What is Video production?

Video production is the process of creating video by capturing moving images (videography), and creating combinations and reductions of parts of this video in live production and post-production (video editing). In most cases the captured video will be recorded on the most current electronic media such as SD cards. In the past footage was captured on video tape, hard disk, or solid state storage. Video tape capture is now obsolete and solid state storage is reserved for just that, storage. It is now distributed digitally in formats such as the Moving Picture Experts Group format (.mpeg, .mpg, .mp4), QuickTime (.mov), Audio Video Interleave (.avi), Windows Media Video (.wmv), and DivX (.avi, .divx). It is the equivalent of filmmaking, but with images recorded digitally instead of on film stock.

OverView

Practically, video production is the art and service of creating content and delivering a finished video product. This can include production of television programs, television commercials, corporate videos, event videos, wedding videos and special-interest home videos. A video production can range in size. Examples include:

• a family making home movies with a prosumer camcorder,
• a solo camera operator with a professional video camera in a single-camera setup (aka a “one-man band”),
• a videographer with a sound person,
• a multiple-camera setup shoot in a television studio
• a production truck requiring a television crew for an electronic field production (EFP) with a production company using set construction on the backlot of a movie studio.

Shooting styles and techniques include:

• using a tripod for a locked-down, stable shot;
• hand-held for a larger frame of motion to attain more jittery camera angles or looser shots to depict natural movement
• incorporating various camera angles such as the Dutch angle (see Mission Impossible), Whip pan (see the opening of Hot Fuzz) and Whip zoom (see the Kiddo/Driver fight in Kill Bill Vol. 2);
• on a jib or crane that smoothly soars to varying heights as seen in the finale of the movie Grease;
• with a Steadicam for smooth movement as the camera operator incorporates moving cinematic techniques such as moving through rooms, as seen in The Shining.