Using Character to Tell Video Journalism Stories

December 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Returnees

WASHINGTON, DC, 28 December 2013 — This is another of the films produced during my recent Backpack Video Journalism Workshop in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Maria Garcia produced this story about Uruguayans who are returning to their home country after having spent years abroad, mostly Spain, looking for economic opportunity. It’s a microcosm, really, of the broader story of global migration in search of a better life. Following a tried and true storytelling technique, Maria uses the experiences of one or two persons to exemplify and to embody the broader stories of millions.

Click HERE to watch Maria’s story.

 

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“See, Tell, Change,” With Video Journalism and Ikusi

December 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Ikusi

WASHINGTON, DC, 21 December 2013 — This is the essence, the very core, the embodiment of what can be achieved with visual communication. It is the confluence of passion and technology. It is everything that communication can be. It is what I teach my students and it is what I, myself, aspire to. It is called Ikusi.

Pictured above is Valentina Quagliotti, a Uruguayan exchange student at American University in 2010. On the right is Valentina’s younger sister, Agustina. When I met Valentina, her non-profit, Ikusi, still was only a dream, a dream about making positive social change with video. Today it is a reality, and I’m privileged to say that I’ve just returned from Uruguay where I conducted a Video Journalism Workshop and a number of presentations, on behalf of Valentina’s non-profit. The trip was organized by Valentina and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo.

Valentina just published her group’s video report for 2013. Click HERE to see it. At the end you’ll see the group’s logo and slogan: “See, Tell, Change.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing.

She inspires me.

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Here’s How It’s Done

November 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Gulick

WASHINGTON, DC, 22 November 2013 — Good to hear from all of you who asked about the technique used in making some of the images in the National Park Service film that I posted yesterday.

Here’s the answer to how two former students of mine, Sarah Gulick and Erin Finicane, did it. To achieve the slow-motion shots of, for example, the young hiker, they used this Sony camera: http://tinyurl.com/n3majx3, with a shutter speed of 60 frames per second. And they exported that footage at 24 frames per second, giving the piece that dreamy look. Because of the camera’s internal, optical stabilizer, they were able to hand-hold the camera. Not all of the shots were made with the Sony. Some of the rock-solid atmospheric shots were made with an HDSLR, and sometimes with the camera mounted on a tripod.

And although that $600 Sony camera is good for this type of effect, Sarah Gulick warned me that it’s not too good for sound. So you have to really be selective about when you use it, and for what purpose.

I hope that helps.

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