Video Basics

Video Basics, 8th Edition, by Herbert Zettl, is a textbook providing streamlined instruction in video production. Published in 2018 by Cengage Learning, this edition offers a concise alternative to the author's Television Production Handbook tailored for single-semester study.

The volume addresses foundational video concepts and workflows before examining practical production tools and techniques. It explores how working in diverse production settings—including studios, field locations, indoor spaces, and outdoor environments—affects video work.

Throughout the material, a conceptual framework helps students bridge the gap between formulating what to create and applying techniques to generate the image on video.