video journalism tips & stock footage royalty free

F

flean

Active member
hello,

Video Journalism
Could Any video journalist out there give me few great tips for one person crew following people in unpredictable situations? on camera, sound and other elements that might be helpful?

2 cameras will be used, Canon HV20 & DVX 100B unless someone who has already experienced video journalism could tel me what type of camera would work best.
budget= shoe string

Stock Footage
Where could I get Royalty FREE stock footage about Iraq war and president's speeches ?
Is there a forum for that too?

Thanks
 
Hard to say without knowing your target audience and medium. Are you doing this for a TV news show?

FWIW, I'd say stick with one camera throughout, that way you don't have to try to match the pix (if that's important), especially trying to match timecode, white balance and colours.

How unpredictable? Any footage would benefit from stability, so if you can, use a tripod (if it's not a fluid head or you're new to the game, don't try any pans, tilts or zooms -- just compose the shot and hold it and let it run).

If you can't use a tripod, use a monopod. If you don't have either, keep the zoom at its widest (even better, use a wide angle adapter).

Sound is half the endeavour. You MUST have an external mike. Cheapest and most adaptable for a 1-man crew would be a mounted shotgun mike. But indoors, you may find that set-up suffers. Ideal would be a radio mike on your talent, but that would cost a minimum $400. Regardless, you must have good quality audio. Images you can fudge or edit or go back and get B-roll. Audio you can't.

Sounds like you're doing an Iraq-themed piece with political overtones. Do you need the archive footage? Unless it's for news -- and even then -- maybe better to shoot all your own images. (You could do some creative stuff if it's a documentary, such as running a president soundbite under B-roll of the uniform of a soldier you're speaking to, or similar.)
 
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