Videomaker: The Video Series, Vol. 1, No. 1

The best known magazine for home video enthusiasts goes video in this initial volume of Videomaker: The Video Series. The program opens with a cleverly shot introduction by Videomaker editor Matt York which outlines the focus and goals of the new video magazine. This is followed by seven segments covering a wide variety of subjects of interest to "videomakers," including: "Documentary Realities," which addresses some of the technical concerns like framing and focus as well as some of the ethical concerns of shooting real subjects from weddings to emergencies; "Lighting Takes Shape," which offers a brief primer on good, inexpensive lighting techniques; "Desktop Video Magic," which introduces viewers to the world of desktop video, "News In the Videomaking," which advises videomakers how to shoot and market potential news stories; and "Show and Tell," which spotlights a few video-related products on display at the Consumer Electronics Show. While some pieces are more compelling than others, the basic idea and execution behind the Videomaker video series works well. What's really neat is that many of the tips and techniques which may be hard -to-follow in print will now be clearly demonstrated on video. An excellent start to a promising series. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from most distributors.)