Christmas season is here and it’s time to get that all-important list together.  Most video professionals look to fill out their collection of books at least once a year.  Whether you are interested in screenwriting, production, or editing, here are a few books from my collection worth putting on this year’s list.

Editing: In the Blink of an Eye (Walter Murch)

Straight from one of the most well-known film editors of our time, Walter Murch offers deep insight into the world of editing, starting with the most basic question of why cuts actually work.  This book is a thought-provoking, must-read for any film or video editor.

Get it on amazon.

Screenwriting: Crafty Screenwriting: Writing Movies That Get Made (Alex Epstein)

Former development executive and pro screenwriter Alex Epstein gives you a look into what exactly studios are looking for when they read scripts.  You’ll have a greater understanding of the process you should take when writing your scripts and get them ready to sell.  Read this book before touching pen to paper.

Get it on amazon.

Production: The DV Rebel’s Guide (Stu Maschwitz)

This is the book that made me realize how much you can actually learn by reading a book written by a pro.  Within the first few pages, I knew it was money well spent.  For any fan of movies or anybody who ever thought of picking up a camera and shooting a video, Stu teaches you tricks to maximizing your production value no matter how small your budget.  It’s the type of book that immediately makes you want to run out and shoot a movie and I highly recommend it.

Get it on amazon.

Rebel Without A Crew (Robert Rodriguez)

Here’s another insightful book about shooting movies and making the most with what you have.  This is a diary of the original rebel Robert Rodriguez and his breakout film El Mariachi, which led him on a journey from a small Texas town to a Hollywood set with Antonio Banderas playing his lead character.  Full of great tips on how he achieved specific shots and effects, the book also comes with the complete script.

Get it on amazon.

Creative Motion Graphic Titling for Film, Video, & The Web (Yael Braha and Bill Byrne)

I have always been obsessed with the title sequence and this new book throws you right into the world of film title design.  Complete with interviews from some of the great title designers of our time, it also provides a background on how the title sequence came to be and the principles to keep in mind when designing your own titles.  It even comes with a DVD with some sample clips that will have you itching to create a spec title sequence.

Get it on amazon.

Lastly I have found that one of the best things an aspiring filmmaker can do is pick up some scripts and read the words from some of the best writers out there.  Here are a couple I would recommend (if you were a fan of the movie of course).

Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)

Inception (Christopher Nolan)

If you have questions about any of these books or are interested in more video stuff, give me a shout on twitter @reedjp2

Happy Holidays!

I recently completed a new video for a great local company called Pay It Square.  Visit payitsquare.com for more information.  Here is the video:

I am a huge fan of the title sequence, both in film and in television.  It can set the stage for what we are about to see, or give us some clues that we might not pick up until watching it again.  I could watch the opening sequences for Se7en, The Kingdom, and of course the Bond movies (with the work MK12 did on Quantum of Solace being a personal favorite) all day long. 

With the 2011 Emmy nominations coming out yesterday, it was great to see the list of nominees for Outstanding Title Design.  I was a big fan of both Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones, and not surprised to see them get nods.  The other three nominees are Rubicon, Too Big To Fail, and Any Human Heart.  You can see all of the sequences and their designers over at the great site Art of the Title (http://www.artofthetitle.com/2011/07/14/2011-emmy-nominations-for-outstanding...; All five of these are really well done, but my favorite would have to be Game of Thrones.  Which one(s) do you like the best?

I read an article on the Wall Street Journal today that listed the top 10 dying industries.  To my surprise number 7 on the list was video postproduction services (read the whole list here).  After taking a closer look at the study though, you can see why it would be in the list.  The list is based on the decline in revenue from 2000 to 2010 and then attempts to project the decline from 2010 to 2016.  It’s not that the need for video services is dying (I would actually argue the opposite), but the tools and the techniques have become much more accessible and somewhat flooded the market, causing the overall revenue to decrease.

When consumers looked for post production services ten years ago, how many one or two person shops were there that actually had the same software, the same systems, and the same skills as the big shops?  Probably not many, and naturally these big shops were charging a lot more.  Now the number of choices the consumer has is endless.  From a production perspective, they can choose to have someone shoot their video on RED or they can go with a person shooting on their iPhone.  From a post perspective, you can find someone editing on an AVID system or you can find someone editing on iMovie.  The difference in price would surely be noticeable.  The trend of shooting video on SLR cameras has also brought in a whole new breed of “film”makers who can break into the industry much cheaper than before.  With less overhead they are able to charge less to shoot and edit, and again pull that average revenue down.

So if you’re in this industry, should you be concerned?  Not if you do good work.  New people will continue to break into the market and some consumers will continue to find and pay them small amounts.  If you’re good, you will get paid what you deserve, because there is a certain point when quality can’t be compromised for price.  I would not be surprised to see the total revenue decrease from now until 2016, and maybe even after that, but I wouldn’t take that to mean video services are dying.  Take a look at youtube or vimeo, video is very much alive.

I stumbled across this commercial on TV yesterday and thought it was pretty sweet.  The commercial shows an interactive owner's manual for a Hyundai car being used on the iPad.  All of the important information contained in that book in your glove box now accessible on your iPad.  I don't know exactly what kind of features this specific manual has, but it seems like there would be a lot of benefits to this.  For starters, the ability to quickly search the manual by entering a term like "flat tire".  What if it could pop up a video and show you how to access your spare and tell you step by step what you need to do to change it.  Or if you aren't up for changing it, having the ability to find the nearest tow places that could quickly be alerted of your location at the touch of a button. 

How far can this idea go?  Could your car computer communicate with your tablet device, diagnose itself, and tell you what the problem is without having to wait to take it into a mechanic?  What do you think?  Have you seen other examples like this?  Check out the video here:

I came across an interview with Francis Ford Coppola on the99percent.com.  It gives some good insight on the craft of filmmaking.  Here's some of his comments I found interesting:

There are three rules: 1) Write and direct original screenplays,  2) make them with the most modern technology available,  and 3) self-finance them.

Don’t worry about whether it’s appropriate to borrow or to take or do something like someone you admire because that’s only the first step and you have to take the first step.

A screenplay has to be like a haiku. It has to be very concise and very clear, minimal.

When you make a movie, always try to discover what the theme of the movie is in one or two words. Every time I made a film, I always knew what I thought the theme was, the core, in one word. In “The Godfather,” it was succession. In “The Conversation,” it was privacy. In “Apocalypse,” it was morality.

Always make your work be personal.

Read the full interview here: http://the99percent.com/articles/6973/Francis-Ford-Coppola-On-Risk-Money-Craf...

With the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, my twitter feed was filled with people looking back on the past year and ahead to the next.  Here are a few of the articles I read regarding the future of web design (and development):

http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/12/top-website-and-website-design-trends-for-2...
http://www.universalmind.com/blog/entry/looking-back-moving-forward/
http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/small-biz-design-trends/
http://mashable.com/2010/12/30/web-design-predictions/

Reading through these, what seemed to be the consensus was that designing and developing for the mobile web will be key for 2011 and beyond.  With the increasing number of people accessing the internet through the use of smartphones, it is imperative that your site is mobile friendly, so that your customers can access the information they want no matter where they are.  As one of the articles says, you should start with the mobile design first when thinking of your web strategy.  I think mobile optimization lends to some of the other predictions as well, such as losing the flash and simpler aesthetics.  So while HTML5 stole most of the headlines in 2010, look for mobile to have a large role in web design and development in 2011.  Is your site mobile?

Here is a short promo I completed for a mixed martial arts seminar being held at Grand Rapids Mixed Martial Arts.  The seminar features former UFC Champ Mark "The Hammer" Coleman and former UFC fighter Wes Sims.  All animation was done in After Effects and the music is from Video Copilot's Pro Scores.

I recently completed a redesign on the AJ Properties web site, which showcases a rental property in Northern Michigan.  The site includes a slide show of images of the property and facilities and also gives an interested renter plenty of information about the home and surrounding areas.  Check it out at http://www.aj1454.com.

A few weeks ago my wife and I attended a friend's destination wedding in St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands.  I was asked to shoot the video for the wedding and what a great day it was for a wedding.  Here's the edited montage.