Producing Your Own Special Interest Videos: From Concept To Cash; Professional Videography Techniques Made Simple

Alba-Marie Besteni and Barbara Besteni offer budding video entrepreneurs two hours worth of invaluable advice in the information-rich, no-baloney Producing Your Own Special Interest Videos. While the program is light on polish, and a bit rough when it comes to video quality, it's got real heft when it comes to news you can use. The producers advise viewers on selecting a topic, choosing a title, testing the market (before the tape is made), pricing, advertising, direct mail, working trade shows, distribution options, cost-cutting production and duplication techniques, order taking and fulfillment, and include a source list for more information. While occasionally the program falters (the list of suggested video topics is weak--with such done-to-death clunkers as "how to buy a car" and "how to wallpaper"), the Besteni's have clearly done the trial by fire routine, and they know whereof they speak when they talk about what resources to use in the library, suggest an under 10 bucks clip-on mike from Radio Shack as opposed to one of those $500 jobs, and compare the costs of duplication with the costs of buying 6 extra VCRs and setting up your own dubbing rack. This video is guaranteed to save new (and even some experienced) video producers time and money. Professional Videography Techniques Made Simple offers viewers a short course in video terminology, which also serves as a primer for basic camcorder techniques, followed by more extensive tips on "shooting for the edit," shooting "cinema verite," using in-camera editing techniques, avoiding common pitfalls, etc. While the information presented on Professional Videography Techniques Made Simple is sound, some of it is already available on similar programs (though not necessarily with the budget-consciousness that the Besteni's bring to their work). Still, for its down-to-earth suggestions, Professional Videography Techniques Made Simple is recommended. Producing Your Own Special Interest Videos is highly recommended. (Available from: Special EFX Video Productions, 18350 Mediterranean Blvd., Unit #2703, Miami, FL 33015.)