The MediaStorm Field Guide to Powerful Multimedia Storytelling is now available for the iPad on iTunes. Featuring interactive guides, photo galleries and videos from the MediaStorm Online Training series, the iBook is the most comprehensive field guide we’ve produced to date.

The MediaStorm Field Guide outlines fundamental concepts for gathering multimedia content in the field for documentary films. The guide is based on MediaStorm’s years of experience shooting and producing award-winning projects.

The guide serves as a quick reference for important concepts, from picking appropriate gear, to setting up audio correctly, to shooting b-roll and backing up media.

Additionally, each chapter’s most important points are conveniently repurposed into a series of checklists to make it easy to remember best practices even when on the go.

Featuring in-depth explanations of key concepts and video examples from the MediaStorm Online Training series and the MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop, the MediaStorm Field Guide to Powerful Multimedia Storytelling is a handy companion for professionals and students alike.

1. Gear

Provides a list of essential gear to bring to the field, plus an interactive gear guide and discussion with director of photography Rick Gershon about his kit.

2. Finding the Story

Discusses the keys to finding good characters.

3. The Video Interview

Explains how to visually compose the interview, set up audio and lighting equipment, and details best practices for conducting an interview.

4. B-roll

Outlines shooting techniques used to create good b-roll, including how to sequence and shoot for continuity, and tips for shooting on and off tripod.

5. Stills for Multimedia

Explains how to shoot stills for a multimedia piece, including how to shoot good portraits, details and sequences.

6. Audio

Shows the basics of capturing good audio, including avoiding common problems like plosives and detailing the importance of ambient audio.

7. Organizing for the Edit

Explains how to organize and backup media in the field.

8. Checklists

Provides checklists with key points from each chapter to make it easy to remember best practices even when on the go.

“If I could have one single text for teaching video storytelling, it would be the MediaStorm Field Guide. It’s easy to use (mobile friendly and accessible in the field), and most importantly, easily digestible. Students just learning video storytelling are often overwhelmed with too much information about camera settings, editing software and story concepts. Of all the different text books, manuals, handouts and online tutorials, the MediaStorm Field Guide is the one that majority of students actually watch and absorb. The interactivity and ‘tell, then show’ approach simplifies the fundamentals and gets the whole class up to speed quickly to start building their own video narratives.” - Gary W. Green, Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Journalism

divinitynine

Just great.

Quick and succinct. Demonstrates the workflow used by the team to make their products in the field. It's literally a field guide. So good I'm buying their post-production workflow course on their Web site now. Recommended if you're thinking of moving from still photography to multimedia.

_eliasp

Better than expected

Most of these so called Field Guides we find on the market focus too much on equipment and gear. Chapter 2, finding the story is as crucial as the technical part and I really appreciate you guys included that. I can't say a lot because that's where I stopped reading it before I left for work, but as a photojournalist and photography instructor your ten dollars will be well worth it.

ShawnCet

Invaluable

The MediaStorm Field Guide is an incredible resource. Especially for beginning up to intermediate-level film makers and multimedia journalists. With the glut of disparate and not-always-helpful learning resources online, this guide offers comprehensive and succinct guidance from skilled and experienced visual storytellers. For $10, you get info that, if applied, will improve your work. As a filmmaker and photographer specializing in documentary, editorial and commercial imagery, I ask all assistants I work with to get and read this field guide.

AJO TECH

What a great guide wow!

I have always studied MediaStorm’s videos in great length for guidance, so to have this guide was simply mind blowing! I have read it cover to cover and have picked up so much I can't wait to read it again. Thank you MediaStorm! Now if you can create a guide on motion/info graphic elements I will look forward to purchasing it for my iPad as well.

LewisWilk

Concise Review of Essentials & Great Checklists

This is a great application of iBook capability. It provided me with the concise just-in-time knowledge when I needed it yesterday and I could show it to my assistant so he knew what I wanted. For that reason alone I am taking it on every shoot. Super for any photographers moving into multimedia. I love it for the checklists, too.

grevindev

A must read for photo and video journalists

This truly is an essential book for anyone who wants to learn about what it takes to put together top notch multimedia pieces. Includes great technical advice, as well as artistic pointers. $10 is a bargain, I'll be referencing this over and over again. MediaStorm always produces quality work, and this book doesn't fall short of their standard.