I wish to thank the supportive team of publishing professionals at Focal Press who helped make this new and improved third edition a reality. I would particularly like to thank Carlin Reagan who walked me down the home stretch. I hope we continue to honor the legacy of Mr Roy Thompson who penned the first edition so many years ago. The goal we all share in producing this media manual is to get the pertinent information about shooting motion pictures into the minds and hands of the next generation of visual storytellers. I hope that this revised third edition continues to inform and inspire all those readers who are just beginning their creative journey into the world of motion media production.
As a professor of integrated visual media at Framingham State University, I benefit from being surrounded by fellow educators and a continuously refreshed supply of students in the communication arts. The environment fosters much innovation and new approaches to teaching and learning about our discipline. I wish to acknowledge the support of my colleagues and the helpful contributions from all of my students over the years. The same goes for my experiences while teaching at Boston University and at the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts. A collective thank you to everyone who has added to my growth as an educator and filmmaker.
As a media professional, I wish to thank my many collaborators and clients who have helped me to continue learning and to explore new techniques in telling their unique stories.
I am also grateful to the third edition’s proposal and manuscript reviewers for their helpful suggestions and critiques, with a special thank you to John Rosenberg.
Additionally, I would like to thank my on-camera talent for their time and cooperation: Rachael Swain, Caitlin Harper, Crystal Haidsiak, Olivia Lospennato, Jacob Cuomo, Elizabeth Lospennato, Rajiv Roy, Stacie Seidl, Timi Khatra, Wendy Chao, Hannah Kurth, Alexander Scott, Stacy Shreffler, Eliza Smith, Emily Klamm, and Tucker and Ghost. The majority of photographs are by the author, with a small but significant contribution donated by Miss Rachael Swain. The line art diagrams and the majority of the hand-drawn illustrations are also by the author. Once again I must offer my thanks and appreciation to Jean Sharpe, who donated her time and skills to illustrating much of the second edition – some of whose illustrations are reproduced here to relive their useful purpose.
Lastly, I acknowledge my family for their support and offer extra special thanks to Emily Klamm who has been there through the thick and thin of it all.
This book is for all people who wish to learn the basics about shooting film and video. I hope you have fun and enjoy the ride. If you would like to learn more about the topic, find additional resources, or contact the author, please visit the author’s website www.fellswaycreatives.com.
For my #1 Mom