Videos have taken over the essential role in content market. Web content is shifting more towards video as more than 50% of established brands has opted for dynamic illustrations and videos to market their product.
Majority of people spend their free time watching videos and probably this could be the reason why Instagram and Facebook have added a video section in the application.
How videos are evolving?
As per the latest trends, by 2020, videos will cover 75-80% of internet traffic and with such tremendous growth Motion Graphics and Video editing will become a hot career option in the coming years. While everyone wants to excel in this field and competition has grown to another level.
Even though the video editing is a field of practical understanding it is very essential to keep a strong theoretical base. The industry is very dynamic and changes with the blink of an eye. However, these theoretical concepts form the base of video editing that remain undisturbed for years.
Why should you go for books?
Books are one of the best ways to get a thorough and deep understanding of minutest details. Reading books can help you get the information in most comprehensive way. You have to prepare a well-rounded base for yourself to stand out from the crowd and this can be done when you possess strong grip over every single detail.
This time we have got you the collection of 11 industry leading books that every video editor should read at least once.
Whether you are a beginner in the industry or want to refine your existing skills.
These video editing books will become your rescue option :
1. The American Cinematographer Manual by American Society of Cinematographers:
The highly acclaimed book, The American Cinematographer, is considered as the Bible for filmmakers for several generations. The book is critically acclaimed and used widely across the globe. The book offers the most comprehensive reading of cinema than any other book in history.
Recently in 2016, the 10 the edition of the book got released. This edition reflected the technological changes that have occurred in the cinematic industry.
With a whole new concept, the book primarily deals with vibrant as well as essential topics like Digital Cinematography, 3D lighting, use of color encoding, digital technology and much more.
2. Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steven D. Katz:
This complete all-rounder book should be in every video editor’s list. The book recently got a new look on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
The book has stored something for everyone. From aspiring producers, directors to cinematographers and editors, this book is a boon for everyone in the industry.
Throughout the book, the author tries to connect with readers in a different form at every level. The book is well versed with almost 800 photos, illustrations and analytical examples.
3. Understanding the Business of Entertainment by Gregory Bernstein:
Written in quite engaging tone, this book offers business expertise and techniques of the media industry, a beginner needs to enter and succeed.
Author has brilliantly managed a friendly tone to engage readers throughout the book.
Gregory has covered essential topics with real life examples. Whether you are a director or video editor, this book will help you to find work in the industry. Besides this, it also covers what essential skills are necessary to sustain in the industry.
4. Cut by Cut: Editing Your Film or Video by. Gael Chandler:
The book comes in two editions and covers the post production process in detail. The book guides the reader about the major operations of the production industry which includes music editing, video editing, image setting, mixing, film workflows, cuts etc.
The middle section of the book primarily deals with editing of the footage. The editor tells the reader about various video effects, overlaps, cheat shots, cuts as well as talks about different genres such as documentary, comedy, Drama and Music Videos.
5. The Invisible Cut by Bobbie O’Steen:
The book teaches you the art of manipulating like a magician. Comes in two parts, the initial part lays stress on the strategies and technicalities while the other part covers the actual work done by the masters of the industry.
The book offers the perfect blend of theoretical as well as practical knowledge of the industry. Not only this, it also tells how editor works like a magician and maneuver the audience by cunning hand movements and attracts them by fluent work, by creating invisible cuts.
6. Adobe’s Premiere Pro by Maxim Jago:
Premiere pro is the industry’s leading video editing software. This book is a staple for every video editor. With most of the editing work done in Premiere Pro, it is mandatory for video editor to master this software.
The book offers information about the software in the easiest yet most comprehensive way. The latest 2019 release comes with 18 chapters that are perfect blend of theoretical as well as practical lessons.
The book offers step by step learning with links to various tutorials. Besides this, buyers also get an eBook which contains links to several tutorials and blogs.
The book offers you the understanding of basic as well as advanced concepts. From beginning to end, the book contains chapters on all the major elements like composition, video editing, sound editing how to create transitions and much more.
7. Storytelling for Virtual Reality by John Bucher
If you want to unearth how to deliver an excellent story in the virtual reality domain, then this is the book to start with.
Film or video editing is an art of storytelling. The book bridges the gap between people who are new to the emerging world of virtual reality.
The book focuses on classical and traditional storytelling formats and this forms the central proposition of John Bucher’s book.
Rather than focusing on technicalities, the book primarily puts light on theoretical aspects covering how stories should be fragmented, structured, created and explained in virtual spaces.
Authors explain the storytelling and its important principles with great detail. The book covers the several concepts of writing in virtual space from different angles. The book provides great insights about the academic written style and delivers a strong understanding why storytelling is required in the virtual reality domain.
All in all this book is an interesting read for all those who want to explore more about this fascinating world of virtual reality.
8. Film and Video Production in the Cloud by Jack James
The book was published back in 2017 but in little time, it has gained a lot more popularity among the people belonging to the field of video editing.
Written by veteran post production consultant, Jack James, the book deals with the fundamental concepts involved while dealing with cloud based tools. The book explores how cloud based tools can help in pre-production, production and post production processes in a very simple way that will develop a sense of interest in you.
The author teaches and provides a practical understanding of how using these cloud tools, which are accessible to everyone, professionals employed in the industry can work effectively.
Topics covered in the book revolves around
- Benefits of using cloud applications
- Project and Asset Management
- Production Pipelines
- Distribution and crowdsourcing, etc.
This book beautifully covers the topic which essentially allows its reader to enhance their working capability. Readers get the opportunity to discover key approaches and methodologies used to perform the best practices of the editing industry.
Jon Thomson, a leading film producer, while talking about the book, mentions:
“As always, Jack has a three dimensional understanding of a subject that, until he explains it, you are left thinking ‘Why didn’t I see it like that?’ He makes an extraordinarily complex subject seem so simple with an understanding of how networked remote systems or the Cloud has become known and how it can work for you on your production. Jack’s expertise is a great filter for the myths a lot of people talk on this subject, separating fact from fiction, telling you how it is and how it will work. A perfect read if you ever wondered how the Cloud could help your project.”
routledge.com
9. How to Edit Videos That People Want to Watch by Rachel Bastarache Bogan
Go beyond and transform your video editing skills with this brilliantly crafted book by Rachel. Her book covers a deep insight of essential skills required while editing videos.
Whether you are editing a video for social media platforms or for corporates and businesses, this short and easy to read book will help you to get a quick overview of tools and applications required to assemble a video effectively & powerfully.
It seems to be self-explanatory with its simple language. The book explains the video editing tips and techniques which can help professionals to understand how they can engage viewers for more time period and can improve the foundation of intermediate editors who wants to enhance their work Though, the book is short and simple to read but the reader must have some knowledge about the content she’s discussing in her book which implicitly means that a beginner will find little difficulty while understanding the concepts.
10. Jump Cut by Lori Jane Coleman ACE and Diana Friedberg ACE
Jump cut is possibly one of the best reads of this domain. The title seems to be more hyperbolic to me when I saw the cover of the book, until I started reading the book and couldn’t agree more!
Jumpcut is a perfect book for those who want to begin their career as an editor. The authors have beautifully portrayed the insights of the video editing industry in this book, making it one of the best gifts for aspiring editors.
What Jump Cut presents is a tremendous series of tips, tricks and techniques required to become a professional editor.
Besides covering this, the book also gives an insight on how to promote you from an assistant to the editor. The only thing which i don’t like in the book is it is generously filled with unrequited inspirational quotes, sprinkled throughout the pages.
Having said that, I can’t give words to what I feel for this book. This book is a complete package.
11. Developing Story Ideas by Michael Rabiger
One of the celebrated filmmakers, Michael Rabiger brings a third edition of this splendid book that hits exactly at the right place. In its third edition, the author taps the creative instincts of readers and addresses them with different creative ideas required to formulate a story.
The book comes with rich practical features explaining the importance of good storytelling skills and provides engaging lessons to develop required skills.
Jonny Elwyn while reviewing the book mentions that
“Whenever a book’s lifespan makes it through several editions, you know that it must be doing something right…Now in its third edition, Michael Rabiger’s Developing Story Ideas serves an area of creative development which is normally not addressed in most storytelling/screenwriting manuals; how to come up with an idea for a story in the first place.”
routledge.com
And we couldn’t agree more! The book seems to be a good companion for those who wants to experience the expertise and wisdom of Michael in most comprehensive manner
Author’s Note:
So, these were some books to break the giant iceberg. You can add them to your reading list. Besides gaining the theory concepts, it is equally important to master the practical skills. There are two software companies that dominate the video editing industry – Adobe’s Premiere Pro and Apple’s Final Cut.
ADMEC as the best video editing institute offers quality training in video editing course. We have a team of experienced faculty that put all their efforts in the development of the student and all the knowledge that they provide in video editing classes.
We offer tailor made courses, keeping the convenience of our students in mind. So what’s stopping you from mastering the software? Contact us now to get the best training in video editing.
For more informative blogs, stay tuned with us. Till then, Keep Exploring!
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