Jim Owens - Video Production Handbook

Video Production Handbook

Sixth Edition

This new edition of the Video Production Handbook walks students through the full video production process, from the inception of an idea to final distribution. Concentrating on the techniques and concepts behind the latest equipment, this book demonstrates the fundamental principles needed to create good video content on any kind of budget. Ideal for students, the new edition features a new chapter on directing and updated information on the latest DSLR and cinema cameras, LED lighting, and much more. A companion web site with additional resources for students and professors rounds out this full-color, highly visual text to meet all of your video production learning needs.

Jim Owens has worked and taught in the video and television industry for over 30 years. As an Emmy Award-winning producer, he has worked on local, regional, and national productions. Owens international television work has included 14 Olympic broadcasts and has taken him to over 25 countries. He is the author of the Video Production Handbook, Television Production , and Television Sports Production , and has had over 30 articles published in television and broadcast magazines in the United States and Europe. He also served as the cura tor of the History of Olympic Broadcasting exhibit at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Owens is Dean of the School of Communication Arts at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he has taught since 1981.

Video Production Handbook

Sixth Edition

Jim Owens
Asbury University

Sixth edition published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2017 Taylor & Francis

The right of Jim Owens to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

First edition published by Focal Press 1987

Fifth edition published by Focal Press 2011

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Owens, Jim, 1957 author.
Title: Video production handbook / Jim Owens.
Description: Sixth edition. | New York, NY : Routledge, 2017. |
Earlier editions by Gerald Millerson. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016035203 (print) | LCCN 2016035648 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781138693487 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781138693494
(pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315530574 (e-book : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781315530574 (Master)
Subjects: LCSH: Video recording. | Video recordingsProduction
and direction.
Classification: LCC TK6655.V5 M55 2017 (print) |
LCC TK6655.V5 (ebook) | DDC 777dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016035203

ISBN: 978-1-138-69348-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-69349-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-53057-4 (ebk)

Typeset in Giovanni and Franklin Gothic
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK

Visit the companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/owens

Contents

So many people and organizations contributed to this project. I have listed some of these contributors below. Of special note is Asbury University, my school, which has allowed me the flexibility to stay involved in professional television production around the world.

The editors at Focal Press have been encouraging and helpful in many ways:

Emily McCloskey and Elise Poston.

The following video/television professionals agreed to be interviewed for this book:

Ben Brown, Keith Brown, Tommy Brown, Chad Crouch, Noel Dannemiller, John DeCuir, Ryan Hammer, Sarah Hogencamp, Kristin Ross Lauderbach, Tommy Mitchell, Lou Moore, Scott Rogers, Robin Sjogren, DT Slouffman, Brock Smith, and Nathan White.

Contributors of photographs, illustrations, and advice:

09 Rentals, Will Adams, Alfacam, Apple, Apogee, Arri, Asbury University, Atomos, Audio-Technica, Avanti Group, Avid, Dennis Baxter, BBC, Frank Beacham, Bodelin Technologies, K. Brown, Canon, Chyron, Cinevate Duzi, David Clement, Chad Crouch, Compix, Sabastian Corbascio, Countryman Associates, Trip Crosby, Dalis, Doremi, Paul Dupree, David Eubank, EVS, Fifteenhundred, Firestore, Flick Rocket, Focus Enhancements, FX Group: www.fxgroup.tv, GoPro, Grass Valley, Jon Greenhoe, David Grosz, Tyler Hoff, Sarah Hogencamp, Holophone, Tyler Horn, Imagine Products, iSlate, Russ Jennisch, Chris Jensen, JVC, KOMO-TV, Kara Laufenberger, LDG, Litepanels, Light and Motion, LiveU, Manfrotto, Mevo/Livestream, Don Mink, Shannon Mizell, MLB, Mole-Richardson, Brady Nasfell, NBC, NHK, Katie Oostman, Lynn Owens, Sarah Owens, Panasonic, Periscope, Lee Peters, PGA, Phil Putnam, Steve Rehner, Rig Wheels, Rosco, Samsung, SanDisk, Shure, Skype, Doug Smart, Sony, Source four/ETC, Sports Video Group (SVG), Steadicam, Mark Stokl, Storyboard Quck, Ben Taber, Josh Taber, Tektronix, Tiffen, Trip and Tyler, VFGadgets, Videosmith, Vimeo, Taylor Vincent, Nathan Waggoner, Luke Wertz, Wescott, WLEX-TV, WOOD TV, YouTube, Tyler Young, Adam Wilson, and Zeiss.

The unwavering support of my wife, Lynn, and daughter, Sarah, has been incredible throughout the writing process.

The digital revolution in television and video has changed the way we create and distribute projects. In many ways it has leveled the playing field between a recent college graduate and the CEO of a network. If your project is good, you can draw millions to it online. However, the basic production principles remain the same. In this sixth edition we continue to provide the same basic production principles while embracing the new technologies that are now around us. This book has been completely updated with the latest changes in technology and production strategies. Highlights include the following:

a new chapter on directing;

updated photographs and charts;

up-to-date information on new equipment and techniques;

new material on distribution including live to Facebook;

detailed teaching resources for instructors.

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ALL ABOUT?

This book was designed to provide you with the basics of video production in an easily digested format. It covers the production process and techniques involved in transforming ideas in your head into an effective presentation on a screen.

The knowledge you develop by reading this book will provide a solid foundation for video projects and future studies. We have concentrated on the practical features of video production so that you can achieve worthwhile results right from the start, whether you are using a mobile phone camera, a consumer camcorder, or professional equipment. This book will help you get the best out of your equipment. When the highest level of equipment is shown, adapt the concepts to the level you are working at.

WHO IS THIS BOOK WRITTEN FOR?

We designed this book for anyone who wants high-quality videos on a modest budget. The book was developed to help the beginner in video production learn the right way to create a video, whether in a class or working on your own. It is especially helpful for entry-level and medium-level television production courses and workshops. This text does not assume that you have any type of technical background or any previous experienceor that you are really interested in the nuts and bolts of equipment.