Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2: Visual Quickstart Guide

What Is Watchable Video?

For better or for worse, what's on television today defines what's “watchable.” Next time you're watching television, pay attention to the following elements.

First, in most shows, note the relative lack of camera motion. Specifically, while the show shifts from camera to camera, there is very little panning (moving the camera from side to side) or fast zooming (changing the zoom magnification either into or away from the subject). You'll almost never see the shaking that evidences a hand-held camera.

Second, note how transitions are used as the behind-the-scenes producer shifts from camera to camera. Transitions are visual effects that help smooth the change from shot to shot. Inside of a scene, or within a series of ...