Digital Filmmaking Handbook

by Schenk,Sonja

• ISBN13: 9781584500988
• ISBN10: 1584500980
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-12
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

The second edition of this best-seller has been updated and reorganized to better reflect a typical DV production workflow. Extensive new material on writing, budgeting, and the latest software and hardware is covered. New editing tutorials, and a new chapter on video technology basics are also included, plus each chapter now includes exercises for further practice and exploration. A complete film school in a book. Companion DVD includes practice footage and projects.

Author Biography

Ben Long (San Francisco, CA) is a writer, producer, videographer Sonja Schenk (Venice, CA) is a freelance producer and film video editor who has worked on a number of popular television shows and movies

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(12)
What Type of Equipment Do You Need?	5	(1)
What Is Digital Video?	6	(2)
What Is Digitizing?	6	(2)
Why Digital Video?	8	(2)
What This Book Covers	10	(1)
Pre-Production	10	(1)
Production	10	(1)
Post-Production	10	(1)
Exercise	11	(1)
Summary	11	(2)
SECTION I PREPRODUCTION	13	(94)
Writing and Scheduling	15	(20)
Writing for DV	16	(10)
Finding a Story	17	(1)
Structure	18	(2)
Writing Visually	20	(1)
Script Format	21	(5)
Finishing Up	26	(1)
Scheduling	26	(6)
Breaking Down a Script	27	(1)
Choosing a Shooting Order	27	(3)
Production Boards	30	(2)
Exercises	32	(1)
Summary	33	(2)
Video Technology Basics	35	(22)
What Is Video?	36	(9)
Tracks	36	(2)
Frames	38	(1)
Video Standards	38	(1)
Video Resolution	39	(2)
Scanning Methods	41	(1)
Native Aspect Ratio	42	(1)
Videotape Formats	43	(1)
Physical Characteristics of Videotape	44	(1)
Digital Video Primer	45	(7)
Color Sampling	45	(1)
Compression	46	(1)
CODECs	47	(2)
Data Rate	49	(1)
Pixel Shape	50	(2)
Types of Digital Video Files	52	(1)
Audio Basics	52	(3)
Mono, Stereo, and Surround Sound	52	(1)
Audio Sampling	53	(1)
Types of Digital Audio Files	54	(1)
Quality Isn't Everything	55	(1)
Exercises	55	(1)
Summary	56	(1)
Choosing a Camera	57	(30)
Choosing a Format	58	(5)
Delivery Is Everything	59	(4)
Evaluating Image Quality	63	(7)
CCD	63	(5)
Lenses	68	(2)
Camera Features	70	(12)
Ergonomics	70	(2)
Batteries	72	(1)
Manual Override	72	(2)
Audio	74	(2)
Progressive Scan	76	(1)
Image Stabilization	77	(2)
Widescreen	79	(1)
Viewfinder	80	(1)
Special Effects	81	(1)
Video Standard	82	(1)
Use Your Director of Photography	82	(1)
Accessorizing	82	(2)
Tripods, Steadicams, and Dollies	83	(1)
Microphones	84	(1)
Filters	84	(1)
All the Other Accessories	84	(1)
Exercises	85	(1)
Summary	85	(2)
Planning Your Shoot	87	(20)
Storyboarding	88	(8)
Shots and Coverage	90	(4)
Less Is More	94	(2)
Location Scouting	96	(3)
Production Design	99	(3)
Art Directing Basics	100	(1)
Building a Set	101	(1)
Set Dressing and Props	102	(1)
Effects Planning	102	(2)
Creating Rough Effects Shots	103	(1)
Exercises	104	(1)
Summary	105	(2)
SECTION II PRODUCTION	107	(102)
Lighting	109	(24)
Lighting Basics	110	(1)
Film-Style Lighting	110	(1)
The Art of Lighting	111	(1)
Three-Point Lighting	111	(1)
Types of Light	112	(8)
Color Temperature	114	(1)
Wattage	115	(1)
Controlling the Quality of Light	116	(4)
Lighting Your Actors	120	(3)
Interior Lighting	123	(3)
Power Supply	124	(1)
Mixing Daylight and Interior Light	124	(1)
Using Household Lights	125	(1)
Dealing with Overlit Situations	125	(1)
Exterior Lighting	126	(2)
Special Lighting Situations	128	(3)
Using Lights to Create a Scene	129	(1)
Lighting for Blue and Green Screen	129	(2)
Exercise	131	(1)
Summary	131	(2)
Shooting Digital Video	133	(46)
Using the Camera	134	(22)
The Lens	134	(14)
White Balance	148	(2)
Lens Filters	150	(2)
Other Camera Features	152	(2)
Aspect Ratios	154	(1)
Know Thy Camera	155	(1)
Technical Tips	156	(3)
Preparing Your Equipment	156	(3)
Managing the Set	159	(5)
Rehearsals	160	(1)
Camera Diagrams and Shot Lists	160	(2)
The Protocol of Shooting	162	(1)
Respect for Acting	162	(1)
Script Supervising	163	(1)
Shooting	164	(12)
Composition	165	(7)
Camera Movement	172	(4)
Exercises	176	(1)
Summary	177	(2)
Production Sound	179	(30)
What You Want to Record	180	(1)
Microphones	181	(14)
What a Mic Hears	182	(3)
How a Mic Hears	185	(5)
Mixing	190	(1)
Connecting It All Up	190	(3)
Double-System Recording	193	(2)
Setting Up	195	(10)
Placing Your Mics	195	(7)
Getting the Right Sound for the Picture	202	(1)
Testing Sound	202	(2)
Managing Your Set	204	(1)
Selecting an Audio Mode on Your Camera	205	(1)
Recording Your Sound	205	(1)
Room Tone	206	(1)
Exercises	206	(1)
Summary	207	(2)
SECTION III POST-PRODUCTION	209	(312)
Building A Workstation	211	(22)
Choosing a Platform	212	(1)
Macintosh OS	212	(1)
Windows	212	(1)
Choosing a Video Interface	213	(5)
Digital Video Interfaces	214	(1)
Analog Video Interfaces	215	(1)
Audio Interfaces	216	(2)
Choosing a Computer	218	(11)
CPU	220	(1)
RAM	220	(1)
Storage	221	(1)
Computer Monitors	221	(2)
Accessorizing	223	(2)
Building a Macintosh System	225	(1)
Building a Windows System	226	(1)
Portable Editing	227	(2)
Managing Your RAM	229	(2)
Exercises	231	(1)
Summary	231	(2)
Non-Linear Editing Software	233	(24)
Editing Software Basics	234	(9)
The Interface	234	(2)
Editing Features	236	(4)
Other Features	240	(2)
Organizational Tools	242	(1)
Logging, Capturing, and Importing	243	(1)
Effects and Titles	244	(5)
Types of Effects	245	(2)
Titles	247	(2)
Audio Tools	249	(1)
The Final Product	250	(3)
Videotape Masters	251	(1)
Digital Video Files	251	(1)
EDLs	251	(1)
Film Cut lists	252	(1)
Exercises	253	(2)
Summary	255	(2)
Editing Hardware	257	(18)
Hardware Peripherals	258	(2)
Don't Panic!	260	(1)
Video Decks	260	(6)
Tape Format	262	(1)
SDI, FireWire, or Analog I/0	262	(1)
Device Control	263	(1)
Frame Accuracy	264	(1)
Audio Features	264	(1)
VTR Checklist	265	(1)
Audio Equipment	266	(3)
Audio CDs	267	(1)
DAT and MiniDisc	267	(1)
Audio Mixers	267	(1)
Speakers	268	(1)
Video Monitors	269	(2)
Professional Video Monitor Features	269	(2)
Hardware Connectors	271	(1)
Exercises	272	(1)
Summary	273	(2)
Preparing to Edit	275	(36)
How to Organize Your Project	276	(3)
Create a Numbering System	276	(1)
Make Sure All Your Videotape Has Timecode	277	(1)
Keep a Database of All Your Media	277	(1)
Log Each Tape Thoroughly	278	(1)
Use the Organizational Tools of Your Editing Software	278	(1)
Timecode	279	(4)
Drop Frame and Non-Drop Frame Timecode	280	(1)
Timecode Standards	280	(1)
Types of Timecode	281	(1)
Timecode for Film Sources	281	(2)
Logging	283	(5)
How to log by Content	284	(4)
Capturing Quality	288	(1)
How Good Does Your Project Need to Look?	288	(1)
Digital Online and Offline	288	(1)
Audio Quality	289	(6)
Audio Levels	291	(1)
Clipping and Distortion	292	(1)
Equalization	293	(2)
Image Quality	295	(9)
Video levels	296	(8)
Troubleshooting	304	(2)
Problems and Solutions	304	(2)
Importing Digital Files	306	(3)
Getting Audio from a CD	307	(2)
Media Management	309	(1)
Exercises	309	(1)
Summary	309	(2)
Editing	311	(26)
The Invisible Art	312	(1)
Building Blocks	312	(20)
Transitions between Scenes	329	(2)
Solving Technical Problems	331	(1)
Fine-Cutting	332	(2)
Editing for Style	333	(1)
Duration	333	(1)
The Big Picture	334	(1)
Exercises	334	(1)
Summary	335	(2)
Sound Editing	337	(26)
Sounding Off	338	(2)
Setting Up	340	(2)
Editing Sound in Your NLE	340	(2)
Dedicated Sound Editing Apps	342	(6)
Audio Hardware	347	(1)
Editing Sound	348	(5)
Unintelligible Dialog	348	(1)
Changes in Tone	349	(1)
Is There Extraneous Noise in the Shot?	349	(1)
Are There Bad Video Edits That Can Be Reinforced with Audio?	350	(1)
Is There Bad Audio?	350	(1)
Are There Vocal Problems You Need to Correct?	351	(2)
EQ Is Your Friend	353	(4)
Special Filter	356	(1)
Choosing Sound Effects	357	(1)
Music	358	(4)
License to Play	359	(2)
Finding a Composer	361	(1)
Do It Yourself	361	(1)
Exercises	362	(1)
Summary	362	(1)
Color Correction	363	(18)
To Compress, or Not to Compress	364	(5)
Color Correction	369	(10)
Correcting Bad White Balance	371	(5)
Matching Footage from Different Cameras and Shoots	376	(1)
Using Tracks and Layers to Adjust Color	377	(2)
Don't Expect Miracles	379	(1)
Correcting Color for Film	379	(1)
One More Thing	380	(1)
Exercises	380	(1)
Summary	380	(1)
Titling and Simple Compositing	381	(44)
Titles and Simple Graphics	382	(5)
Making Titles in Your NLE	382	(5)
Creating Titles in Photoshop	387	(1)
Compositing 101	387	(27)
Keys	389	(12)
Mattes	401	(2)
Pixel Aspect Ratios	403	(7)
More Sophisticated Mattes	410	(4)
Moving Pictures	414	(10)
Basic Movement	415	(9)
Exercises	424	(1)
Summary	424	(1)
Rotoscoping and More Compositing	425	(54)
Rotoscoping	426	(38)
Painting on Frames	427	(6)
Better Rotoscoping through Filters	433	(2)
Rotoscoping an Alpha Channel	435	(9)
Creating Animated Alpha Channels (or ``You, Too, Can Make Travelling Mattes'')	444	(7)
Building Effects with Multiple Layers	451	(13)
Special Effects	464	(3)
Fixing a Drop-Out	464	(2)
Fixing Lost Video	466	(1)
Compositing Elements from a 3D Animation Package	466	(1)
Making Your Video Look Like Film	467	(8)
Creating Film Texture	468	(7)
Exercises	475	(3)
Summary	478	(1)
Output	479	(42)
Mastering Your Outputs	480	(2)
The Best-Case Scenario	480	(2)
The Big Decision	482	(1)
Videotape Masters	482	(12)
Preparing for a Professional Online	483	(7)
The Do-It-Yourself Digital Online	490	(4)
The Final Audio Mix	494	(3)
Preparing for a Professional Audio Mix	495	(1)
Do-It-Yourself Final Mixes	496	(1)
Outputting to CD-ROM	497	(9)
Compression	498	(8)
Creating a Video CD	506	(1)
Outputting for the Web	506	(3)
DVD Authoring	509	(5)
Getting Your 35mm Film Release Print	514	(5)
Film Editing and Cut Lists	515	(1)
The Film Printing Process	516	(2)
Getting Your Video Transferred to Film	518	(1)
Exercises	519	(1)
Summary	520	(1)
Glossary	521	(30)
About the DVD	551	(2)
Index	553