How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck

Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro

By: Steve Stockman

Narrated by: Steve Stockman

How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck is a quick and easy guide that will make your video better instantly - whether you hear it cover to cover or just listen to a few chapters. It's about the language of video. How to think like a director, regardless of equipment (amateurs think about the camera, pros think about communication).

It's about the rules developed over a century of movie-making - which work - just as well when shooting a two-year-old's birthday party. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of Two Weeks (2007), plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. How to shoot video people will want to watch.

At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you learned into practice, so the next time you're shooting you'll have begun to master the skill. Accompanying the book is a website with video clips to illustrate different rules, techniques, and situations.

Here's how to think in shots--how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing "Record" for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject's eyes. Why to zoom with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: Sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more.

©2011 Custom Productions, Inc. (P)2013 Custom Productions, Inc.

Cut out whatever isn't exciting!

Good book on filmmaking. Cut cut cut out the unexciting was the main point to help your video not suck. I agree. Thanks for the practical tips!

Excellent

Great book and very nice narration. Tips and tricks from a pro on even improving your home videos is amazing.

Great resource for filmmakers

laved it. it answered so many question about the technical aspects and functions for creating a great film.

I learned so much from this book!

I'm very glad I download this book. Although it's a little bit long it's so full of good content that I did very little skipping. I believe it gave me a good foundation on why so many amateur videos do suck and what I can do to drastically improve my videos. I now understand that it's not about the camera it's about the person behind the camera and their approach to filming and editing.

Very Interesting

I REALLY learned a lot about what things make for an interesting video. The author did a good job of making the subject funny and relatable to non professionals. Giving the audience suggestions on filming good vacation movies, or kids recitals, as well as commercials or business videos.

Later chapters of the book have more detail regarding topics like using two or more camera's or syncing audio while editing. I think the book is structured well so you don't have to read the whole thing If you don't want to (that was my original idea) but I did listen to it all which surprised me.

This is a good how-to book; and check out his list of must watch films at the end.