Michael Wisniewski

Advanced Broadcast Camera Techniques

This 2 DVD set is well worth the money, and compliments the Hollywood Camera Work and Fight Scenes for Motion Pictures DVDs.

The focus of the video is on becoming a better videographer and camera operator. It starts with common basic broadcast techniques and works it's way up from there, with good info on doing it cheaply, and great professional advice on the softer skills of videography. It's "advanced" because it assumes you know how to operate your camera and focuses on acquiring good video. The DVDs cover a wide range of information, and will help anyone improve their video, whether they are a beginner, an enthusiast, or professional. I have a good friend who's a cameraman for CBS and we both had a blast watching and learning from it. So, you'll learn something worthwhile from it, even if you've been doing this for awhile.

In addition, the information is immediately applicable to any movie making endeavour but only overlaps a small bit with the Hollywood Camera Work DVDs. So yes, you'll probably have to get both.

** Several caveats about the video: The presentation is very campy and can feel a little dated because it was originally shot with VHS in mind, around 1997-1999. The DVD menus are just short of Atari 2600 quality, and the sound levels are absolutely schizophrenic, especially on the 2nd DVD. But the content is golden and worth the price of admission.

• I'd recommend the Advanced Broadcast Camera Techniques for anyone with a camcorder. It covers a broad range of techniques and information. The skill set is focused on making you a better videographer and camera operator.
  
  
• If you're more serious about narrative filmmaking, then I'd recommend the Hollywood Camera Work DVDs. It is more narrowly focused on narrative story telling. The skill set is focused on making you a better director/editor/cinematographer.
  
  
• The Fight Scenes for Motion Pictures DVD is also recommended, and not only for movie fights, but also for all sorts of on-camera stunt work. The skill set is focused on making you a better stunt coordinator.
  
  
• None of these DVDs overlap seriously in anyway, and since most of you are a step or more beyond the normal videocam enthusiast you're just going to have to get all of them.

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Graham Risdon

I'd echo these comments - some really useful ideas in both DVDs!
It's a good sounding board to review your own productions against...