The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production

by Anthony Q. Artis

So you want to make a documentary, but think you don't have a lot of time, money, or experience? It's time to get down and dirty! Down and dirty is a filmmaking mindset. It's the mentality that forces you to be creative with your resources. It's about doing more with less. Get started NOW with this book and DVD set, a one-stop shop written by a guerrilla filmmaker, for guerrilla filmmakers. You will learn how to make your project better, faster, and cheaper. The pages are crammed with 500 full-color pictures, tips from the pros, resources, checklists and charts, making it easy to find what you need fast.

The DVD
* Video and audio tutorials, useful forms, and interviews with leading documentary filmmakers like Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens), Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls), and others
* 50+ Crazy Phat Bonus pages with jump start charts, online resources, releases, storyboards, checklists, equipment guides, and shooting procedures

Here's just a small sampling of what's inside the
* Putting together a crew
* Choosing a camera
* New HDV and 24P cameras
* Shooting in rough neighborhoods
* Interview skills and techniques
* 10 ways to lower your budget
* Common production forms if you purchased an ebook version of The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide , the material from the DVD packaged with the print version of the book is now available on a website. Please www.focalpress.com/cw/artis-978024080...

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Photography

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much here you couldn't get from reading a handful of blogs -- and the blogs would be more current. The visuals in particular are uninspiring and dated.

And, dude, hire a better editor. Several grammatical errors that should never find their way to print.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my review for Anthony Q. Artis' The Shut Up and Shoot Freelance Video Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production, I praised the author's ability to share basic behind-the-camera knowledge in a way that was both simple and direct without talking down to the reader. His earlier book, The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, is now being reissued in a Second Edition that expands upon the information originally provided in 2007 and addresses the advancements in technology; specifically regarding production equipment. This updated edition provides insight on new cameras and sound gear while stressing that the basic approach to the work remains consistent even as the tools for the job change.

Artis approaches the content as a street-smart veteran without time to waste on fantasies of working with a multi-million dollar budget. By offering a candid, straight-talk approach to the task at hand, he easily avoids the trappings of other text books and successfully keeps the subject matter interesting. In short, he provides a blueprint of sorts that, if followed, will minimize a lot of the headaches that plague productions no matter what the budget.

You can read ZigZag's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Axel Flodin vacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book about shooting documentaries. Although it focuses a bit more on semi-proffessional filmmakers, I ,a true beginner, did still find a lot to take with me for any filmmaking adventures I may have in the future. Definitely coming back to this book when such a project is closer in the making

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked it. I felt like the book is more as a supplementary guide to the man's class. I feel like some of the stuff he is talking about you can not understand without hands on experience. However what he could explain that was not hands on was very well done.

[Matthew Siemers · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some really good information in this book, but the author tries to be funny and clever. He fails miserably. You can skim through this book and look at the important info and just skip the writing style.

[Brian Artka · Rating 4 out of 5]

this review is for the newer, second edition of the book(which isn't listed on goodreads). Good recap for experienced film makers, great reference for beginners. The "been there, done that" features scattered throughout the book have some great insight.

[Shawnecee Schneider]

Really great resource for my high school students, all of my classes really like the visual aids in this book. Great teaching tool for documentary and video.

[Starbubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

another dumbed down book for beginningers book. there are even charts and diagrams to show you what to do. wish more of this would have sunk in a bit better, but oh well.

[Zack]

Excellent book.

[Kevin Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great down and dirty guide to shooting any type of video, but
particularly documentary films. Get's you motivated, prepared, and
organized to get out and start shooting already...enough talking.

[Folmus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great reference for begginers.

[Yuri Vieitas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on the subject out there! Just missed one star because it is seriously outdated. I would love a new updated edition of it!