The Dvd Structure

Writen by Kevin Round Georgia Hospital

There is a single file format specified for use with all the DVD Books A - D.This file system is the UDF/ISO-9660 Bridge format. UDF (Universal Disc Format) was designed specifically for optical media and has evolved from the ISO-9660 format. The benefit of this single file system is the ability for the DVD media to be compatible across set top players and personal computers with DVD ROM players.

The top level of organisation on a DVD disc is a volume. The volume contains a single DVD Video zone which contains all the data elements for the set-top video title, and a DVD others zone which can be used for non-DVD-video data elements such as desktop computer applications. It is important to note that currently set top players cannot accss the DVD Other zones as they only know how to access the DVD video zone. Computers can access the DVD Other zones and run applications that allow for a fuller interaction with the DVD Video zone.

DVD Volume structure

At the top of the structure is the DVD as a whole with its DVD other and video zone. Within the DVD video zone is the video manager, which is a master directory for the data elements, followed by 1 to 99 video title sets which inclue the video and audio elements. The video manager usually includes an introductory clip of video such as a logo, and a menu for navigation.

Video Title sets and Video Objects

Following the video manager are the video title sets. A DVD can contain multiple title sets. A Video Title Set (VTS) is made up of a VTS Menu, and one or more video titles. Titles in turn can be broken down into Parts of Titles (PTT). The data within the video title is made up of Video Object Sets (VOBS), which are made up of one or more Video Objects (VOB). A video object is made up of the video audio, navigation data and subpictures for a programme. It is the VOB which is the fundamental media file element of the DVD disc. The lowest branch of the DVD structure is the cell. Each VOB can be broken down into one or more cells. A cell may be as large as the entire movie or as small as an MPEG GOP (Group of Pictures).

For example a movie with 5 chapters would have one video manager, one title set, one title, one VOBS made up of one VOB and 10 cells. Multiple Title Sets and VOBS become apparent when interactive titles are created.

A DVD that included an interactive music video programme with ten artists, each with five videos, artist information. In this case the disc would have: on video manager, ten Video Title Sets, multiple Titles for each video. The reason for this division is that the DVD remote control has both Title and Menu buttons. The user can click on the Title button to return to the main DVD menu to select a title, or click on the Menu button to go to the menus for the particular title being viewed.

Kevin Round is a Director of Cofiant, a video editing and dvd authoring company based in the UK.

Video Production Tips Working With Kids

Writen by Kurt Snider Georgia Hospital

If your video production calls for working with kids, whatever the age, it pays to make the child the most important person on set. Treat children with respect, guidance and generosity to get the performance you desire.

When working with young children, it's necessary to provide them with fun games, age appropriate snacks, meals and drinks as well as a "treat" for a good performance. Try to work with a Director who has experience with children as they will be more open to kid lingo and personalities.

Older children often take acting very seriously and will want to learn as much as possible. Be prepared to answer questions and explain what will happen during the shoot. They will be more likely to work with you if you give them a tour of the set and introduce them to the "grown up" crew and make them feel special to the production.

Regardless of age, make sure to abide by state laws concerning time restrictions and on-set schooling. Each state has different laws; for example California requires a work permit for children working in theatrical employment, whereas Arizona does not.

Above all, relax and enjoy yourself. Remember that children will only listen for limited periods of time, after which pushing them just leads to frustration for everyone. The key is to be ready to get the good shots quickly and anything after that is a bonus. Kids can enhance your production value so make it a fun experience for all!

Kurt Snider is the owner of Solana Productions, an Emmy award winning video production company with offices located in San Diego, Los Angeles and Seattle. For more information, please visit http://www.solanaproductions.com

What Is Video Marketing

Writen by Scott M. Britner

People never change. Nor do their basic desires. They've existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist for thousands more.

Names of people will change. Technology will change. People's desires won't – their desires are hard-wired into our DNA.

That's good for you – as a video creator. By knowing what people want, you can profit from their desires. And since their desires are predictable, your ability to make money from your video ideas just got a lot more profitable, as well.

So, you must be wondering what do people want.

The top three general desires revolve around: Food, Love, and Money.

There will ALWAYS be a market for new recipes, new tips on love, and new on ways to make money. Guaranteed!

This will never change. Ever.

So if you have an idea that fits in one of those categories - you are well on your way to creating a viral video. It doesn't have to be an original thought on the subject.

A great thing about video is you can use existing text-based content as your guide. Just convert it to video, make it interesting and you've got a hit on your hands.

What else are people interested in…

* Security
* Sex
* Power
* Immortality
* Happiness
* Safety
* Health
* Recognition

Some more generalized topics would be things like:

To attract the opposite sex.
To keep their possessions.
To have more fun.
To satisfy curiosity.
To protect their family.
To be in style.
To have beautiful possessions.
To quench their appetite.
To emulate others.
To avoid trouble.
To avoid criticism.
To be an individual.
To protect their reputation.
To grab opportunities.
To make work easier.

When you brainstorm ideas for your video, keep these customer desires in mind.

NOTE: Go with a subject you're already passionate about or something you would want to watch.

Don't make this process harder than it has to be. If you're already passionate about gardening, cooking, investing, pet health, etc. then look in that area for the subject of your video.

Find something that really gets you excited! And it will probably something that will get others excited – excited enough to get them to share it with others.

If you need some additional ideas for topics then I'd suggest browsing these sites:

http://buzz.yahoo.com/
http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html
http://50.lycos.com/

Spend some time surfing these sites for the hot topics of the moment. Compare them to your interests. Then take action by creating a video and make sure you have income potential with each video you launch.

Scott M. Britner created iVideoMarketer.com - a 3rd grade simple and all-in-one solution for anyone to make money with the viral power of video and multiple income streams. It provides a way to post video anywhere on the internet and make money for the life of the video.

Get an 80% discount at: http://www.iVideoMarketer.com/Coupon.cfm

How To Star In Your Own Promotional Video

Writen by Marie-Claire Ross

Well, it's official. You are going to star in the company marketing video (or commercial) and you will have a part talking to camera. After ringing your mother, to let her know about your newly found fame, reality hits in. How are you going to pull this off?

The good news is a charismatic business leader can add tremendous impact and clout to a marketing video or commercial. The bad news is that few leaders have the right skills to talk to the camera in a natural manner.

But before you get put off, talking to camera is a skill. And any skill can be learned.

Here are some tips to help bring the sparkle into your 'moment of glory'.

1. Wear the right clothes. If you are the CEO, a suit is the right way to go. Opt for conservative colours and stay away from checks, stripes and reds. They do not film very well and serve as a distraction to the viewer.

2. Go for makeup (whether you're male or female). A nice even skin tone, neat hair and a quick brush with powder can help keep the shine away. Once you get under the bright lights of a film set, it will be hard not to perspire (even more so, if you are nervous). A professional make up artist will also make you feel special and more confident in front of the camera.

3. Trust the director. Forget that you are the client and realise that you are now the talent. Let the professionals do their work and let go. While this might be difficult for most people, it can be a refreshing change. Let yourself get bossed around and don't worry about how it's all going to work.

4. Relax. Forget about the pressing amount of work piling up on your desk. Focus on the most important task for the day – your cameo. If you are relaxed you are more likely to be easy-going and friendly. This will enable the director to elicit the best performance from you.

5. Rehearse. Always have your lines prepared and don't expect that you can wing it on the day. It's amazing how a big camera in your face can make you forget what you wanted to say. Rehearse your lines over and over again in front of a mirror. Make sure you look and sound natural. Practise speaking clearly and with a smile on your face. Rehearse as many times as you can. The more confident you are in giving an appealing speech, the better you will be and the less takes will needed. This will help reduce costs. If you don't feel comfortable with your performance, hire a media trainer beforehand to coach you on talking to camera.

6. Have fun! The shoot will be much slower than you anticipated. Lights and audio equipment can take a while to set up. If you are shooting outside, waiting for the sun to make an appearance on a cloudy day can also be painstakingly slow. Take a book with you and any work you can do in downtime. And just bask in the glory of being part of an exciting film shoot!

(c) Marie-Claire Ross 2005. All rights reserved.

Marie-Claire Ross is one of the partners of Digicast. Digicast works with organisations who are not satisfied that their marketing and training materials are helping their business grow. She can be contacted on 0500 800 234 (Australia wide) or at mc@digicast.com.au. The website is at http://www.digicast.com.au