5 Tips for Future J2150 Mobileers

1. Be very aware of your surrounding when filming. Use the handheld microphones if possible. They allow for better audio capture and will limit interfering sounds. You should always be listening as well as looking. It is a dual task. You must be aware of visuals as well as audio that will enhance that visual experience. Record ambient sound and also capture the birds chirping, door creaks, footsteps, applause, car engines, bells, dripping water, rustling leaves…. capture everything that you are experiencing in the moment and deliver that same experience to your audience. 2. Give yourself time. If you want to succeed in this class (especially in this class where you are introduced to technology and equipment that you are not familiar with) you need to give yourself ample time to work on assignments. We are not media professionals yet and we have to put thought and precision into the filming and editing process. Do not expect to be able to complete a full assignment within a matter of a couple hours the night before. It may be possible, but you will drive yourself crazy in the process – especially trying to edit on these sensitive and tiny touch screens. App crashes and lost data are possible when dealing with mobile equipment that isn’t normally used to process large amounts of high quality data. Allowing yourself time to correct these potential instances is the best way to cut down on your stress levels and to cover your ass in case you have to ever recapture and re-edit film or audio. 3. Stay calm. Going out in the field can be overwhelming at times, particularly if you are covering an event that involves a lot of activity or if you are really in a jam for a good grade in the class. The pressure to produce a quality piece can get to you and you can sometimes get scatterbrained having to check audio levels, lighting, setting the focus point, framing the shot, making sure you are capturing good content/interviews. The worst thing you could do is panic. A little adrenaline might give you an extra push, but don’t be nervous or scared. You are in the field to do a job – and that’s to get the story. You are in control. Have confidence and don’t be afraid to approach people, ask questions, and get up close shots. Take the filming process one step at a time and be courageous and aggressive in capturing the shots you need to put together a great piece. A little “excuse me” and little “can you say that again?” could save your project, story and your grade. To help take the stress off, be sure to think about what shots you will need and the questions you’ll need to ask. That way you have a checklist to guide you rather than having the pressure of composing your video concept and ideas on the spot. 4. Upload to Box. If you are putting together an assignment that is very intensive and involves a large amount of video or audio, upload what you captured to Box. This way you have a back up storage of the original content you recorded. If at any time you edit a picture and cant undo the changes or accidently delete a video file, you have a back up to rely on. Also upload your finished projects to Box as well as exporting to your blog and YouTube. Think of and use Box as a file-sharing and storage device, similar to a USB drive. Using this app, you can always download your old work to burn onto CDs or to attach to applications for future portfolios after this class. 5. Edit. Break. Look. The journalism school is training its students to be the best in the field. They expect a great deal and so in order to provide the best quality you need to remember to review your work with a critical eye before submission. Editing can be daunting for some assignments and after staring at a screen so long, anything might start to look acceptable to you. Remember to edit your work, upload it and listen to it through your computer speakers. Listen for audio glitches and look for jump cuts or crossing of the axis – common video blemishes. Take a break from the project, engage in something else and come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. You might be surprised about what you had first overlooked. It’s just like proofreading an essay. “Proofwatch” your assignments. Lastly I would like to say best of luck to the new students in this class. It’s a lot of work and the instructors can be critical at times, but it is meant to challenge you and better prepare you for real world application of your skills. Some of the lessons I learned in this class are really invaluable and while I ended the semester tired, I can also say I ended the semester a stronger journalist. Enjoy the experience and learn all that you can. I was so happy to have taken this class and you certainly wont regret it either!