How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck with Steve Stockman
In this week’s episode, we have Steve Stockman. Steve is an author/writer/director/producer at Custom Productions, Inc. in Los Angeles. He’s created and Executive Produced tv series Brew Dogsfor the new Esquire Network, Dogs of Warfor A&E, Devils RideforDiscovery Channel and $24 in 24 for Food Network; plus worked on over 200 commercials, music videos, and web series.
He also wrote and directed a film called Two Weeks starring legendary Oscar® Winning Actress Sally Field.
His book, How to Shoot Video that Doesn’t Suck, is now in its 6th printingfrom Workman Publishing. It’s based on a course he’s been teaching to kids for the last 14 years, but adults understand it as well.
“Like two years of film school in 248 pages.” – Steven Pressfield, Author of The War of Art and The Legend of Bagger Vance
It’s not technical—it doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting RED or iPhone. It’s about how to shoot video that’s entertaining, effective—and that actually gets watched. Enjoy my conservation with Steve Stockman.
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How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Sucker
- BUY HIS BOOK HERE – How to Shoot Video that Doesn’t Suck
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Newly updated and revised, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck is a quick and easy guide that will make your video better instantly—whether you read it cover to cover or just skim a few chapters. It’s about the language of video and how to think like a director, regardless of equipment (amateurs think about the camera, pros think about communication). It’s about the rules developed over a century of movie-making—which work just as well when shooting a two-year-old’s birthday party on your phone. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of the award-winning feature Two Weeks, plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. In other words, how to shoot video people will want to watch.
Here’s how to think in shots—how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing “Record” for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject’s eyes. Why to “zoom” with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of video production: framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more. At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you’ve learned into practice, so the next time you’re shooting you’ll have begun to master the skill. Steve’s website (stevestockman.com) provides video examples to illustrate different production ideas, techniques, and situations, and his latest thoughts on all things video.
FROM THE #1 AMAZON BEST SELLING AUTHOR ON GoPro CAMERAS. Here’s how to think in shots—how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing “Record” for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject’s eyes. Why to “zoom” with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of video production: framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more. At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you’ve learned into practice, so the next time you’re shooting you’ll have begun to master the skill. Steve’s website (stevestockman.com) provides video examples to illustrate different production ideas, techniques, and situations, and his latest thoughts on all things video.
Specifically for the GoPro HERO 4 Black Edition, this is the perfect guide book for anyone who wants to learn how to use a GoPro HERO 4 Black camera to get great videos and photos. Designed for an active lifestyle, travelers, snowboarders, bikers, hikers, kayakers, surfers, skiers, standup paddlers, boaters and more will find valuable knowledge with the lessons in this book.
With more than 100+ images, this book provides clear, step-by-step lessons to get you out there using your GoPro HERO 4 Black camera to document your adventures.
This book covers everything you need to know about using your GoPro HERO 4 camera. The book teaches you: how choose your settings, tips for the most useful GoPro mounts, vital photography knowledge, simple photo, video and time lapse editing techniques and how to share your first edited video and photos.
Through the SIX STEPS laid out in this book, you will understand your camera and learn how to use FREE software to finally do something with your results.
This book is perfect for beginners, but also provides in depth knowledge that will be useful for intermediate camera users.
Written specifically for the HERO 4 Black Edition camera.
FROM THE #1 AMAZON BEST SELLING AUTHOR ON GoPro CAMERAS. Specifically for the GoPro HERO 4 Black Edition, this is the perfect guide book for anyone who wants to learn how to use a GoPro HERO 4 Black camera to get great videos and photos. Designed for an active lifestyle, travelers, snowboarders, bikers, hikers, kayakers, surfers, skiers, standup paddlers, boaters and more will find valuable knowledge with the lessons in this book.
With more than 100+ images, this book provides clear, step-by-step lessons to get you out there using your GoPro HERO 4 Black camera to document your adventures.
This book covers everything you need to know about using your GoPro HERO 4 camera. The book teaches you: how choose your settings, tips for the most useful GoPro mounts, vital photography knowledge, simple photo, video and time lapse editing techniques and how to share your first edited video and photos.
Through the SIX STEPS laid out in this book, you will understand your camera and learn how to use FREE software to finally do something with your results.
This book is perfect for beginners, but also provides in depth knowledge that will be useful for intermediate camera users.
Written specifically for the HERO 4 Black Edition camera.
When it comes to shooting video, what do we know? Here’s the facts:
- Every day, people shoot thousands of hours of video.
It’s safe to say that we are drowning in video, and the collective attention span of viewers is short. How do you make sure that your video will get watched? How can you make sure that it will get shared and discussed? Essentially, how can you make sure your video doesn’t suck?
Award-winning producer and director Steve Stockman has found the way in his new book How To Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck.
How To Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck shows readers how to engage their audience using clear, concise concepts that even video novices can master the minute they pick up a video camera. This isn’t about how to work the camera — instead, this is about how to make great video using Stockman’s experience as a producer, writer and director.
I recently talked with Stockman about what video journalists can gain from this book, as well some other helpful tips.
Stockman on what journalists can do to improve their videos:
- Remember that you’re in the story business. A story has to have a hero, beginning, middle and end. So does your video. If you can’t tell the story in three compelling sentences, it may not be video material. Perhaps its a memo.
- Don’t rationalize away technical issues. If your video quality sucks through the viewfinder, it isn’t going to get magically better when you post it. You’re competing for the audience’s attention with a world of great video. Five seconds of picture that isn’t clear or audio that can’t be understood is all most people can take, then they’re off to watch Family Guy. Enthusiastically cut bad video. What’s left will (by definition) be good!
- Follow the Rubbermaid Rule: At my house we use Rubbermaid containers to store leftovers. I noticed that people always pick a container much bigger than they need to store food. Something happens mentally when we try to translate an opaque pot to a clear container, I guess. The same thing happens with video. When people first think how long their video should be, they always guess big. Usually three times as big. Always put your video in the smallest container possible. Think you need 10 minutes to cover a story? You probably need 3. (On TV news they tell stories in a minute to a minute and a half. If you fancy yourself more of a 60 Minutes type, remember that those longer stories take weeks to shoot, with a BIG staff of top producers, writers, videographers, sound people, editors and reporters involved throughout the process. If you have that, by all means go for the full 10 minutes.)
Stockman on some of the best small digital video camcorders on the market:
I’m a big fan of Kodak’s Pocket Video line for several very important reasons.
- They’re sponsors.
- They’re still in business (sorry, Flip!)
- Their cameras are easy to use and take better HD video than their competitors.
- Did I mention they’re sponsors?
Stockman on journalists getting over the apprehension of shooting video:
My first video was awful– I bet Steven Spielberg’s was too. You won’t get better unless you try it…and then keep practicing. So: Shoot. Play. Have Fun. Consider this rationalization: “I have a video camera handy, so I’m just going to film this interview instead of running the audio recorder like I usually do.” There! Now you have an excuse for giving it a shot. Remember — you don’t have to post a story just because you shot it. If it sucks, file it under “awful” and try again.