The Digital Filmmaking Handbook

Since the advent of digital video and desktop editing software, scores of independent producers have become equipped to make their own movies. But because filmmaking involves much more than just buying a camera and a computer, there's The Digital Filmmaking Handbook. This one-stop digital filmmaking resource will guide you from your initial idea to getting your finished project "in the can." It will show you how to create shots and effects that are rarely associated with low-budget productions. And it covers everything from writing and pre-production planning to shooting and post-production editing and effects. Now in its third edition, this best-selling book has been completely updated and revised to include detailed information on a number of important new digital video technologies, including both high-end HD video and the new HDV format, and affordable new digital video standard that lets even low-budget producers work in high-definition video. All of the chapters have been revised to cover the latest hardware, software, and production workflows,, and new exercises offer help with everything from writing to special effects. Whether your goal is an industrial project, a short subject for your Web site, or a feature-length movie for a film festival, this book will help you understand the questions you need to ask, so that you will be prepared to solve the myriad problems that will arise.

Digital movie making has gone Hollywood! Though digital video has been long-embraced by independent movie makers, with recent releases like Star Wars: Episode II being shot with digital equipment, it's clear that digital is here to stay. Fortunately, even if you don't have access to the higher-end tools used by the major studios, you can still create professional-quality productions with a reasonably priced DV camera and your computer. With The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, Second Edition, you'll learn everything you need to know to produce your own projects. Whether your goal is a feature-length production for theatrical release or film festival, or a short production for corporate or industrial use, this book will explain every step of the production process, from writing and planning, to shooting, editing and post-production effects. This new edition has been completely updated and reorganized to better reflect a typical DV production workflow. Extensive new material on writing is included, and expanded coverage of budgeting and financing can be found on the companion DVD. There is also detailed information on all the latest software and hardware, comprehensive new editing tutorials, and a new chapter on video technology basics. Whether you're a film student, advertising professional, instructor, or hobbyist, this book will explain everything you need to know to get the job done. If you're already an experienced filmmaker or videographer, The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, 2nd Edition will help you make the transition to the latest digital technologies.

• Completely updated, revised, and re-written
• Extensive new material and tutorials on non-linear editing software and editing techniques
• Up-to-date coverage of all output options including DVD authoring and video-to-film transfer
• New exercises for further practice and challenge
• Detailed discussions of digital video basics, choosing the right camera, and planning your shoot
• Comprehensive coverage of writing, lighting, shooting, production sound, and building a workstation

• Demo versions of Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop for Macintosh and Windows
• Over 100 pages of additional essays an articles on writing, budgeting, financing, scheduling, music supervision and more
• 1.5 gigabytes of media and project files required for the book's tutorials

Booknews

Explains how to shoot a movie on digital video and edit it on a computer. Storyboarding, lighting, sound, and software options are discussed. The second edition adds a tutorial that walks through the editing of an entire scene, and moves the chapter on financing to the DVD. The DVD contains demonstration versions of Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop for Macintosh and Windows. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Ben Long (San Francisco, CA) is a writer, producer, videographer, and the author of the best-selling title Complete Digital Photography, Third Edition as well as the first two editions of The Digital Filmmaking Handbook.

Sonja Schenk (Venice, CA) is a freelance producer and film video editor who has worked on a number of popular television shows and movies. She is also the author of Digital Non-Linear Desktop Editing and co-author of both earlier editions of The Digital Filmmaking Handbook.