Book and Tape Reviews

The Facts and Results, Non-Linear Broadcast Video for Under $10,000!

Method Video Productions (1997, MVP, 828 N. Third St., #102, Phoenix AZ 85004, 88 min., $60)

If you dare to build a nonlinear system from the ground up--literally--using off-the-shelf components and software, then this video is for you. Although the producers claim that you can upgrade your existing system by watching Non-Linear Broadcast Video for Under $10,000!, they make a point of recommending that you not deviate from their recommended components or software. They begin with the computer's housing and show, with good-quality closeups and meticulous explanation, how to install the motherboard, graphics card and drives. Then the tape's instruction moves on to partitioning the drives, installing and configuring the operating system (Windows NT), before going on to installing and using Video Action NT software. This video is a good step-by-step guide for do-it-yourselfers looking to put together this particular nonlinear editing system. 4

Wedding Videography for Ding Dongs

Kirk Thompson (1997, California Video Design, 20969 Ventura Blvd., Suite 230, Woodland Hills CA 91364, 103 pp., $40)

This handbook mimics the "... for Dummies" series of books by Gordon McComb and Andy Rathbone, although the title is the only attribute the two have in common. If you have the patience to slog through bad editing, punctuation errors, smiley face icons and ego-polishing anecdotes, you can mine a few useful tips from Wedding Videography for Ding Dongs. The author, Kirk Thompson, has owned a successful wedding videography business for 14 years and his marketing advice is sound. However, it's unfortunate that he's written this handbook exclusively for male videographers because, as he writes, "It's a man's business, but by learning to be sensitive to their needs, it's not hard for a man to operate in a woman's environment." Thompson's helpful tip here is to hire a woman to work in your wedding business to rake in those reluctant brides. 1

Cross-Cultural Filmmaking

Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Taylor (1997, University of California Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94720, 555 pp., $25)

This guide for documentary film and video producers covers the practical, technical and theoretical aspects of filming, from fundraising to exhibition. Except where the context of a production demands precision, the authors are not biased against the video medium and "film" is used throughout Cross-Cultural Filmmaking as a shorthand for both media. Although the title would set the reader up for a treatise on ethnographic filming techniques, this handbook is not restricted to cross-cultural documentaries. The first of three sections discusses filmmaking styles; the second section explains the technical aspects, including how to select and use equipment, how to shoot film and video, and the reasons for choosing one or the other. The third section of the book outlines the process of filmmaking: preproduction, production, post production and distribution.

Whether you're out to shoot a feature-length movie about a foreign revolution or simply hope to shoot a ten-minute video about your grandparents, this handbook has the background information you need to create an expressive film or video. 5