Monthly Archives: September 2013

09.24.13
by

Television Broadcasting Tutorial 16

THE KULESHOV EFFECT AND MONTAGE EDITING

The modern process of editing pictures to tell a story started to take shape nearly 100 years ago, when a Soviet film-maker created montage editing; a technique we now take for granted in television.

In the years after the communist revolution, Lev Kuleshov and other Soviet film-makers developed a more radical approach to editing that was inspired by the rapid editing and efficient storytelling of Hollywood adventure films (especially the films of D.W. Griffith). Kuleshov wanted to challenge how Russian films were made before the revolution – he despised their melodramatic, unadventurous style – and a visual experiment meant that Kuleshov entered cinematic folklore.

But this all happened about 100 years ago, I hear many of you say. What’s it got to do with digital editing today?

Well, plenty. It’s always important to understand the history of video production – especially something as important as telling stories with pictures – and the Kuleshov Effect still has the power to make you think about the impact of montage on the viewer.

Yes, even today…

Continue reading →

Advertisement
09.17.13
by

Television Broadcasting Tutorial 15

HOW TO FRAME AND COMPOSE A SHOT & 10 TIPS ABOUT VOX POPS

Among the first things every aspiring self-shooter has to understand is how to frame and compose a shot. It’s at the heart of making engaging television and video, including vox pops, one of the first things a self-shooter will be asked to produce in a TV newsroom. This tutorial offers advice on skills that have to be mastered early on by broadcast journalists.

Continue reading →

09.14.13
by

Television Broadcasting Tutorial 14

10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

This tutorial outlines the wide range of skills and knowledge required to be a successful investigative journalist, an area of reporting that is changing. Advances in digital technology offer new ways to gather important information, creating fresh challenges and opportunities for investigative journalists.

Some of the principles discussed below are as old as journalism itself, while others reflect a new digital age of investigative reporting. But before we start, a simple question: What is investigative journalism? Basically, an investigative journalist seeks to uncover the truth, exposing corruption along the way. At its core is the heroic and idealistic notion of good overcoming evil and brave journalists going into battle waving the ‘sword of truth’.

The reality, of course, is much less glamorous and involves painstaking and meticulous research, numerous dead ends and hour upon hour of meeting sources and checking facts. But there is nothing more rewarding than a newspaper report or TV documentary that makes a genuine difference and improves people’s lives. That’s the ultimate aim of an investigative journalist.

Continue reading →

09.11.13
by

Television Broadcasting Tutorial 13

10 THINGS EVERY SELF-SHOOTING DIRECTOR OR BROADCAST JOURNALIST MUST KNOW

This tutorial looks at technical aspects of camerawork that programme-makers need to understand if they are to successfully record their own professional television content. The technical detail may differ depending on the video camera being used, but the core principles are the same for most situations when filming.

In this case, the detail is specific to students who use a Sony V1 camera and a Manfrotto 501HDV tripod. These pieces of equipment will be referred to directly in this tutorial.

Continue reading →