Camera Workshop - - 22/09/17

Today we looked at the new camera we have for the course the Panasonic DVX200

Features 

• 4K Shooting
• 120 FPS
• Can Film in V-Log
• 12 Steps of Latitude
• Infrared Shooting
• 13x Zoom Lens
• Able to shoot Bokeh effects
• Hand Shake Stabiliser
• Can Film in 2 formats simultaneously such as filming in 4k with a 1080p duplicate
• Can film in 57 different formats

4K Shooting

Being able to film in 4K gives a lot of freedom in what we can do, for example if we are exporting the file as 1920 x 1080 we can scale the footage without a noticeable loss in quality, this can come in handy in several situations, such as if the framing is slightly off it is likely that we can fix it by moving the footage in the editor. It also allows us to do some effects such as tracking faces and keeping them in a fixed position, which adds a disjointed feel to the footage.

This kind of effect is used by Guy Ritchie in  Sherlock Holmes A game of Shadows.









I also attempted to do a similar effect which I saw in Kingsman, in which the camera tracks a punch. My attempt did not work out as well as i would have liked, in the future I will set a higher shutter speed to avoid any motion blur and if possible set a higher framerate which will make give a better feel and the ability to slow down the footage.

120 FPS

The ability to film at 120 FPS is quite exciting as the use of slow motion in film has been an interest to me ever since I watched 300, whilst thought of as gratuitous I found the slowing down of action added suspense and a thrill to the fight scenes, although 120 is only really 4.5 times slower It can still add to a scene.


I did some testing on the higher frame rate and I am hoping that with a bit of tweaking in post-production Ill be able to slow the footage down even further.






V-Log Footage

Filming in V-Log format gives greater flexiblity when colour grading, as it has a much higher difference in hues, whereas DSLR footage tends to get compressed and can have colour banding occur. Whilst the V-Log footage looks grey and desaturated it still has more contrast between colours.

News Project - 21/09/17

Sourcing Stories

A broadcast Journalist relies on a wide range of sources and contacts in the never-ending search NEW News

How to Find Stories

• Newspapers
• Viral/Social Media
• Word of Mouth
• News Agency
• PR for Companies
• Pressure Groups
• Police
• Public Domain

All stories must be verifiable

Remember  There is always another side to the story

Fisman (1997) talks about "Beats and Patrols" meaning use chains of information that have provided good and true results before.

Many Beats have exclusive access

Keep in mind - What stories are ignored? Is it right to give priority to those particular sources

Primary Sources

• Own Contacts
• Sources direct from source materials EG Archive Material
• Public Appeals
• Press Release/Stats/Offical statements - Can be POV beware

Secondary Sources

• Stringers
• Other Platforms/Media
• News Agencies

Wires - By the minute Tip-Offs PA/Reuters - Provided by in-house journalists and Freelancers

Correspondents 

• Specialists with a depth of knowledge and well-honed contacts.
• Often invited to Lobby Briefings
• "Lobby" Politics - Influential groups lobby the government in such meetings to get their views across and attempt to influence policy
• Foreign news source - Journalists that permanently stay in another country. Valued for local contacts and on the ground knowledge and access.

Internation News Agency - (ABC, NBC, and SKY) Provide correspondents for a fee

Can get archive and Getty images to use as GVs

Beware Fake News!

• Who is sending them and why?
• Often Propaganda
• Approach with Caution
• Verify and Check these stories

UGC - User Generated Content

• Adds value to stories
• adds a human element and narrative
• can capture the unexpected
• Journalists cant be everywhere
• Con - Tempts people to put themselves at risk

Communication

• Needed to Access Information
• research to know what questions you need to ask
• Use the Phone 
• Be Polite
• Emails are good for exchanging information
• Build a rapport
• Don't Burn Bridges - "Is it ok if I keep a record of your contact for the future?"
• You may need them again
• Their chance to tell people their side of the story
• Tells the story in a new way
• Be Ethical

Finding the Angle

• The news angle is key to developing your story
• Defines main significance
• Several Angles
• Which one Suits, Sells and engages an the audience.
• Choice of People/Cast
• Balance the story

What is newsworthy?

• Relevance
• Resonance
• Controversy
• Who/What/When/Where/Why
• Peg - Release story based on dates/Events I.e Diana piece on the anniversary of her death.

Keep In Mind

• Location
• Timeliness
• Impact
• Prominence
• Context
• Simplicity
• Broadcast Values
• Copious Reseach along with Copious note taking
• Be organized and ensure contacts and relevant information is somewhere you can easily store it.
• Ensure to attribute to a reliable source not Allegedly/According to rumors

Setting up a story

• who is in it? who is not?
• What is the story? what is it not?
• Where is it?
• When is it?
• How will you tell it?
• Why are you telling it?

Public Interest

• Be Honest and Fair
• Open and Direct
• Respect their time
• aware of the intrusion that you are causing
• 
  

Forms of News Stories

• Readers - Presenter tells the story over images - short stories
• OOVS/VO - Out of Vision/Voiceovers 
• SOT - Sound on Tape
• Reporter Packages

OOVS - Presenter tells the story over images whilst live

VOG - Voice over with Graphics

• Adds Variety
• Covers minor events
• late breaking stories

Making an OOV - 

• Source Story and Gather info
• Find the Angle
• Make a script
• Get Graphics and Statistics

SOT

• Interview Clips
• Vary the Pace of the programme
• covers events
• can feature someone directly affected

News/Reporter Packages

• Fully Self Contained
• Presenter introduces it but is not involved

Making a Package

• Interviews
• PTC's
• Sequences and Actuality
• GV's Cutaways
• Set Ups - Introducing a character (Keep it relevant to the story i.e. Nurse is helping a patient
• Graphics
• Needs to be planned before shoot
• done either on camera or prior to shoot

Notes

• Be Prepared to get what you need.
• Identify Key Contacts
• Looking for people related to the story who are credible
• 15-20 News items for 30 minutes
• Follow up leads
• Distill Story to topline/Headline i.e - Student Learns how to Make a News Package
• Include elements which are a fair and reasonable representation of facts.
• Three words a second for a script
• Interview Techniques Presentation is on My UCA

News Project - 19/09/17

Introduction to TV News

Key Skills to be learned in this unit

• Sourcing stories
• Story Telling
• Sourcing Contributors
• Sourcing Locations
• Writing To Pictures
• Interviewing
• Sequencing and Actuality
• Sweff (Sound, White Balance, Exposure, Framing, Focus)
• Getting good coverage and GV's
• Factual Accuracy
• Team work and communication
• Good sound
• Time Managment
• Organisation
• Interpreting Information
• Finding News Angles
• Reporting
• Fast Turn Arounds
• Online Platform Development
• Branding/Concepts
• Studio Presentation/News Anchoring
• Sourcing Talent
• Sustaining 2 minutes
• Good Writing
• Sequencing
• 
  

Aims

A1 - Promote critical understanding of news and current affairs output.
A2 - Facilitate the development of a creative methodology for the production of news and current affairs.
A3 - Further develop techinical and collaborative skills for production and post-production of news and current affairs content.
A4 - Develop group presentation and pitching skills.

Learning Outcomes

• LO1 - Demostrate a critical understanding of news and current affairs.
• LO2 - Employ creative methodolgies for the production of news and current affairs.
• LO3 - Demonstarate the ability to work within a team, assuming individual roles and responsibilities in relation to the production of news and current affiars.
• Prepare and Deliver an innovative pitch as part of a team.

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Project Supervision
• 90 Hrs of Scheduled Work
• 110 Hrs of Indepenent Work
• Portfolio is 100% of Unit
• Video Project
• Maintain Journal
• Provide Evidence of R&D 

Project is to create an Original Online News Channel which has a Content suiting target audience

• Original Title Sequence
• Stings
• Branded Strapline
• Promotion Package - Advert for our channel
• 1x News package 2:00-2:30 Minutes
• 1x "Live" OB report with a reporter on location (Preferablly an event to give a reason for being live)
• Written material on the web page to further support your channel and explain its remit and purpose.

All Video material from Workshops and Tv Play content should be placed on Journal.

Films should be accompanied by supporting written materials about your News Stories and publised on Website.

Scripted in form of AV Script

SUBMISSION DATE - 26TH OCTOBER 1000 - 1100 (HIGHEST QUALITY VIDEO)

Notes

• Action and Reaction - if the look at something show it on screen
• Show what they are talking about eg. Talking about garden show the garden
• No Goldfishing - dont have people talking on camera with no audio 
• Leave frame to change location effectively
• Headroom - Dont have too much or too little
• 2S - 2 Shot - two people in frame
• Keep pace dont let there be dead spots
• give context and background information
• Dont rush
• Sign posting - make points clear and concise
• Manage whats important
• Dont assume Knowledge
• Show dont tell
• Keep telling people what it is that you (The Channel) does.