Some people consider using music in a news-ish video to be heresy. They argue that it emotionally tugs at the viewer in all the wrong ways and strays from journalistic objectivity. Angela Grant of the News Videographer argues these points on her popular blog.
I disagree. I think music, if used well, can shape the narrative. [...]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Is Music Heresy?
Posted in Uncategorized on February 9, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Tremendous Interviews on WashPost’s On Being
Posted in Uncategorized on February 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A colleague referred me to washingtonpost.com’s On Being multimedia series. Basically, it is one-person interviews on an interesting topic that illuminates and reveals the person in front of the camera. The Gazette is planning a similar series in launching Iowa.com where we interview Iowans and present their voices. People, occupations and interests discussed — all [...]
MOVIE WATCH: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Posted in Uncategorized on February 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
This blog usually covers video and news, but with the advent of Oscar season, we will frequently cover the terrain of filmed entertainment; or, in other words, movies! I have seen many of the award-nominated films this winter including The Wrestler and Gran Torino. This weekend, my wife and I saw Slumdog Millionaire.
The most striking [...]
Production Advice: Foregrounding
Posted in Uncategorized on January 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Often, you find straight on medium shots of interview subjects boring. You can spice up your shots by inserting something in the foreground in front of the subject. In the video below, I feel the interview shots are more visually interesting because I am shooting thru the foregrounded model airplane wings and other parts.
I once [...]
Animal Stories
Posted in Uncategorized on January 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It seems at times I got inundated with certain types of stories — traffic accidents, weather stories etc. Now it’s animal stories. Below is a video about a woman in Cedar Rapids who feeds stray cats that populate empty houses in Time Check. I think animal stories are popular in the newsroom because reporters and [...]
Uncomfortable on Camera
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Cedar Rapids, Eastern Iowa, Flood of 2008, Hurricane Katrina, Iowa, on camera, production on September 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I often find myself with an interview subject who is uncomfortable about going in front of the camera for an interview. They are nervous and think they are going to make themselves look bad. My strategy is to be gently stern. You have to insist that you will go on with the interview while making [...]
