When I first entered this class I was just interested in learning more about using the big tv cameras I see all the time. The first couple of classes I was a little intimidated by how much information we were getting about premier and also how to work the cameras. This class made me a better online writer, but it also obviously made me better with making packages.
The first project for my group was very challenging, being that it was the first time any of us had to use the camera. We also had some problems keeping the camera on the tripod. It was a great lesson on many areas of creating a package. We didn’t get nearly enough b-roll to talk over, or even enough shots for the whole package. Learning to take as many shots as you can and even more than you really need so that you can have options to what you want to put on there.
This class really opened my eyes to the work to the constant work of making great packages. I learned a lot from Erin especially. I really learned a lot when we were doing the profile stories. The ESPN story Dutch the Giant was very inspiring and it was a great example of how you let the characters in your story tell the story for you. You don’t have to talk as much because it takes away from the power of the story.
Another class that was very helpful was the one when we watched the different news channels talk about the same story, the rock going into the house. It was very interesting seeing the different takes on the same story. Also we brainstormed that class and we came up with ideas on how we would do the story ourselves. I remember that my group said that we would use a drone and go inside the house to see the parts that were really damaged. Personally, my favorite was the reporter that followed the trail in the woods that the rock made coming down hill and then he did his standup sitting on a rock.
This class was so helpful in the fact of paying attention to the little thing in your packages. Even with online writing the classes that we had on that were very helpful also. Learning to pick out the most important things in a story and make it short and sweet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this class and it was very beneficial to what I want to do in the future.