Intro to Advanced Multimedia Reporting

Image: Nyasha Kadandara

Introduction

Video journalism has changed a lot in recent years. The arrival of DSLR video cameras meant that ten years ago, it was suddenly affordable to shoot and edit a 1080p HD video as a “one-man-band” and the quality of the resulting product would blow editors away.

These days, with the sudden ubiquity of 4K UHD (Ultra HD) and other advances in technology, video has become a bit of an arms race—it’s become more expensive to stay competitive. There are still plenty of outlets that will hire you if you’re shooting on a Canon 5D (DSLR) or equivalent, but more and more are looking for a cinema camera (like a Sony FS7) that shoots in 4K. Many outlets are also looking for someone who can deliver extra bells and whistles like drone footage and gimbal footage. But there are rental options like KitSplit that have popped up to help you work at that high level without having to go deep into credit card debt. And video tends to pay better than print or still photography, so it has that going for it as well.

Here’s me.

Now your turn: What are you hoping to get out of this class, and what sort of video storytelling interests you? Feature-length documentaries, dream job (VICE? BuzzFeed? NYT?), subject matter, style, breaking news, short docs… what would you like to do?

Syllabus

Advanced-Multimedia-Reporting-2020

Please note that the schedule on this syllabus will be  ever-evolving, with  dates subject to change based on availability of guests, etc. so please refer to this site for up-to-date due dates and scheduling. I will be posting class agendas each time we meet with updated and detailed info on assignments, due dates, etc.

Videojournalist/DP websites:

http://www.joevaneeckhout.com/

https://www.nyashakadandara.com/

https://www.leslyedavis.com/

For next class…

Set up a Vimeo account with photo and bio.

Search for a piece of video storytelling you find inspiring and post it on the class site. Come to class prepared to discuss the different elements you liked or didn’t like.

Start thinking about a topic for your first video assignment, which will be a visual poem, and start talking amongst yourselves about who you might like to partner up with for it, as you’ll have the option for this first project of working in pairs as you get the hang of using the equipment. If you choose to do so, you will share all gathered material but you will each submit your own individual edited videos. (No formal pitch necessary yet, I just want you to start the brainstorm process.)

Examples: here and here.