Book Review : 'Making YouTube Videos'

 

The Wacky Duo

So your kids want to be YouTubers but need to know where to start. How about getting a book titled Making YouTube Videos for help?


Let's face it, the generation today does not watch Tv anymore. In place of the usual channels, kids nowadays are obsessed with YouTube. Blame it on the proliferation of mobile platforms and improved connectivity. So it is not surprising that YouTube has become their staple tv programme.

Not only are they hooked, but they have also professed their desire to be YouTubers. Before you scream 'blue murder', it is not a bad idea. After all, top YouTubers get a million or more by posting videos online. Moreover, in today's technologically advanced reality, traditionally desired occupations such as doctors, lawyers, and bankers are no longer the top draw for youngsters.

I was a child before I became a parent. At that time, I was given the liberty of choice by my own parents. As such,  I am trained to leave life choices to my children. I may nudge them here and there on the path to a future career, but I only do so to let them achieve their potential. When I learned about the Dummies series producing books for young kids, I found thats an opportunity to learn with the kids on topics close to their hearts.

Making YouTube videos targets children from ages 7-12. This book sets itself up in four main stages. Getting started, shoot, edit and share. Attaching the YouTube Name is merely a marketing gimmick if you ask me. On the contrary, this book teaches the essentials of filming. Each individual section expands on the basics of videography.

It starts off by telling you the various equipment you should use. The more interesting bits are the shooting section, where the author( Nick Willoughby- a kids' filmmaking teacher)  shares the process and tips for getting the footage for the video. The editing portion focuses on videos edited on iMovie, so it is recommended that you have the app installed on your Macs, tablet or phone. At this stage, the boys did their videography on the iPhone and had already explored iMovie. In fact, they had already started making their own blockbuster, with the older boy being the director and the younger one willing to act as the video star.

The YouTube part comes in the book's final chapter,  where it guides you on how to upload videos to YouTube. With today's technology, you only need a portion of the chapter to upload the video. However, the book touch on useful bits about what happens AFTER you upload the videos. This includes a section on changing the video setting on Youtube.

Overall it is an easy book to read. An oldie like me also picked up some tips on filming. As someone who prefers photography to videography, it is a good read as videos would help to add to the creative arsenal. One thing that might be lacking in the book is a section that teaches about the dangers that lurk on the Internet. It would be helpful to highlight what a child should or should not do on Youtube. This includes posting undesirable videos and, more importantly, getting permission from adults before you post.

There is no harm in making videos created for home entertainment. As they say, practice makes perfect. With the aid of the book, we might have a potential Steven Spielberg or George Lucas in the making.

If you want to check out the videos we made, do visit our Youtube website at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWackyDuo

Other titles are available for younger kids too. From Modding Minecraft to Coding, the book suits you. Older kids can refer to the Dummies for Kids series as guides. Do note that some books require you to have access to computers or to register or purchase the game (e.g. Minecraft ) before proceeding. Also, note that the codes in these books last for a limited time only. Making YouTube videos does not have that restriction, making it a timeless guide for kids who want to be the next video star. 

Available in major bookstores.

Disclosure: Sponsored

The Wacky Duo were provided with the books for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.