Lin Laam Wan
With an aim to make visual reportage on Beijing Two-session Conference, we need to get three things right: proper equipment, clear mindset and prompt action.
Equipments are of utmost importance for us to make visual reportage. As a novice reporter, I brought one DV and a tripod for interview. When you arrive the venue, set up equipment and put on your earphones. Earphones are the useful tool as you need them to assure your DV can record the sound. To have a better quality, an adaptor is needed as it can help reduce the noise from the surrounding environment. Make sure that you will arrive in the place earlier as you need to struggle for a suitable place for shooting.
During the press conference, you need to take different shootings. On one hand, pan the video camera to make a wide shot for the whole environment, on the other hand, turn the focus on the spokesperson and take a close-up shot for 10-15 seconds.
It is a must to record a variety of cut shots because we may need to choose shots for editing. In addition, the facial expression of the spokesperson may vary greatly. If we could capture more his or her drastic expressions, our footage would be more interesting.
Wherever the venue you are to shoot something, mind that you do not block the view of others, otherwise, they will shout as you as every cameraman’s shooting hinges on a clear perspective.
When you are confused about what shooting is needed to be taken, you can take a peep at other cameramen’s shooting as they are professional and experienced. The more you observe them, the more you can learn if not imitate how to shoot appropriate footage.
To be frank, when it comes to interviewing people, things will become quite challenging.
First of all, you need to keep an eye on and be highly sensitive to the people who you want to interview. As they may suddenly pop up, therefore, you should grab the chance. In my experience, there were lots of Two-session reporters waiting at the Grand Hotel Beijing as CPPCC delegates had a meeting with Zhang Dejiang that day.
We waited for a long time and some of us thus got bored. Just a second, everybody rushed to interview Tang Ying Yen, one of the Hong Kong delegates of CPPCC. I was too nervous and fell down on the stairs. Fortunately, I didn’t get hurt and finish the interview. At that moment, the tripod became a burden because it would affect one’s maneuverability. Without the tripod, however, you should try hard to make your gear steady.
Whatever the situation, you need to co-operate with your partner very well. When interviewing people, cameramen need to move fast and smart to make sure shooting in front of the interviewee in order to capture his or her face. Back or lateral angles are both unacceptable. Cameramen follow reporters to interview people, therefore, developing an unvoiced pact between cameramen and reporters is also important for visual reportage.
