Tv News Week 1 Camera Workshop Fall2009

TV News

Are you the next Lloyd Robertson or Dwight Drummond? Is ESPN

calling you? Move over Ben Mulroney!

Why be a TV journalist?

The free wardrobe allowance?

The hair and makeup, even at 4 o’clock in the morning?

The big bucks? Because you like it

when strangers come up to you on the street and think they are your best friend?

Answer:

All of the above, except perhaps the big bucks.

Videography Lesson

Kinds of shots you need to get for a regular TV story:

Rule #1

Always use a tripod --if at all possible

Rule #2

WHITE BALANCE when changing locations

White Balance

Wide/Establishing Shot

Tells the viewer “where are you?” Locates the action for a viewer

Medium Shot

More interesting. Viewer can detect some specific activity

but still not 100% sure what is happening--needs your narration to help explain it better.

Close up

Even more interesting visual. You now care about the person being shown.

Usually introduces a sound byte/excerpt of interview

Extreme Close up

Used to show extreme emotion.Not used in every story but good to

shoot these just in case you need it later for editing purposes.

cutaway

Related to the story but not directly. Helps transition from one thought to

another.Often used as reaction shots to action.

Stand Up

SOT/Interview

People are most interesting

Shots with people are engaging for viewers

Use varied shot angles

Make it visually interesting

Objective angle

Subjective shots

Point of View

Use lines to make it interesting

Cautious use of these types of Shots

Pan left/right -- panoramic --horizontalTilt up/down --verticalZoom in/outNOTE: these shots take a long time to

film --boring to the viewer if long-- but always shoot some.