Videoblogging For Dummies^?

by Stephanie Cottrell Bryant

• ISBN13: 9780471971771
• ISBN10: 0471971774
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

What the book covers: This book covers the many facets of this multi-disciplined activity, many of which don't naturally overlap. Topics covered include: Blogging basics: Setting up a site and establishing an RSS feed. Video basics: Filming, editing, and readying your first videoblog entry Converting a blog to a vlog: Putting video on an established blog or starting up a new vlog Establishing a look and feel: Adding sound/music, graphics, and effects to video. Playing to an audience: Communicating with subscribers, monitoring traffic, and developing effective scripts.

Author Biography

Stephanie Bryant is a technical writer from Santa Cruz, California. She’s been writing professionally for ten years, and has written two books on Web design and graphics. Her first video posted to the Internet was a 30-second clip of finding her first book on HTML in a Parisian bookstore.
In May of 2005, Stephanie started a personal videoblog, after having been a text blogger for three years. She now co-presents seminars on videoblogging and the law, covering technological aspects to help those in the legal professions to make informed arguments about the intellectual property and other legal aspects of this emerging technology.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie writes! A four-year winner in National Novel Writing Month, she’s written five novels, keeps several blogs and videoblogs, and still maintains a healthy handwritten correspondence with a few friends and family members. She is married and has one cat and several betta fish.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	1	(1)
What You Don't Have to Read	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	2	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(1)
Part I: Zen and the Art of Videoblogs	3	(1)
Part II: Step Away from the Camera	3	(1)
Part III: Lights, Camera, Vlog!	4	(1)
Part IV: Going Public	4	(1)
Part V: The Part of Tens	4	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	4	(1)
Where to Go from Here	5	(2)
Part I: Zen and the Art of Videoblogs	7	(108)
This Is Your Brain on Vlogs	9	(20)
Checking Out the Vlogging World	9	(7)
What a videoblog is	9	(3)
Who makes videoblogs	12	(1)
Why watch videoblogs	12	(1)
Where to find out more about videoblogs	13	(3)
Finding Reasons to Vlog	16	(3)
Personal reasons to vlog	16	(1)
Professional reasons to vlog	17	(1)
Citizen journalism and political reasons to vlog	18	(1)
Art as the reason to vlog	18	(1)
Knowing What You Need: The Basic Tools and Budget	19	(4)
Gathering your tools	19	(1)
Budgeting your vlog money	20	(2)
Budgeting your time	22	(1)
Planning the Content for Your Videoblog	23	(4)
Planned vlogs and ``reality vlogs''	23	(2)
Low-tech tools for good videoblogs	25	(2)
Preparing and Presenting a Vlog	27	(2)
Videoblog creation and editing	28	(1)
Videoblog files and compatibility	28	(1)
I Vant to Vatch Your Vlog	29	(34)
Video File Players	30	(6)
QuickTime and MPEG-4	31	(3)
Windows Media Player	34	(1)
Flash Player	35	(1)
Video-Enabled RSS Readers	36	(13)
FireANT	37	(5)
iTunes	42	(6)
DTV	48	(1)
Web Browser Aggregator: MeFeedia	49	(3)
Subscribing to vlogs in MeFeedia	49	(1)
Viewing vlogs in MeFeedia	50	(2)
Tagging videos and leaving feedback in MeFeedia	52	(1)
Vlogging away from the Computer	52	(11)
Going mobile with the iPod	53	(3)
Playing videoblogs on other mobile media players, cellphones, and PDAs	56	(7)
Stocking Your Toolbox	63	(24)
Picking Out Camera Equipment	63	(5)
Digital camcorders	64	(1)
Digital cameras	65	(1)
Cellphones	66	(2)
Finding the Right Microphone	68	(6)
Directional microphones	68	(1)
Built-in microphones	69	(1)
External mics	70	(3)
Computer microphones	73	(1)
Getting Your Computer in Order	74	(2)
Hardware considerations	74	(1)
Video digitizers	75	(1)
Getting the Right Software	76	(6)
Apple's iMovie	76	(1)
Apple's Final Cut Pro	77	(1)
Apple QuickTime Pro	78	(1)
Adobe Premiere	79	(1)
Macromedia Flash	79	(2)
Windows Movie Maker	81	(1)
Affording It All	82	(5)
Use what you have	82	(1)
A videoblog without video	83	(1)
Funding for videoblogs	84	(3)
Recipe for a Vlog	87	(28)
Unscripted, Unedited You	87	(3)
Aw, SHOOT!	88	(1)
``Reality TV'' that's real (what a concept)	89	(1)
From Camera to Computer	90	(8)
Transferring movies from a digital camera	90	(3)
Connecting your camcorder	93	(5)
Cutting the Video	98	(3)
Cutting in Macintosh's iMovie	98	(2)
Cutting in Windows Movie Maker	100	(1)
Saving Your Movie for Videoblogging	101	(3)
Saving your videoblog entry in iMovie	101	(2)
Saving your videoblog entry in Windows Movie Maker	103	(1)
Post It!	104	(11)
Get a free video-hosting account	104	(1)
Upload your video	105	(3)
Get a free blog account	108	(1)
Post the entry	109	(6)
Part II: Step Away from the Camera	115	(82)
Finding Your Voice and Audience	117	(14)
Identifying Your Audience	117	(3)
Targeting Your Audience	120	(2)
E-mailing the word out	121	(1)
Listing your videoblog on the Web	122	(1)
Soliciting Feedback	122	(3)
Comments	122	(1)
Checking in with the vlogger community	123	(1)
Asking experts	124	(1)
Self-Discovery through Vlogs	125	(6)
Expressing yourself	125	(1)
Learning from past vlogs	126	(1)
Questioning your expectations	127	(4)
Deciding on a Look and Feel	131	(16)
Branding with Music and Graphics	131	(5)
Creating a graphic or video logo for your videoblog	132	(3)
Using music and sound	135	(1)
Creative branding for your videoblog	136	(1)
Getting Repeatable Results with Templates	136	(2)
Creating Recognizable Intros and Outros	138	(9)
Making titles and credits	139	(3)
Reusing opening titles and closing tags	142	(1)
Adding an opening or closing clip in iMovie	143	(2)
Keeping it short and sweet	145	(2)
Putting Yourself in the Limelight	147	(22)
Understanding Vid Fright	147	(5)
Where vid fright comes from	147	(1)
Determining your comfort level in front of the lens	148	(4)
Getting Comfortable On-Camera	152	(6)
Having a script	153	(1)
Practicing in front of the camera	154	(1)
Physical preparation for going on-camera	155	(3)
Psyching yourself up	158	(1)
How to Get Out of the Lens	158	(4)
Filming events and activities	158	(2)
Providing voiceovers	160	(2)
Going ``gonzo''	162	(1)
Working with Other People in Your Vlog	162	(7)
Finding actors	162	(1)
Finding and working with experts	163	(1)
Finding and working with enthusiasts and fans	164	(1)
Interviewing the person on the street	165	(1)
Prepping your actors or interview subjects before shooting	166	(3)
Scripting the Show	169	(28)
Establishing a Plot and Setting	169	(7)
Deciding on a story to tell	170	(1)
Structuring a plotline	171	(3)
Storyboarding your plot	174	(2)
Writing the Script	176	(5)
Developing a scene outline	176	(1)
Writing a line-by-line script	177	(1)
Creating cue cards and cheat sheets	178	(3)
Creating a Setting	181	(7)
Selecting a setting and background	181	(1)
Filming on location	182	(1)
Getting creative with settings	183	(2)
Using green-screen technology	185	(3)
Developing Characters and Dialog	188	(5)
Selecting speakers and topics that zing	188	(2)
Leaving the script behind	190	(1)
Capturing natural (-sounding) dialog	191	(1)
Filming a reality TV-style vlog	192	(1)
Focusing on Good Content	193	(4)
Determining the goals of your vlog	193	(1)
Limiting your scope to one idea per vlog entry	194	(1)
Editing to quicken the pace	195	(2)
Part III: Lights, Camera, Vlog!	197	(72)
Setting Up and Shooting Your Vlog	199	(20)
Composing a Shot	199	(11)
Emphasizing or de-emphasizing backgrounds	199	(2)
Working with color	201	(5)
Framing a shot	206	(4)
Moving Pictures: How to Move a Camera	210	(3)
Reducing jostling while moving the camera	210	(2)
Mounting a camera on your bike or car	212	(1)
The All-Important Element of Light	213	(6)
Lighting with nature	214	(1)
Using your own light	214	(1)
Working around backlighting	215	(1)
Filming in low-light conditions	216	(1)
Filming at night	217	(2)
Editing Your Content	219	(18)
Editing with Your Camera	219	(1)
Importing Video into iMovie	220	(4)
Importing clips from a camera	220	(2)
Importing from a file	222	(2)
Editing Your Video by Trimming the Excess	224	(2)
Killing your darlings	224	(2)
Length matters	226	(1)
Adding Photos and Stills to Your Movie	226	(3)
Adding a photo in iMovie	226	(1)
Using photo effects	227	(2)
Transitioning between Clips	229	(2)
Applying Special Effects	231	(6)
Adding a Soundtrack	237	(16)
Recording Superior Audio on Your Camera	237	(6)
Positioning the camera for audio	238	(1)
Reducing ambient noise	239	(1)
Using external recording equipment	240	(3)
Adding a Soundtrack Later	243	(4)
Importing audio	244	(1)
Recording a voiceover	244	(2)
Adding music to your videoblog	246	(1)
Editing the Soundtrack	247	(6)
Editing a sound clip	248	(1)
Adding sound-effect clips	249	(1)
Using iMovie's Audio FX	250	(3)
Saving Videos for the Internet	253	(16)
Understanding Video-File Formats	253	(5)
Proprietary and open-source video	254	(1)
Reaching across the platforms	254	(2)
Creating vlogs in multiple file formats	256	(2)
Compressing Videos	258	(11)
Understanding video codecs	258	(1)
Compressing video for a vlog	259	(7)
Using compression utilities and tools	266	(3)
Part IV: Going Public	269	(76)
Making a Home for Your Vlog	271	(30)
Hosting Your Video Files	271	(6)
Finding free hosting services	272	(2)
Using the hosting service you already have	274	(1)
Paying for hosting service	275	(2)
Syndicating Your Videoblog	277	(5)
Setting up your RSS feed	278	(3)
Enclosing files in your feed	281	(1)
Posting to Your Blog	282	(14)
Uploading your files	282	(6)
Writing your vlog entry text and markup	288	(8)
Using Peer-to-Peer Services to Share Your Vlogs	296	(5)
Downloading a Torrent	297	(1)
Uploading a Torrent	298	(1)
Syndicating a Torrent with RSS	299	(2)
Getting the Word Out	301	(14)
Getting Exposure on the Web and in the Media	301	(10)
Listing your videoblog in directories	302	(5)
Getting your name in the press	307	(1)
Becoming a featured site or podcast	308	(2)
Indulging in shameless self-promotion	310	(1)
Joining the Vlogging Community	311	(4)
Getting to know other vloggers	312	(1)
Generating goodwill	312	(1)
Cross-linking	313	(2)
Getting Help from Others	315	(14)
Filming on Location	316	(1)
Videoblogging Other People	317	(2)
Collaborating with Others and Making Derivative Works	319	(3)
Collaborating with other vloggers	319	(2)
Remixing video	321	(1)
Knowing When You Need Permission to Use Others' Works	322	(1)
Getting Permission to Film People	323	(3)
The elevator permissions speech	324	(1)
Sample permissions form	325	(1)
What to do when they say no	325	(1)
Crediting Your Sources	326	(3)
Introducing interview subjects	326	(1)
Including end-reel credits	327	(2)
Monitoring Traffic	329	(16)
Gathering Traffic Data about Your Vlog	329	(9)
Reading a server log	330	(2)
Reading server stats charts	332	(1)
Installing a remote-stats system	333	(4)
Installing a stats system on your own server	337	(1)
Tracking RSS Subscriptions	338	(7)
Reading RSS stats	340	(1)
Controlling subscription downloads	341	(2)
Improving performance	343	(2)
Part V: The Part of Tens	345	(22)
Ten Core Vlogs to Watch	347	(6)
Ask A Ninja	347	(1)
Chasing Windmills	348	(1)
Crash Test Kitchen	348	(1)
Freevlog	348	(1)
It's Jerry Time	349	(1)
Izzy Video	349	(1)
Pouringdown	349	(1)
Rocketboom	350	(1)
Steve Garfield	350	(1)
The Videoblogging For Dummies Book Vlog	351	(2)
Ten Ideas for Personal Vlogs	353	(8)
Family Share Time	353	(1)
History and Documentary	354	(1)
Humor	354	(1)
Interests and Hobbies	355	(1)
Love Vlogs	356	(1)
Personal Diaries	356	(1)
Rants	357	(1)
Reviews of Cool Stuff	358	(1)
Storytelling	359	(1)
Travel Vlogs	360	(1)
Ten Ideas for Business Vlogs	361	(6)
Activism	361	(1)
Advertising	362	(1)
Announcements	362	(1)
Behind the Scenes	363	(1)
Disclaimers and Disclosures	363	(1)
Educational	364	(1)
Games and Contests	364	(1)
Media Delivery	365	(1)
Other Promotions	366	(1)
Sneak Preview	366	(1)
Index	367