Digital Video Secrets. Tony Levelle

Secret 97: Look at the footage on a good monitor

       Secret 98: Know how to estimate the real cost of the camera .

       Secret 99: Avoid camera scams

       Secret 100: Know the common consumer formats

       Secret 101: Know the common frame rates

       Secret 102: Choose a format with enough resolution

       Secret 103: Look for a camera with a microphone jack

       Secret 104: Get as many manual controls as you can afford

       Secret 105: Understand your camera’s workflow

       Secret 106: Look for a camera with a support infrastructure

       About Internet forums

       Secret 107: Technical Support

       Manufacturer technical support is critical

       CHAPTER 13 Assembling the Ideal Kit for You . . .

       No-budget video kits

       Very low-budget video kit

       Comments

       Low-budget HD kit #1

       Comments

       Low-budget HD kit #2

       Comments

       High-budget kit

       Comments

       Virtual kit

       CHAPTER 14 YouTube

       What is YouTube?

       How to upload a video to YouTube

       How to create a great YouTube video

       Video format

       Camera

       Lighting

       Sound

       Story

       Online YouTube resources

       CHAPTER 15 Do’s and Dont’s

       Getting started

       Do make sure you have everything you need before you start

       Do shoot a short test before you start

       Don’t grab the camera and run out the door

       Don’t shoot in restricted locations

       Shooting fluently and confidently

       Do get comfortable with your camera

       Do put your movies online

       Do learn to “see” with the camera

       Do learn to shoot intuitively

       Do learn to shoot “from the hip”

       Do learn to shoot with both eyes open

       Composing powerful, compelling images

       Do use the four basic shots

       Do use the five basic camera angles

       Do use both objective and subjective views

       Do compose on the rule of thirds

       Do look for ways to add perspective

       Do look for diagonal lines

       Do look for triangles

       Do create images which have “layers” of meaning

       Supporting and moving your camera

       Do use a tripod

       Do use tilts

       Do use pans

       Do learn how to shoot hand-held

       Don’t shoot bad hand-held footage

       Lighting

       Don’t shoot with too little light

       Don’t shoot with too much light

       Do set white balance

       Do use the “big light in the sky” (the sun) wisely

       Do bounce the light

       Do mix natural and artificial light

       Shooting footage that you can edit

       Do make a shot list before you shoot

       Do get the essential images

       Do shoot sequences

       Do get reaction shots

       Do shoot cutaways

       Do have a low shooting ratio

       Do label your media

       Do slate your shots

       Getting good sound

       Do consider hiring a professional sound person

       Don’t try to “fix the sound in postproduction”

       Do scout all your locations for sound

       Do know how to use the on-camera mike for interviews .

       Do listen to the sound when you are shooting

       Do use directional microphones

       Do use a boom

       Do mount a directional microphone on your camera. .

       Do use windscreens on your microphones

       Do use lavaliere microphones for dialog

       Glossary

       Appendix

       Digital Video Camera Worksheet

       Camera tryout checklist

       Camera technical info checklist

       Digital Video Accessory Worksheet

       Sound checklist

       Tripod checklist

       Lighting checklist

       Basic Camera Accessory checklist

       Postscript