Video is not something my journalism program has ever done. We do a news broadcast shoot with the TV Production Class (which, it would seem, is a class I'm taking right now), but traditionally, my class has been concerned with researching, preparing and writing the copy for the news stories to be performed live in the studio. After all of this is completed, during the actual shoot, I usually take notes, encourage my reporters and jeer at the TV crew, most of whom I usually have in my English class. So now, I've got a chance to see what it's like on the other side of the camera.
For one thing, the terminology is useful. I watch enough movies to be able to have a rudimentary grasp of camera angles and panning, but to have an expert like Brian Snyder point out the best succession of shots, how to set up an interview so the subject isn't talking directly to the camera, and how to situate a shot for maximum visibility (hint: outside) is to have a better sense of how my students should go about preparing their stories. And who knows--some day I might finagle a lesson or two of TV Production myself.
Gregg Long
Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL
For one thing, the terminology is useful. I watch enough movies to be able to have a rudimentary grasp of camera angles and panning, but to have an expert like Brian Snyder point out the best succession of shots, how to set up an interview so the subject isn't talking directly to the camera, and how to situate a shot for maximum visibility (hint: outside) is to have a better sense of how my students should go about preparing their stories. And who knows--some day I might finagle a lesson or two of TV Production myself.