Notes for Workshop on “Shoot like a Newscameraman”

 

Four main types of filming situations;

 

1.                  Totally controllable (e.g. Drama, Animation)

2.                  Controlled coverage of an unscripted but set-up event (e.g. Political or Press Release)

3.                  Semi-controlled coverage of an event not organised for taking (e.g. Sporting )

4.                  Uncontrolled coverage of uncontrollable event (e.g.Newsreel)

 

Number four has striking similarities to many amateur movie taking situations, so the kind of tips given to budding news camera persons should be quite valuable to amateur movie makers:

 

 

1.                  Check your equipment again this morning, even if you checked it last night.

2.                  Be brave but not foolhardy.  Timidity is unlikely to get the best shots, but it’s not much use getting it if you fall over the cliff in the process or an angry subject smashes your camera.

3.                  Don’t be shy.  If you are in a public place insist on your right to use your camera.

4.                  Practice using alternatives to cumbersome tripods.  Monopods, folded tripods, foot chains, chest pods, shoulder mounts can all help to steady the shot without spreading tripod legs.

5.                  Wide angle lens settings increase apparent steadiness, but keep yourself close to your subject.

6.                  Slow smooth small camera movements increase apparent steadiness.

7.                  Pay close attention to your sound person.  Help each other.  In many situations it’s true to say “If you haven’t got the sound, you haven’t got the picture” and it’s also true to say “If it’s not in the image, you can’t say it with sound”.

8.                  Get ambient sounds while you are there.  It will sound different later.

9.                  Get cutaways and close-ups as often as possible.  They won’t be there later.

10.             Don’t wait for that better shot.  Take it now even if it’s not perfect, and take it again and again as it gets better and better.

11.             Remember your editor needs variety.  Vary shot types and viewpoints.  Watch for repeating actions which you may be able to take from different angles.  A cooperative subject may be prepared to repeat an action for you.

12.             Remember your editor has limited ability to correct shooting mistakes.

 

 

Keith Head, 16^th May, 2005