Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduc5on to Video Journalism, Final Cut Basics
Jeff Young
jryoung@gmail.com
Mul5media News of the Week
Mul5media News of the Week
Mul5media News of the Week
Mul5media News of the Week
• Na5onal Press Photographer’s Associa5on gave only
one video award this year, an honorable men5on.
• Blogger asked: “Why didn’t you award first through
third in news video?”
• The Response: theresa: @Colin – this was a real
struggle for us. Many were full of technical errors and
ignored the basic principles of photojournalism. We
saw lots of evidence of urgency, however we really
couldn’t award anything that had technical or
fundamental errors.
Video for Print Journalists
• Small cameras can
make big news.
• Example:
Newsweek
interview
When to use video …
When to use video …
• Does the subject involve unusually visual or
ac5on‐based material?
When to use video …
When to use video …
• Does the subject involve unusually visual or
ac5on‐based material?
• Does the story evoke emo5on or involve
people talking about emo5onal issues?
When to use video …
When to use video …
• Does the subject involve unusually visual or
ac5on‐based material?
• Does the story evoke emo5on or involve
people talking about emo5onal issues?
• Does the story involve subject maXer that is
difficult to explain unless shown?
When to use video …
When to use video …
• Does the subject involve unusually visual or
ac5on‐based material?
• Does the story evoke emo5on or involve
people talking about emo5onal issues?
• Does the story involve subject maXer that is
difficult to explain unless shown?
• Would a juxtaposi5on of images make a
stronger statement than words?
When to use video …
Good Videos Have Focus
No need to tell an en5re print story in a video.
Short is best!
Example: St. Louis Times Post‐Dispatch series
(won Online News Associa5on award last year)
Preparing for a Shoot
• Pre‐report
Preparing for a Shoot
• Pre‐report
• The interview is not the 5me to think up
ques5ons (plan story points)
Preparing for a Shoot
Preparing for a Shoot
• Adam Ellick: “i did a 3 hour print interview the
first 5me i met the main guy. that gave me the
wide founda5on to decide how to crad the vid
narra5ve. then we met up when things happened
to him‐ like the embassy funding scene. it also
took several days without the camera with get
permission to talk to the girls. we had to go
through their grandfather, who was cool, but s5ll
lives according to local customs. so it was
basically a part 5me project for a month. some
weeks less than a hour. other weeks, 3‐5 days.”
Preparing for a Shoot
• Pre‐report
• The interview is not the 5me to think up
ques5ons (plan story points)
• Check equipment in advance and be prepared
(bring extra baXeries and film)
Interview Basics
• Don’t let the equipment get in the way
Interview Basics
• Don’t let the equipment get in the way
• Don’t have the subject stare directly into the
camera
Shoo5ng Tips
Shoo5ng Tips
• Leave “headroom” … but not too much
Shoo5ng Tips
• Leave “headroom” … but not too much
• Think about the background
Shoo5ng Tips
• A few words about the Flip:
Shoo5ng Tips
• A few words about the Flip:
• Don’t zoom!
Shoo5ng Tips
• A few words about the Flip:
• Don’t zoom!
• Don’t pan (for the most part)
Shoo5ng Tips
• A few words about the Flip:
• Don’t zoom!
• Don’t pan (for the most part)
• Use a tripod (or something to act as a tripod)
Video Shoot Demonstra5on
• Need 2 volunteers…
Final Cut Pro Basics
Homework
Video #1: Man on the Street interview. (30 points)
• The interview must not exceed three minutes and must be at least
one minute.
• You will be graded on how well you apply the framing, ligh5ng and
audio lessons covered in class. The use of tripods or some other
sta5onary camera is required.
• Must ask the subject to say his or her name, spell it on camera, give
their age, indicate their occupa5on, or city (and state) of residence.
Think of the video camera as a notebook. These ini5al ques5ons
and answers must be included in the posted video in order for
students to receive full credit for the assignment.
• Videos must be posted on the class blog by start of next class, as
usual.