Preface

Video production has become one of the most important tools of communication and self-expression in contemporary culture. Once the exclusive province of broadcast stations and networks, video production technologies are now found in a variety of environments, including educational institutions, government agencies, corporate environments, and individual homes. The concept of “produser,” a hybrid fusion of producer/user, in which accessibility, efficiency, and collaboration across time and space are the norm, has redefined the roles of the video producer and the consumer (audience). The Internet has opened wide the door to a digital video universe in which anyone can enter, create, and deliver content.

Since the publication of the first edition of this book video production has entered a new era. The advent of new digital technologies has drastically altered the video production environment. However, even though these new technologies have brought about a profound transformation in production settings and distribution methods, many of the basic principles and production values that have made television a part of our lives for almost 75 years still persist.

Regardless of the intended use of the video, today’s video producer has the challenge of keeping up with the rapid changes inherent to digital technology, adapting to working in settings that may require a high capacity for independent work, and making decisions that require critical analysis and creative problem-solving skills.

This second edition of Introduction to Video Production is presented as a basic and intermediate textbook for students (at the university/college, community college, and upper division high school level) who want to learn the fundamental principles of video production and the technologies that are employed in video production. The book covers the three principle “areas” in which video production takes place: studio production, field production, and postproduction, and is organized around the principal elements of the production process: preproduction, production, and postproduction.

Outstanding Features

1. A focus on the fundamental technologies (equipment hardware and software) used to produce video programs.
2. A thorough treatment of the principal production environments in which video is produced: the studio environment, the field environment, and the postproduction environment.
3. A fusion of aesthetic and technical concerns. The book discusses production strategies and processes, as well as principles of equipment operation.
4. A full discussion of the three principal stages of video production, including preproduction, production, and postproduction.
5. A basic introduction to the techniques and technologies behind the most widely used channel of video distribution: the Internet.
6. The book is thoroughly illustrated with line art and photographs illustrating key concepts of visual production as well as production equipment and environments.
7. Key words are identified in boldface throughout the text and reinforced in a comprehensive glossary of terms.

Pedagogical and Didactic Concerns

We understand the need for active, hands-on, student-centered learning as a very valuable method to build strong video production skills. However, we also advocate the need for students to grasp a deep understanding of the theory behind the practice as a means to achieve a higher level of production skills by incorporating conceptual frameworks that can be applied to most production environments or that can be adapted to most practical production situations. Furthermore, this book provides the theoretical foundation that will prepare students for the difficult task of learning how to learn and to periodically update their knowledge base on their own.

For this purpose, we have developed many production models that will clarify technical principles, facilitate understanding of conceptual frameworks, and guide students through the complex process of video production: from theory to good practice.