Getting off the theoretical cloud

Posted on August 17, 2007 by Melissa Worden

Today Nora Paul and Julie Jones kicked us out of our oh-so-comfy video classroom nest at the Multimedia News Producers Workshop, and we hit the streets of Minneapolis with our loaner Canon XH A1 cameras and in search of a video story after picking a neighborhood spot from a list of assignment options.

My video buddy (Barbara) and I headed over to The Wienery for some practice.

Poor Barbara got to hear me whine and cry and “cluck” all morning about how nervous I was to go out. Really. I was so WAY outside of my comfort zone.

And I’m not sure why because I certainly don’t have any qualms about sticking a big microphone in someone’s face to gather audio.

It must have been a mental block for me. Or maybe because I SO hate to be on camera, I feel uncomfortable trying to capture someone else on film, too?

Regardless, I was both looking forward to and dreading my assignment. But I traveled all the way from Florida to Minneapolis to do this, so I HAD to do it.

Before I went out, Joe Weiss (also at the workshop to teach an audio slideshow track) reminded me that this is all about storytelling. Good journalism. And, of course, he’s right. It’s what I enjoy doing, and video is my new tool with which I can tell it.

And you know what?? It was a lot of fun.

When we first arrived, I got my feet wet by shooting the outside of the restaurant for a bit. Shot some b-roll of the area and the people hanging around outside. And when I got bored of that, I marched right in the restaurant, introduced myself, told the cook/owner, two women patrons sitting at the table, and a biker dude that walked in later that I’m learning and could I practice on them?

I tried out some wide-medium-tight shots, looked for opportunities of sequencing (although that was quite difficult; I’m not sure if I got that), tried to always enter frame, tried to keep my fingers off the zoom, got to play with a wireless mic, tested my interviewing skills, and overcame a fear I’ve had for really absolutely no reason.

I’m tired; since we didn’t use tripods, my arm hurt from holding the camera (note to self: go to the gym!); and I have no idea if what I shot can be edited into any form of video (we do that tomorrow morning).

But I had fun. And I learned so much in just one afternoon.

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Tags: training, video

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