Information & books on video equipment operation and production

 

About TODAY'S VIDEO 4th edition

 

TODAYS VIDEO is a career in a book. It teaches how to:

  • Select, connect, operate, troubleshoot, and squeeze the most out of your video gear.
  • Plan, produce, and edit attractive shows.

Today's Video is up-to-date (2006), humorously written, well organized, plentifully illustrated, and completely indexed. It starts simple, so anyone can understand it, then works gently up to advanced topics. Unlike many video texts, Today's Video covers the things you really need to know, including the not-so-obvious things, to be a success in the video business. Previous editions have been used by 10,000+ students in video courses and workshops...many calling it their "bible". Today's Video covers both home and industrial equipment.

A few topics:

  • Lighting
  • Audio
  • Lenses
  • Makeup
  • Scripting
  • Graphics
  • Batteries
  • Tripods
  • Special effects
  • Copyright
  • Tape duplication
  • Accessories
  • Selling your videos
  • Film/tape transfer
  • Picture enhancement
  • Portable production
  • Monitors and receivers
  • Digital television (HDTV)
  • Handling crew and talent
  • Sports / news shooting
  • Budgeting and estimating
  • Cameras, camcorders, VCRs
  • Editing (linear and nonlinear)
  • Waveform and vectorscope use
  • VCR and cable TV connections
  • Maintenance and troubleshooting
 Today's Video complete table of contents.

A few statistics:
553 pages
900 illustrations
120 insiders tips
59 tables and reference charts
1,250 video terms defined in plain English

This book listed for $95 (ouch!) and was available at , Amazon.com, and from McFarland Publishing.

Comments from readers:
"I examined it the day I received it, then my brother asked to borrow it. Now I'll have
to wrestle it back from him. My first impressions were, Wow! What a 'Bible' this is."
Malcolm S. Achtman
President, ADITA Video Inc.

"I taught video production at Rio Salado College from 1991 to 1996 and used your excellent text exclusively.  All of my students expressed their sincere appreciation for using 'Today's Video,' because it greatly reduced the fear of taping video programs."
Madison Walker

"If you want a book that assumes you know nothing about video...and walks you through the information that you need to produce professional videos, Today's Video is the book. For the self-motivated individual, it's a little like talking to an old friend. In the hands of a skilled teacher, Today's Video could be the cornerstone of an excellent video education."
Bob Kovacs, editor of Pro Video Review