The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production

I was prepared not to like this book, since the praise was uniform and sometimes the hype just isn't justified. However, this case, I'm prepared to say, I was more impressed by the book than I thought I'd be.This is a book I've been carrying around so I have something good to read. I like to read when I have 'down time' and want to learn or be entertained. The fact that I don't want to leave it at home or at work, denying myself the pleasure of reading it when I'm not at that location, speaks to the fact that I'm getting a lot out of the book.'Shut Up and Shoot' isn't perfect. The author has definite prejudices when it comes to sound and lighting. He's not a fan of LED lighting, which is the up-and-coming trend in video production (it's bright, very portable, rugged, long-lived, and cost-competitive), and he doesn't like boom mikes for interviews, preferring lavalier mikes (in spite of the fact that shotgun mikes on booms saves the problem of miking two or three people, checking sound, and so on). He also has deeper pockets than a lot of people, suggesting that wireless mikes need to cost over $500 or so, since cheaper wireless lav mikes 'are a waste of money' (well, what if you don't have that money?).Despite my criticisms, I really, really liked this book. It shows you techniques and tricks that can make your production look like it cost a lot more than it did. He explains the advantages of using a mixer to record sound on your camcorder (saves the jiggling of the camera when you try to adjust sound levels). (However, he glosses over the thought that you probably should record sound on a field recorder instead of a camera entirely.)This is the type of guide you're going to have to keep handy, since reading it and re-reading it will answer many questions, and give you many ideas on solving problems.I'm never going to win any awards (and I'm not trying to), but I know that the tips on interviewing, for example, are going to help me immensely in the future. It's disheartening to realize I've been making rookie mistakes all along...Highly recommended. I found myself carrying the book from room to room, thinking, 'I really like this book.' Praise enough. Buy this book if you are just starting out, or if you have some videos under your belt. It's a great starting point, and you're going to save money avoiding mistakes from the onset. Five stars for 'Shut Up and Shoot'.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book. My initial excitement quickly dissapated after I received the book and opened it to discover that it read more like a series of simple one page instructions that come with digital products. My initial thought was that the author had only a rudimentary grasp of the subject matter.I was looking for a "how to" book that went into the depth of the subject of making movies with digital equipment. I need detail on how to light the scenes, how to construct sets, the use of blue and green chroma screen backgrounds, how to rig up cameras, how to direct, and etc. Instead, the book covered such mundane things as how to fold a blanket, the types of cameras used in video production, the models of cameras currently being sold to the public, how not to overload the circuit panel with your lights, doing your video as inexpensive as possible, elementary lighting, and more. Unfornately, the text appeared in a BOLD font which made it difficult and frustrating to read. Of course, readers who have difficulty reading the book can always look at the many pictures and diagrams.This is the type of book that you can skim in 10 minutes and get 80% of the content. I would expect that this book would be very well received by 7th adnd 8th grade students studying digital movie making. Regardless, I returned it to Amazon.I know that I am going to be "dinged" for this review by all of those individuals who thought the book was great. However, when reviewers write book reviews which do not accurately describe the content of the book, then other individuals such as myself will fall in to the trap of buying the book in reliance on the reviews only to return it for a refund. Inaccurate reviews cost everybody in the long run.Note that I did find the book "How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck" by Steve Stockman to be very informative and instructional. It met my needs for the planning and shooting of videos. It did not cover the equipment. Regardless, I found the quote at the top of that book to be accurate where it stated that that book was ... "Like two years of film school in 248 pages." That book covers everything in detail with the exception of the equipment. I also found the book "The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques" by Jeff Foster exceptional: that author clearly knew the subject matter, although he went into such complicated and intricate detail as to make me realize that I needed a more intermediate book on the use of green screen in video.

I have to say, this book answered every question I had floating around in my head, and also answered ones I haven't even yet conceived! Although, like the author said, you'll still need a few other types of books to add to your personal collection, I think this book will help you get started on the right foot without having to wait 4 years studying before even hitting the record button. This is perfect for people who love visuals on hand, yet do not feel like running to a TV or computer to watch a how-to video. I've only read one documentary filmmaking book at the library prior to this one, so I'm not Siskel & Ebert on the whole matter, but this book will further excite you to want to get into filmmaking.The book even has a section on potential cameras you should start with and a quick breakdown of each. Mind you, I was researching cameras for about a week before I settled on 2, and lo and behold, I was lucky that they were on the list of 10 or so cameras. Had I had the book prior to buying anything (I'm thinking I'm gonna have to return my cheap tripod now) I would have known already what to look for in video equipment.Easy to understand with plenty of practical, just-get-it-done-dude, encouragement and motivation. For those of you in the 90% born with a limited cash flow, the author understands where you're coming from.Down and dirty, and purchase worthy.

A highly accessible book for ANY one aspiring to make documentaries, written by a very kind and charming person who loves to share his own knowledge and experience of 'getting out into the field'.Strongly recommended!

This helps with all aspects of documentary production. It's a no-nonsense approach from a down to earth author. Great guide for beginners.

Does exactly what is intended.

This is the perfect book for what I need right now.Bonus DVD is a great help.Many thanksNick

A really good book for new documentary film makers. Anthony Q. Artis really knows his stuff!