Attack of the Killer Video Book: Tips and Tricks for Young Directors - Softcover

Mark Shulman and Hazlitt Krog have been making movies together for years. Shulman lives in New York, where he writes for children and adults. His books include Zany Rainy Days and The Sleepover Cookbook. Krog lives in Marin City, California. He has worked in film and video production for 20 years.

Martha Newbigging is a film animator, graphic designer and children's book illustrator.

Getting Started

Even if you don't make a million dollars right away, you can make outrageously good videos. All you need is a little creativity, some patience, lots of light, and this book.* (* And a video camera.)

If you want to say something, see something, or save an experience forever, video is the way to go. You can create entertainment or an audiovisual diary. You can practice being a director, writer, actor, singer, or interviewer. And believe it or not, five or ten years later, you'll be happy to see what you look like at this age. Whatever you choose to do in the age of video, understanding the art and science today can help you take a starring role tomorrow.

You are very wise indeed to be reading this book. We have packed hundreds of tons of useful information and helpful hints into just 64 pages (not including the font and back cover). In fact, by the time you are finished with this one page, you will know more than when you began.

For instance, video cameras don't do well when they are dropped. They are not a bath toy. And cameras are more expensive to throw than rocks. See how much you're learning?

The info in this book is a good start. We'll give you the basics, from thinking to planning to shooting to editing, without being scary. And then we'll let you loose on the world. Every videomaker has a story to tell. Just press the REC button, and tell it.

Road Map

The Inspiration

When video ideas come in a brainstorm, it's customary to shout "Eureka!" (a brand of vacuum cleaner). Some people shout "Hoover!" or "Electrolux!" but it still means you've got a great idea for your video, and that's the first step.

Full Team Ahead

Many videos need multiple people. Some are the crew (behind the camera), and others are talent (loosely speaking), and others others sell popcorn on opening night. Some do all three. Don't be a maniac; moviemaking is a team sport. It's more fun to share the details of planning, scripting, shooting, and editing. Let others have input, or they'll leave you holding the camera bag.

The Story

Remember screaming about vacuum cleaners? Grab a pen and put that brilliant brainstorm on paper. This helps you keep focused when the craziness of shooting starts, and it gives your team a goal to remember. Don't forget this -- there's a quiz later: Every video tells a story, and everything in the video should help tell the story. Your video may need a script or a visual storyboard or just a loose set of notes. Without a script, you'll be shooting from the hip and probably miss your target. There are simple tricks to telling a story on video, and learning them will keep your audience coming back for more.

Planning

Preproduction is Hollywood lingo for "planning before you get in too deep." First talk with your team and makes some decisions about the equipment, costumes, locations, and more. Figure out the locations where you're going to shoot. Make a list of the props (the parachute, the sword) and costumes (the fake nose, the Viking helmet) you're using. Make sure everyone brings what they need -- or promised to bring -- before shooting starts. Write down your shooting schedule. It sounds like homework, but that's only because it is homework.

The Technology

Want to know what it takes to get rolling right away? Having a camera's a good start. Buy, beg, or borrow, but don't steal one. You won't need the latest and greatest. A 20-year-old camera can do the job nicely. A videotape is also useful, and so are a few other essentials to get before you get started.

The Technique

Do yourself a favor. Do your audience a favor. Learn the basics of holding a camera, moving a camera, zooming the lens, controlling the sound, controlling the light, and controlling your stomach when it starts growling. You won't believe the difference a little learning can make.

The Special Effects

You may not have the Star Wars budget of George Lucas, but you can have his imagination. With real-time visual effects, sound effects, and camera tricks, you'll shock and amaze everyone. Especially yourself.

The Burden of Leadership

Remember the days when directors screamed through megaphones and carried little whips? Neither do we. Camera skills and writing skills are important, but directing is also about people skills. Use them (the skills) or lose them (the people).

The Final Touches

Once you've got everything you need on tape, you're mostly done. Now comes the polishing part. Final editing helps the pieces come together. Adding music, titles, and other effects will help make your mild-mannered move a marvelous masterpiece.

The Big Show

Premiere means "first," so be sure your first show is first class. Make invitations. Make posters. Make popcorn. Make them be quiet. You've put a lot of time into your video. Keep them in their seats without using glue.

Roll the End Credits
Tales from the Script
Glossary
Index
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