@digger - agreed, but any medium becomes less experimental as it matures - unfortunately vj is maturing (in terms of infrastructure) without any idea how to reliably monetize it

@david - my take on vj debates:

vj as an aesthetic? done deal. Don’t like it? - go argue with the Oscar committee.

vj in terms of CNN/BBC sending out solo cameramen with consumer cameras? likewise - they’ve been doing it for well over 25 years.

vj as a tool for print journalists transitioning to the web? No brainer - with the price of point and shoot video equipment, why wouldn’t you?

but vj as a business model? Thousands of successful freelance photojournalists, cameramen, directors, sound engineers. Lots of successful VJ teachers, plenty of high-paid staff vjs and small production companies.

But freelance VJs, or even staff vjs who can say “I generate $x,xxx a week for my employer”? This is more than anything the issue that interests me. As Digger says - it’s a funding issue - huge demand for online video but how do we get them to pay for it?

Maybe you could set that as a theme for your students?

This one’s been raging for a while, a long while.

We very rarely acknowledge this but video journalism is not a one size fits all.

And while there are formulae and methodologies that have come to see the light of day, it’s the talent, the talent, individuals who have an understanding of the various forms and can play around with them; do for us, what many others will try and perhaps not quite get there.

Yesterday I bumped into an old colleague of mine who was the director of a great current affairs film The Siege Of Bethlehem which aired on BBC TV.

Dimitri trained as a Video journalist, circa 94, then went into TV, but for this eye- opening feature which played across the world, he resorted largely to Vjism on a VX 1000.

I’m looking to do a Q and A feature with him and other VJs I have come to know, because some where in there is the gene of creative visuals and TV/Web making which is pretty disruptive to the status quo.

david

They are trying so hard to be “professional” that they’ve lost their edge. It goes way beyond being dependent on tripods and voiceovers. Partly the effort suffers from a lack of experience but more profoundly a lack of commitment from the money end. Financial fears are forcing editors to adopt “cheap” video, and while cheap is the major input criteria how is the output ever going to be anything of value?

Yes sure the cameras are cheaper than they were 5 years ago, but how much of the cost of a TV show or film related to the price of the camera, or even the salary of the person operating it?

@nick - I use tripods (and voiceovers) all the time.

The solution - more preparation, more training, better equipment - more $$$$.

Not necessarily on the equipment end of things, Peter…

I assembled a kit that is within most shooters budget who are seriously looking to shoot video. A single chip SONY or Canon HDV camera can be had for less than $900 USD. My Sennheiser G2 wireless lav was less than $550 USD. My Ambient Recordings TinyMic, about the same amount (And is equal to the Sennheiser MK66 in sound quality while having either mini jack or XLR options) - and is dramatically smaller in size. Add to that the SONY HD wide angle lens and that’s pretty much it - unless you want to add a Zoom H2 audio recorder for less than $200 USD. All this fits inside a standard Bike Messengers bag.

I would say training is more important - apply what you learned in training and you will develop the skills of being better prepared. The kit - as long as it has the minimum features for shooting video seriously - is the final component.

Handheld footage - I believe that comes with practice - shooters - if they are serious about the quality of their content, should learn to find that balance - it should look like it’s hand held, but not be so obvious the viewer gets motion sickness..

With regards to voiceovers - I think your assessment is pretty accurate - too many voiceovers these days. They do have their place, but it’s sort of like the mainstream news video shooters - standups, b-roll, tripod mounted cameras- has been over used to death - pretty lame and boring IMO. Same can be said for overuse of VO’s.

Cheers!

Cliff Etzel - Solo Vdeo Journalist
bluprojekt | solo vj blog