, but I will likely read it again. Well worth the price I spent for it, no regrets. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2016 by Kindle Customer

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