Here’s my short list of the the best books for getting started in video production. Have you come across a favorite that’s not on this list? Let me know via the contact form.
Visual Storytelling: The Digital Video Documentary by Nancy Kalow (Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, 2011).
This e-book is the best starting point for anyone who wants to make a short documentary using a consumer camcorder, D-SLR, or smartphone. It provides an accessible and comprehensive step-by-step guide to making videos with a one-person crew. Covers planning, shooting interviews and b-roll, and editing. Kalow also covers the ethics of telling other people’s stories.
Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production by Anthony Q. Artis (2nd edition, Focal Press, 2014).
This book provides the most readable and practical introduction to production craft of any book currently available. With this and Visual Storytelling you’ll be off to a very good start.