This course was the first class I’ve had that focussed on news reporting, story telling, and camera usage since high school. Unlike many in our class, I was fortunate enough to have experience with videography and similar editing software in television production courses before. However, this course provided me with a more professional angle that I truly benefited from.
I have learned a number of techniques, as well as a number of “do’s” and “do not’s” over the course of this semester. I have learned how important focus, steadiness of a camera, and white balance is through issues I’ve found throughout my b-roll. Additionally, I have learned the importance of sound, especially nat sound.
The most frequent issues that I faced typically dealt with overexposed footage or footage without nat sound. Because I filmed my interviews with a lav mic, I often forgot to adjust my settings and turn on the camera mic to gather natural sound. The camera’s preview screen is a good basis to determine the color of your footage and set the white balance; however, the color of footage can differ from how it appears once transferred to a computer or editing software. Due to this, I found myself often color correcting outdoor footage.
I also learned the importance of the bicycle wheel format when pitching and pursuing story ideas. It is incredibly difficult to build a story without the aspects that form a “bicycle wheel” and the format itself has become an important aspect of all my projects.
Additionally, I have learned the importance of b-roll. You can never have too much. It is so disappointing when you only have enough b-roll to add to a voice over that all the footage is extended and causes the package to be boring. Gaining b-roll can be difficult, especially with slow packages, but it is possible and all shots should be considered in case the problem of lack of b-roll emerges.
Conclusively, this course has provided me with a number of techniques and skills that I know I will find beneficial as I continue my professional training. Comm. 465 has been the most hands-on learning experience that Penn State has provided me with pertaining to my specific major and I fully intend on using these skills throughout my future, be it in CCR or the real world.