Features:

• Topics include:
• Visual storytelling
• The art of being invisible
• Shooting techniques
• Why angles matter

Editor Reviews:

Description:
Your new digital camcorder can capture memories that last a lifetime, but getting great results can be difficult. By understanding a few simple techniques, and the software already on your computer, you can make exceptional home movies that everyone will enjoy.

This DVD takes you through the steps necessary to shoot great video, tell a compelling story, and edit the results into something you will want to share with your fiends and family.

Within an hour, you will be thinking about video in a whole new way. Your videos will instantly improve, and you’ll have more fun than you’ve ever had with a camcorder.

Topics covered:
• Visual storytelling
• The art of being invisible
• Shooting techniques
• Why angles matter
• Camera features you must avoid
• White balance considerations
• Using manual controls
• Using audio to enhance your video
• DVD, Internet, Tape, and CD output
• From the camcorder to the computer
• Editing your footage the simple way
• Adding narration and music
• Using still photographs in your production
• Best practices – tape use and safety considerations
• Zoom with your feet

Cut weeks or months off your learning curve. We’ll show you how to make great videos without spending more money on expensive software or additional hardware. Get the results you want without going to film school!

Rating : - Amusing irony, but good basic information
Obviously for people completely new to using video camcorders. Good basic information. Covers lighting techniques, filters, plenty of tips/techniques. There's a whole section, at the end, that walks you through the installing a firewire card in a (Windows-based) PC.

There's a section on using video editing tools, which shows screen shots and illustrations of several programs. I'd prefer to have had this time allotted to more about the use of the camcorder. Taking this editing section, and the firewire card installation section, occupies about a quarter of the video.

Primarily filmed in Portland, Oregon. Total running time, abt 1 hour.

The sound quality is not that great. This is ironic (to me) because the video discusses sound and illustrates the difference between the audio coming from the camcorder's built-in mic, and the use of separate microphones (used in this video!). Still the audio quality of this production sounds like you're hearing it with a cardboard box on your head.

The beginning shots are amusing, in that the auto-focus bounces around a bit. You can see the narrator's face fade in and out of focus slightly, while he's talking.

Worth $20, or so, but begs for an "advanced techniques" version.