Kiss your crappy looking home video goodbye! This accessible guide for the classroom and living room provides step-by-step instructions on how to create professional-looking, exciting documentaries. Written for people who have no prior video production experience, the book offers an overview of documentary filmmaking and its elements, basic production concepts and processes, and the skills that lead to successful video production. The content is divided into five parts: the basic types and concepts of video production, the planning process, the shoot, and the post-production process. Classroom-friendly elements include a systematic training program with ten ready-to-do sample projects of various levels of difficulty and numerous exercises. A critical analysis of popular television programs and feature documentaries introduces readers to the artistic and cultural background of documentary filmmaking. Anyone seeking to discover his/her inner filmmaker, or use real-life video as a fun teaching tool will need this timely companion.