Datavideo's VP-274 Gets a New name in US (page 2)

Reviews

by Chuck Peters

"How You Can Become The Successful Producer of No Budget Feature Films and Videos"

Northlight Media (1996, 1089 Medford Center Suite 436, Medford, OR 97504; $59.95)

If you're serious about producing feature length films and videos but you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on production, this video is for you. This is a detailed look at the "how to's" of producing a motion picture on a shoestring budget. It's a step-by-step guide through all stages of the process, including scriptwriting, funding, choosing and renting equipment, finding and selecting a production crew, directing and lighting. It describes the difference between film and video, secrets of making videotape look like film, affordable special effects, audio and much, much more.

This well-researched presentation promises to save time, money and frustration and gives the potential film maker solid information and insight into the "nuts and bolts" of movie making. Host David Arthur, senior producer at Northlight Media, offers an in-depth look at this growing field. He shares his personal experiences along the way, and offers encouragement and inspiration to the would-be producer.

Accompanied by a printed manual, this course is a worthwhile investment for anyone who wishes to make moves--especially those without a lot of cash. 4

Videotaping Kids for Fun or Profit

Zoran Karapancev (1996, ABC Productions & Publishing, 37 Larkhall Ave., Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1J 1V2; $39.95)

An instructional video aimed at amateur and for-profit videographers alike, Videotaping Kids For Fun or Profit from ABC Production and Publishing offers beginning videographers some of the many tips and tools needed to produce professional looking videos of children. While the video contains several good "tricks of the trade," including camera positioning, shot selection, and other useful tips, the relative awkwardness of the presentation obscures them.

Although the video primarily addresses those wishing to produce videos for money, it spends very little time instructing the viewer how to do so. It leaves you with little more than a quick suggestion of how to sell yourself and your product. And while it is possible to make profits producing videos of children at school, in plays, recitals or athletic events, this video does not reveal any special "secrets" that would give one videomaker the upper hand over another.

Probably the most helpful portions of the video are at the end. Here you'll find full-length samples of finished projects produced by ABC Production and Publishing shot in a variety of settings. Unfortunately, the instructional portion of the tape doesn't address many of the production styles and techniques used in these samples, which leaves the average videomaker with more questions than answers. 2

Your Cam--Panasonic

Mark Shapiro (1996, SRS Productions, 8030 La Mesa Blvd, #112, La Mesa, CA 91941 $30.)

Remember bringing home your first camcorder? Did you tear into the box and rush out to tape an important event, only to realize that you had absolutely no idea what half of the 10 zillion buttons are there for? Most of us can relate. If only we had watched Your Cam, produced and hosted by Mark Shapiro, we might have avoided a great deal of frustration.

Aimed at first-time owners of Panasonic VHS and VHS-C camcorders, the hour-long tape teaches everything there is to know about these cameras. This tape is not for professionals; it is exclusively for those first-timers who wish to learn how to operate their camcorders. Shapiro explains each feature: attaching the shoulder strap, affixing the power supply, setting the time and date, hooking your camcorder up to a television, and a wide range of other functions. In addition, the tape supplies the beginning videomaker with valuable lessons on basic camera operation such as focusing, zooming, macro focus, shot selection and more.

Your Cam--Panasonic is one of a series of Your Cam videos that describe camcorders from Sharp, Canon and other manufacturers. If yours is not a Panasonic camcorder, you can probably find a Your Cam tape that covers your brand. It truly tells you "everything you need to know about your camcorder." 4

KEY TO RATINGS: 5-excellent, 4-very good, 3-good, 2-not so good, 1-poor