Eyewitness Critic - Videography Training DVDs

A Bridal Spotlight ~ From Land, Sea, and Air - Jeff & Andee Wright

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:14:00 +0000

A Bridal Spotlight ~ From Land, Sea, and Air - Jeff & Andee Wright
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This video is a behind the scenes look at the making of Blue Skies Cinema's 2007 WEVA Gold award winning Bridal Spotlight. Shooting various locations such as multiple beaches, on a boat, under water, and in a swimming pool utilizing a green screen, Jeff & Andee Wright break away from the norm of shooting a bridal spotlight and introduce much needed creativity by thinking "outside-the-box."
What Worked:
The time and effort that went into the production of this DVD were extremely high, as evident in the multiple crew members at the shoot. As Jeff & Andee do their thing, they have a crew of videographers and photographers capturing the action, and Jeff takes you through the entire process with a thorough and entertaining narration on the DVD. Also, there are some really great shooting tips throughout, so there is something for everyone to learn.

What Didn't Work:
The high cost of $200. I feel this DVD would be better prices at $75-$100.

The Bottom Line:
This is an extremely well made training DVD. It is inspirational because it gets your creative juices flowing and you starting thinking what else would be possible. I learned a lot, and I have already watched it more than once, which is a true sign that it is a very good product.

Ratings:
Content: 4.5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 5 out of 5
Worth the Price: 2.5 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5

Camera Command - Ravas Partners

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:41:00 +0000

Camera Command - Ravas Partners
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Camera Command is an instructional DVD which teaches the fundamentals of photography and videography, including explanation of f-stops, shutter speeds and gain control, and how exactly these factors work together to control exposure and depth-of-field. Camera Command also explains some more educational aspects of cameras such as the properties of focal length, lens theory, and history. In the midst of the message, takes place a wacky adventure, in which 2 scientists take you on a zany roller coaster ride helping you learn the concepts presented on this DVD. It includes many practical tips on exposure, the purchase of photographic lenses, filtering, focusing technique, and much more!

What Worked:
The creativity and production value of this DVD is top notch. It is entertaining, informative, and a well thought out production. Unlike many of the training DVDs on the market today geared toward videographers, you can really tell the time & effort that Ravas Partners put into this production was extensive and of a professional caliber.

What Didn't Work:
This DVD is marketed to a photographer or videographer of any skill level, beginner through advanced, but I feel this is definitely more of a beginner level DVD. Or, I can say it should be. I can refute my original statement in this case by saying that even though a photographer or videographer might feel they are advanced because they have years of experience, many don't actually fully understand the concepts taught in this video, and therefore could greatly benefit from it.

The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is simple. Buy this DVD if any area of the summary sounds like something you don't have a full and complete understanding of. It's funny, clever, and well produced... And it's extremely well priced at $69.

Ratings:
Content: 5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 5 out of 5
Worth the Price: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5

Continuing Education: Class on Demand Complete Training for Edius 4.5

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Continuing Education: Class on Demand Complete Training for Edius 4.5
By Philip Hinkle

Being a self-proclaimed Edius fanboy, I am always looking for tips and tricks to make my Edius workflow more efficient. While I consider myself reasonably adept at Edius, I also realize that there are many features built in which I may not have explored, and I always have a few questions about features I see but don’t completely understand. When I saw the Complete Training for Edius 4.5 release (ClassOnDemand.com, $149.95), I was intrigued and thought it may be a good chance to learn a few more tips and tricks hidden within the Edius NLE. I also wanted to let my wife go through the tutorial since she has begun showing some interest in learning more about how I put together projects.

I let my wife take a run through the tutorial first. It can be a little long and intimidating for a complete newbie since it is around 3.5 hours of content. She wanted to watch it all the way through before trying to "ride along" with it so she could get familiar with some of the terminology and functionality. She has now been through it once and I can tell you she is starting to recognize how I create certain looks and effects and is throwing around Edius terminology much more frequently. The information is presented in a way that someone who has never edited can start to understand and grasp the concepts of an edit workflow.

After she’d been through it, I decided to take it for a few days and watch it to see what I could learn, even though I felt I knew how to do most of the stuff already. Upon loading the DVD, I was able to see what was covered in the DVD.My initial impression, based on the menu, is that there is plenty of content for learning in this DVD. While viewing the first chapter I paid extra attention to when host Mike Downey started covering all the different Application Settings and Hardware Settings. There are so many options in those screens. Many of them I understood already, but there were a handful that just didn’t make sense to me. Mike took those items that had been confusing and made them simple.

The Editing 101 chapter is where you really begin to see the power of Edius. The examples Mike uses in the tutorial involve broadcast footage from a news station, but all the demonstrations presented are easily applicable and usable in event work, so don’t let that discourage you. This section is where you really start to learn and see the power and flexibility of the Edius NLE. It is just loaded with tips and techniques that will have you editing faster after the first viewing. Mike spends a good amount of time not only explaining 3- and 4-point edits and ripple edits but using actual footage so you can see how to easily execute those edits step by step. He also spends a good amount of time on the Trim mode, which I knew about but didn’t use much. It became clear how powerful this mode is for detail editing and I will be exploring and trying out the Trim techniques on my next edit. Mike even demonstrates an undocumented feature that is not covered in any manual but can be very usable depending on your workflow. I’d tell you about it, but I don’t want to give away the ending.

In section 3, "Filters, Keyers and Titlers," Mike goes in depth with many of Edius’ more powerful filters and keyers. He starts right away with one of the most underused features in Edius: the 3D Picture in Picture keyer. Once a user learns all the ways to use this tool it quickly becomes a versatile piece of your editing arsenal. Mike demonstrates a few key ways to use the 3D PnP function for a broadcast setting but these are easily adapted for use in event work if you just think about your productions and how to implement it. There is much more Mike could show in the 3D PnP filter, but this tutorial is for beginners and intermediate editors, so all the features are not covered. He also goes in depth with the Region filter and White Balance feature which are some of the more powerful filter tools in Edius. As the Filter section continues, Mike starts adding more and more filters to a clip to show both the functionality of the filters and also the Realtime ability of Edius. The concept of how filters are tweaked in Edius becomes clear pretty quickly, and a viewer will feel comfortable tweaking the filters in their own productions. The titler is also covered in pretty good detail. The titler included with Edius is a very basic titler and more in depth title work will need to be done in a third-party app. For the basic titles and scrolls that event editors use most often, Mike shows how easy and quick it is to work with.

Section 4, "Multi-Sequences and Multi-Cameras," is designed for the intermediate user. This chapter delves into how you can streamline your workflow with multi-sequences, but the main content revolves around Edius’ multi-cam functionality. Mike shows some really efficient ways to implement multi-cam functionality. As an Edius user, once you learn this functionality you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Mike makes the whole multi-cam functionality seem simple even for new users. This section is much shorter at only 15 minutes but covers the main points of using multi-cam and multi-sequences. It is a must-view for all Edius users.

Section 5, "Exporting" explains the process of exporting to tape (with or without timecode). There are some features in export I had never used like Batch Export from the timeline that I found interesting. The nature of our work may not utilize these features but at somepoint we will have a job that is not event related and knowing these features is a plus to keep in my arsenal. Mike goes through the Print to File function which is how the user exports for DVD, web delivery and a multitude for various formats. Mike shows, in more detail, the features of ProCoder Express so the user can see the simplicity of exporting to different formats with the ProCoder Express plugin. One feature users will want to check out is the Print to DVD option that was just added in version 4.5. This allows you to create easy quick basic DVDs. It probably isn’t a feature you will use for final authoring, but is real handy for quick DVD authoring with basic menus. You can’t create motion menus and Hollywood-type DVD menus, but for simple DVD authoring it is a great addition. Mike goes into many of the customizable features you are allowed to work with in the Print to DVD functionality. He will show you how easy it really is to create a DVD right in Edius.

Overall, Complete Training for Edius 4.5 is aimed at the beginner and intermediate editor but even advanced editors will learn a few things that will help them streamline their workflow. Everyone but Mike Downey, that is—he already seems to know all about it. Just a small side note on this tutorial: It recently received an Aegis Award for outstanding video production for self-paced training product. My kudos to Aegis on a great choice.

Thank you to Philip Hinkle for allowing his review to be posted on the Eyewitness Critic.

Corporate Video for the Event Videographer - Creative Images

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Corporate Video for the Event Videographer - Creative Images
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
In this DVD, Corporate Video for the Event Videographer, Darrell teaches the ins and out of corporate videography, and he does so in a way that caters to the event videographer. He shows how similar corporate video is to wedding video, how to market yourself, what equipment you will need, the basics of lighting a subject, and much more!

What Worked:
Darrell does a great job of explaining why corporate videography is important to the wedding videographer. He shares great insight as to the different aspects of coprorate video and the benefits of entering the low and middle end market. His discussions on lighting were extremly informative, and he takes away a lot of the reservations one might have regarding making the transition to corporate video. Also, there are numerous good examples of his work to learn from. The DVD runs 90 minutes, and keeps you interested the entire time.

What Didn't Work:
The only complaint that I have about this DVD is the unprofessional look of the presenter, Darrell. I know content is key, and the most important thing to consider when assessing the effectiveness of training material. On the other hand, I do believe image is one of the first things judged when making an assessment, and that applies in any aspect of life. It took me a while to get past the sloppy look of Darrell (he is not only voiceover, but you see him talking in the interview position for much of the video), with his uncombed hair, and unprofessional attire. If I wasn't reviewing the DVD for this blog, I probably wouldn't have watched more than 5-10 minutes of this video.

The Bottom Line:
Overall, I don't think the issue of Darrell's image should discourage anyone from purchasing this DVD, I only mention it because I believe maintaining a professional image is of the utmost importance. The content was top-notch, and if any wedding videographer is interested in getting into producing corporate video, this DVD should be at the top of their list. Tee DVD is available for $99.

Ratings:
Content: 4 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 3 out of 5
Worth the Price: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5

Ordinary to Extraordinary ~ Volume 1 & 2 - Randy Stubbs

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:23:00 +0000

Ordinary to Extraordinary ~ Volume 1 & 2 - Randy Stubbs
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
In this series, award-winning wedding videographer Randy Stubbs presents his unique view of capturing and interpreting the wide range of emotions on the wedding day. Randy will reveal his techniques that begin with interaction with the client, then getting the special shots, and finally, putting it all together in editing. The emphasis is on highlighting the emotional aspects of the Wedding Day...from humorous to romantic and all points in between.

What Worked:
Randy outlines and teaches specific ideas & tehniques for taking your productions from "ordinary to extraordinary." The techniques taught throughout the DVD are solid. Randy also uses some humor in the production of the DVD to help the viewer stay focused and maintain the viwer's interest.

What Didn't Work:
The DVD seemed very dragged out and I kept thinking to myself, "when is this going to end." This was due mainly because the amount of sample clips used to illustrate to points in which Randy was teaching and narrating were exccessive to say the least. Also, when teaching certain sections such as equipment and techniques to make the video look high end, many of the technique gave the opposite effect in seeming slightly amateur. On a side note, I didn't quite get the Volume 1 & 2 title of this DVD, as it ran approxamately 60 minutes in a concurrent fashion & presented as a single theme. This DVD would be more aurately titled as "Volume 1."

The Bottom Line:
While the footage was not that strong, and at times the video seemed boring, the ideas and techniques are solid for anyone who is entering the field of wedding videography or has been in the field producing lower end or cookie cutter productions. This DVD is available for purchase for $100.

Ratings:
Content: 3 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 3 out of 5
Worth the Price: 2.5 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5

Dream In Color - Joshua Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:10:00 +0000

Dream In Color - Joshua Smith
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary:
In this DVD, Joshua Smith, of Cinematic Bride takes you through the steps to creating visually stunning videos through the use of basic and advanced color correction. You have the opportunity to view several of Joshua's latest trailers, allowing you to see his color correction techniques and their implementation in his final videos. Also, there is a short "Creative Motion" section, where Joshua shares his philosphy on wedding video production.

What Worked:
There is no doubt that Joshua is extremely talented especially in the arena of colorization techniques, and this DVD shows nice samples of before and after clips that have been enhanced utilizing these techniques. He shows the viewer on an actual timeline and NLE interface, a step by step approach to adding filters and making adjustments to achieve a certain final look. You watch as he actually adjusts the values for different parts of eah filter. Also, I really liked the presentation of this DVD, as it comes in an upscale hard plastic case, with beautiful artwork combined with a well put together design.

What Didn't Work:
Unfortunately, good videos and a nice design is where it ends. The DVD claims that "if you have reached a level of quality in your videos, but just want to take them to the next level of creativity, Joshua Smith, of Cinematic Bride will share with you how he transforms his videos using amazing color correction techniques." The truth of the matter is that while Joshua does show you exactly what he is doing to each filter to change it, he does not explain the process or the underlying principles of color correction, (or colorization as he refers to it). He takes you through each scene adding filters and making adjustments, but never explains what the effects the adjustments will make on the final scene, why he selected the filter, or explain the final look he was trying to achieve. He heavily utilizes filters that include RGB color correction, levels, curves, output, and gamma, but never explains what these functions are actually doing and more importantly why he is choosing to make adjustments to each setting. It is obvious that Josh knows what he is doing. He adds the filters. He makes the adjustments. The final clips looks fantastic. But in the end, I am left asking myself, "how did he do that?"

The Bottom Line:
If you are in the market for an inspirational DVD, as you probably know by now, Joshua Smith creates some of the most visually stunning videos you will ever see, therefore making this DVD one that you may enjoy. However, this DVD promises to be more than it is, rendering it more as a basic inspirational video more so than a training video as it promotes. This DVD is available for purchase for $100.

Ratings:
Content: 2 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 3.5 out of 5
Worth the Price: 1.5 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5

Making of a 3D Photo Montage - PixelPops Design

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:29:00 +0000

Making of a 3D Photo Montage - PixelPops Design
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This DVD features an award winning 3D photomontage and teaches step-by-step lessons walking you through each part of the process to create the 3D Photo Effect using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects. Certain segments of the montage are deconstructed showing the process of what went into creating that particular segment.

What Worked:
This DVD is a visual tutorial on the techniques utilized to create these unique and amazing 3D montages. Many parts are shown step-by-step offering the viewing an excellent learning opportunity especially for those who learn best by watching. Photoshop techniques are broken down in detail including the proper use of the brush & lasso tools, mattes, keyboard shortcuts, and more.

What Didn't Work:
Even though I found this DVD to be extremely informative, it doesn't live up to what it promises. It claims that "the entire montage is de-constructed showing the process of what went into each sequence," but it only de-constructs certain sequences to show the viewer how it was done. They mention that you can learn more in depth techniques on other DVDs sold by PixelPops, but I would have preferred all relevant information be on this disc.

The Bottom Line:
The truth is that anyone who does not know how to create a 3D photomontage can benefit from this DVD. It shows a lot of good tips and techniques on the process, and while I feel it is not as complete as it could be, I would still recommend this DVD to anyone looking to improve the quality of their montages. This DVD retails at $125, but is currently on sale for $99.

Ratings:
Content: 3.5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4 out of 5
Worth the Price: 3.5 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5

GM Elliott Training ~ Volume 1 - Glen Elliott

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:24:00 +0000

GM Elliott Training ~ Volume 1 - Glen Elliott
Category: DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
GmElliott Training Volume 1 offers both an educational style DVD in which the commentary track is providing the educational content, as well as a completed wedding DVD, allowing the viewer to see what a client gets on their actual finished product. In addition to the commentary track, it also offers two different subtitle tracks offering insight into equipment and lens selection, and also the interview questions that Glenn uses to evoke the emotional responses used in the clients' final DVD.

What Worked:
What I appreciated most about this DVD was the multiple learning opportunities presented. It consists of many hours of quality content, with the most impressive being the ability to alternate between two different subtitle tracks, offering a wealth of information individually. Both subtitle tracks offer very good content, and the DVD offers a flexible learning opportunity for the viewer.

What Didn't Work:
The audio commentary could have been more informative, as Glenn spends almost as much time pointing out his shooting mistakes rather than teaching the viewer. Some may argue that this would be helpful to learn from other's mistakes, and I might agree in some situations, but it didn't fit in this particular case. As for the final DVD delivered to the client, I do think the shooting could have been a lot better.

The Bottom Line:
This was a tough DVD to review due to the abundance of material presented. While it has many negative aspects, it has even more positive ones. Overall, the production value is fantastic, and the content is good depending on what you are attempting to learn. I would definitely recommend this DVD to anyone looking for insight into the techniques to a successful post wedding client interview, for commentary to be used in the wedding video. Also, anyone looking for some general information on various subjects, Glen's commentary provides some insight into the short form wedding, equipment & lens usage, and more. This DVD can be purchased for $99.99.

Ratings:
Content: 3.5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4.5 out of 5
Worth the Price: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5

The Art of Moving Camera Techniques ~ Volume 1 - Mark & Trisha Von Lanken

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:47:00 +0000

The Art of Moving Camera Techniques ~ Volume 1 - Mark & Trisha Von Lanken
Category - DVD
Reviewed by: Anonymous User & Damon Dietz
Rating - 4.5

Summary:
Mark and Trisha have captured the very essence of "moving camera techniques." The DVD teaches the fundamentals on how to hold the camera and move the body so as to produce the most fluid moving shots possible without extra equipment.

What Worked:
Commentary is available on the utilization of the "moving camera techniques" in two separate sections, depending if you are using a handheld or shoulder mount camera. Mark also offers the viewer great insight into utilizing the manual settings on your camera. The DVD offers suggestions on low-cost camera equipment that can further improve the shot without breaking the bank.

What Didn't Work:
This DVD is jam packed with useful information on much more than just "moving camera techniques." The only negative to putting so many different things on one DVD, is the inability to elaborate on certain parts. I personally would have liked to have seen more in-depth look on the use of manual settings.

The Bottom Line:
The Art of Moving Camera Techniques is a must have for videographers who are new to videography or those who have opted for stationery camera shots in their productions. I would highly recommend this DVD as it is an excellent investment if you are looking to raise the value of your productions.
This DVD is available for purchase for $125.

Ratings:
Content: 4 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4.5 out of 5
Worth the Price: 4.5 out of 5
Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Reaching the Next Level ~ Sound Design - Steve & Laura Moses

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:06:00 +0000

Reaching the Next Level ~ Sound Design - Steve & Laura Moses
Category - DVD
Reviewed By: Damon Dietz
Rating - 3 out of 5

Summary:
Reaching the Next Level - Sound Design addresses the importance and utilization of sound in your Wedding, Love Story, and Concept Video Productions. Steve & Laura cover the use and implementation of dialogue, music, ambiance & room tone, sound effects, sound bites, and more.

What Worked:
The production and presentation of this video is very good, providing an overview and excellent examples of the various types of sound techniques used to enhance the quality of your productions. It describes the many technical terms and shares good insight relating to these numerous sound & audio techniques.

What Didn't Work:
There is a lot of strong and useful information of this DVD, but the pacing seems a bit slow. Also, the content is presented on an introductory level, leaving me wanting more advanced content.

The Bottom Line:
This is an good DVD for the beginning to intermediate videographer who is looking to create a higher end & more emotional production with the utilization & incorporation of sound. This DVD is available for $100.

Ratings:
Content: 3 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4 out of 5
Worth the Price: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5

How to Master the Art of Selling Anything - Tom Hopkins

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:35:00 +0000

How to Master the Art of Selling Anything - Tom Hopkins
Category - 12-Disc Audio CD Series
Reviewed By: Damon Dietz
Rating - 4 out of 5

Summary:
This twelve compact disc series teaches you the complete sales process from prospecting & original contact through to closing & getting referrals. The set consists of twenty-four sessions which explain: where and how to meet new prospects, effective qualification strategies, how to overcome customer objection, how to power close, how to turn rejection into success, and much more.

What Worked:
This audio set was not produced by a videographer or even specifically created for videographers, rather by a world renowned sales trainer, Tom Hopkins. I have personally found there to be a lack of good sales & marketing training material created specifically for videographers, but Tom does a tremendous job explaining the strategies that any field of business can implement to increase sales. This is ultimately the reason that we do everything else in this business; to make more money.

What Didn't Work:
There are definitely times throughout How to Master the Art of Selling Anything, that Tom speaks on items not related to the video business. There are nearly 12 hours of audio presented on the CD set, and this can be a good thing and a bad thing. Since Tom speaks on a variety of sales & marketing strategies related to any sales field, it can sometimes feel unrelated to what you are trying to learn.

The Bottom Line:
This product can help even the most business savvy videographer. There are so many solid and time-tested proven sales strategies presented not currently being effectively utilized by many videographers, that this set can help anyone who wants to improve the current state of their business. This product sells for $185 for the entire 12-Disc Audio CD Series.

Ratings:Content: 4 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4 out of 5
Worth the Price: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5

5 Short Form Weddings - Steve Fowler

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Five Short Form Weddings - Steve Fowler
Category - 2-Disc DVD Set
Reviewed By: Damon Dietz
Rating - 2 out of 5

Summary:
Steve Fowler of Video Experts have made their productions available now for the very first time with this two-disk DVD set containing five short-form wedding movies in their entirety. Each of these award winning short-form videos runs approximately 30 to 40 minutes in length.

What Worked:
Steve does a good job showing the viewer examples of short-form videos. While watching you can get excellent ideas on the layout and creation of how a video like this can be produced.

What Didn't Work:
5 Short Form Weddings claims the videos featured on this DVD are
guaranteed to thrill, excite and wow audiences alike. I was not so fortunate to experience these same emotions. In defense, these videos have won numerous awards; however, I personally wasn't impressed with the shooting or storytelling of these videos. The editing and layout of the short-form videos were fairly good, but I was disappointed with the variety of videos; once you watch the first one, there is no need to watch the remaining four, as they are all edited exactly the same. In addition, for what you are getting, I feel this product is extremely overpriced at $200.

The Bottom Line:
I think if you are in the market for learning how to create short form wedding videos, there are better products on the market.

Ratings:
Content: 2.5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 2 out of 5
Worth the Price: 1.5 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5

The Dissection of a Same Day Edit - Laura and Chris Randall

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:53:00 +0000

The Dissection of a Same Day Edit - Laura & Chris Randall
Category - DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
The Dissection of a Same Day Edit walks the viewer through how to create a Same Day Edit (SDE) from start to finish. You will follow Laura as she goes through the entire process on an actual timeline, and also have an opportunity to view six different Same Day Edits that you can watch with or without commentary.

What Worked:
The Dissection of a Same Day Edit gives great insight in to the planning and successful execution of the SDE. I was pleased with both the content & production value of this DVD, with the commentary being both informative & educational. Laura makes it easy to follow along by showing her timeline and her time saving tips for the wedding day. It seems as if a lot of work went into producing this product.

What Didn't Work:
The only thing that I believe could have been done to improve the quality of the production would be to give additional information on the process of audio capture and the utilization of audio during the SDE.

The Bottom Line:
I would recommended this DVD to anyone in the field of wedding videography who currently is not doing SDEs. The regular price on this DVD is $99, but is currently on sale at the 4Ever Group website for $65. This is a steal for this DVD and you should pick it up right away!

The Rating Breakdown:
Content: 4 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 4.5 out of 5
Worth the Price? 5 out of 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Event DV - The Authority for Event Videographers

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:38:00 +0000

Event DV - The Authority for Event Videographers
Category - Magazine
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Event DV is published monthly, and is free to anyone who subscribes. It covers the ins and out of the vast world of event videography and it's counterpart EventDV.net, offers a wealth of additional information including breaking up-to-date news, popular articles, and video tutorials.

What Worked:
So, is Event DV the authority for event videographers? I believe it is. The magazine is packed full of information on shooting, editing, marketing, branding, it seems I can go on forever. This all comes at a fantastic price - it's free!

What Didn't Work:
It all works. There is nothing I can say more than I love it!

The Bottom Line:
Subscribe. Enjoy.

The Rating Breakdown:
Content: 5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 5 out of 5
Worth the Price? 5 out of 5
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Blue Skies Cinema Presents - Short Form Weddings

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:34:00 +0000

Blue Skies Cinema Presents - Short Form Weddings
Category - DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
Jeff & Andee Wright put together a two disk DVD set containing 4 short form weddings in their entirety. The disc set contains multiple award winning videos presented in a short form format (25-45 minutes). This video is designed as an inspirational tool to aid wedding videographers in the area of the short form wedding video.

What Worked:
The best aspect of this DVD are the videos. If you are selling a DVD set with nothing more than videos, you better make sure they are good, and in this case they are. By watching the videos you will be able to some good ideas on the editing and creation of a short form video.

What Didn't Work:
I would like to comment on the overall value of this product. While the videos are very good, I can't help but mention the fact that all four of the videos seem very similar. It is my hopes that when purchasing a DVD for video content alone, that there be a little more variety, especially at the hefty price tag of $200. This could have been improved upon by either offering fewer videos at a lower price, or greater variety at the current price.

The Bottom Line:
I would recommend this DVD set to any wedding videographer who is currently looking to expand their skill set to include short form videos. However, this product is a bit overpriced, especially for anyone currently shooting cinematic or editing short form videos.

The Rating Breakdown:
Content: 4 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 3 out of 5
Worth the Price? 2 out of 5
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

Real Weddings Volume 1 - Mark and Trisha Von Lanken

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:47:00 +0000

Real Weddings - Volume 1
Category - DVD
Reviewed by: Damon Dietz
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Real Weddings, Volume 1 showcases one wedding in its entirety as delivered to the client. The DVD offers Mark & Trisha's insight into the technical and creative aspects of creating and delivering such a wedding film. With commentary on shooting & editing of a "Real Wedding," volume one offers the following: camera placement & shooting assignments, editing styles & techniques, audio sources & voice overs, time shifting, and much more.

What Worked:
I was extremely impressed with the presentation and production value of Real Weddings. When you first put in the DVD, you encounter a well designed motion menu with an epic-cinematic trailer playing as the background. You are presented with numerous selections on the main title screen, with the most impressive being the option to watch the entire wedding or individual segments with no commentary, or to select to watch the entire wedding with your choice of commentary regarding the shooting or editing of the wedding. This allows three individual learning opportunities for the viewer. One additional feature I felt was extremely informative, was the "Information & Resources" section of the DVD, where you get detailed instruction on how to navigate all the features of the DVD, as well as gaining insight into the equipment used in the production of this "Real Wedding."

What Didn't Work:
At first glance, $125 may seem a bit steep for a single 60 minute wedding, but with separate audio commentary for shooting & editing, this DVD is a real gem.

The Bottom Line:
This DVD should be utilized as an educational tool for anyone looking to learn about the overall process of producing a wedding video. From beginner to expert, documentary to cinematic, this video is a definite must have.

The Rating Breakdown:
Content: 4.5 out of 5
Presentation/Production Value: 5 out of 5
Worth the Price? 4 out of 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

How to Submit an "Upfront & Honest" Review

noreply@blogger.com (Damon Dietz) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:19:00 +0000

Here's how it works. It you would like to share your thoughts on any training materials that you have purchased, here is what you can do. Send the Eyewitness Critic an email with the following information.
1. Type of training material (i.e. DVD, book, seminar, etc.)
2. The company, producer, and name of product.
3. 3-5 sentences of your overall review of the product. This should include your thoughts on content, price, presentation, and overall value.
4. Finally, would you recommend this product to others. If yes, why? If no, why not?