When I first signed up for this class, I was, like most others in the class, a little nervous. I had read online that Dr. Z was extremely tough and that the class would basically consume every second of your time. I am so happy I didn’t back out based on what I had read in the comments of websites, because if I did, I wouldn’t have had such a great experience. Coming to class was never a hassle for me and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dr. Z’s lectures.
The most important thing I learned from this class was to always be prepared and have a back up plan. My entire semester in this class, everything seemed to work out until project 4. The original people I wanted to interview did not want to participate. Then, I set up another interview for a different story, only to realize the camera wasn’t working when I went to interview them. I set up an interview for the following Thursday, and come Thursday, they could no longer do it. So I had think quickly and try to piece a story together in just a week. It was tough, and the pressure definitely caused me to produce less than perfect work, but it taught me to expect the unexpected. When they say check to make sure the cameras work before you leave Innovation Park, CHECK to make sure the cameras work!!!!
Working on Project 1
The second most important thing I learned from this class was to shoot enough footage. Every time I shot, I felt as though I had enough footage, only to return to the studio and be stuck. It was honestly really tough to work with limited footage and I found myself having to repeat shots.
Third, I learned a lot about what shots work well and which do not. For example, I always believed that zoom shots and pan shots were some of the most popular kind. But the more I thought about it, the more I seemed to remember still shots over zoom or pan shots. The still shots seemed to have a lasting impression as opposed to the zoom or pan, which just flash through your mind briefly. I’m glad that we learned early on not to do those shots unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Most importantly, this class showed me exactly what broadcast journalism is like (for the most part). Although I enjoyed working on the projects and having Dr. Z as a teacher, this class really showed me that I do not want a career in the broadcasting field anymore. With that being said, however, Dr. Z taught me more life skills than any previous professor, and I feel like I will be able to take those skills and apply them to any career I pursue.