Quick Tips for Mobile Journalism from Glen Mulcahy

Summary

The video script focuses on mobile journalism (MOJO), emphasizing the use of smartphones to create professional-quality content. It provides tips for enhancing video quality, such as locking focus and exposure, avoiding digital zoom, and physically moving closer to subjects. The script also discusses techniques for conducting interviews, including capturing safety shots and bridging edits with relevant visuals. Additionally, it covers the importance of capturing key journalistic elements like 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' 'when,' 'how,' and 'why,' and the use of various smartphone features like slow motion and time-lapse to enrich storytelling.

Takeaways

• 📱 'Mojo' stands for Mobile Journalism, which is the use of smartphones to create high-quality broadcast content.
• 🔒 Locking focus and exposure on your smartphone can prevent unwanted changes in brightness and focus during filming.
• 📍 Avoid digital zooming as it degrades video quality; instead, physically move closer to the subject for a better shot.
• 🎥 Safety shots are crucial for bridging edits in interviews, providing continuity and smooth transitions.
• 👥 When filming interviews, use a variety of shots like close-ups, reverse angles, and wide shots to maintain viewer interest and cover edits.
• 🤔 To avoid jump cuts, build a sequence with multiple shots rather than relying on a single shot.
• 📍 Capture 'who,' 'what,' 'when,' 'where,' and 'how' through specific shots like establishing shots for location and close-ups for details.
• 👤 Maintain interpersonal space in filming by positioning the camera at a conversational distance from the subject.
• 👀 Focus on capturing the subject's eyes and expressions, as they convey much of the emotional content and communication.
• 🎬 Ensure a good variety of shots including wide, mid, and close-ups, and roll for at least 10 seconds on each to provide editing flexibility.
• 🌟 Utilize special effects like slow motion and time-lapse available on smartphones to add depth and context to your storytelling.

Q & A

What does MOJO stand for in the context of the video script?

MOJO stands for Mobile Journalism, which is the use of smartphones to create high-end professional broadcast quality content.

Why should one avoid zooming while filming with a smartphone?

Zooming on a smartphone simply magnifies the pixels, which can greatly depreciate the quality of the shot. It's recommended to move closer to the subject instead.

How can you prevent a smartphone from going into focus hunt mode during filming?

You can lock the focus to prevent the smartphone from constantly adjusting focus and exposure, which can cause the shot to fluctuate in brightness.

What are safety shots and why are they important in interviews?

Safety shots are additional footage that allows for bridging edits in an interview, ensuring smooth transitions between answers without noticeable jumps in the video.

What is the significance of capturing 'who, what, when, where, and how' in journalism, as mentioned in the script?

These are the key elements that provide context and information to the audience, helping them understand the story better. Specific shots are used to capture each element effectively.

Why is it important to capture a wide shot, also known as an establishing shot, in a video?

A wide shot gives the audience a sense of location, providing context for where the story is taking place.

What is the recommended distance for interpersonal space when filming a conversation?

The recommended distance is about a meter to a meter and a half away from the subject to mimic a natural conversational distance.

How can close-up shots enhance the storytelling in a video?

Close-up shots capture the raw detail and emotion of the subject, such as facial expressions and hand movements, which are crucial for conveying feelings and details.

What is the purpose of using slow motion in smartphone videography?

Slow motion allows viewers to see quick actions in more detail by shooting at a higher frame rate, which can be slowed down during editing.

How does time-lapse photography add value to a video story?

Time-lapse photography speeds up time, effectively showing the passage of time and can be used to add context or highlight changes over time.

What is the minimum duration recommended for each type of shot when filming?

It's a good discipline to roll for a minimum of 10 seconds on each shot type, such as wide, mid, and close-up, to ensure enough material for editing.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Mobile Journalism (MOJO) Techniques

This paragraph introduces Mobile Journalism (MOJO), which is the practice of using smartphones to create high-quality broadcast content. It emphasizes the importance of locking focus and exposure to maintain video quality and advises against digital zooming, recommending physical movement closer to the subject instead. The paragraph also discusses the use of 'safety shots' for smoother interview edits and suggests using multiple shots to bridge edits and avoid jump cuts. Techniques for capturing key information like location, subject, and action are highlighted, with a focus on interpersonal space and capturing detailed expressions.

Keywords

💡Mobile Journalism (MOJO)

Mobile Journalism, or MOJO, refers to the practice of using smartphones to create high-quality broadcast content. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses techniques and tips for improving the quality of smartphone footage. The video emphasizes how MOJO allows for professional-level content creation on a mobile device, as exemplified by the script's opening statement about shooting professional broadcast quality content with a smartphone.

💡Focus Hunt Mode

Focus Hunt Mode is a term used to describe the behavior of a smartphone camera when it continuously adjusts focus, causing the image to appear to 'hunt' for clarity. This is undesirable as it can lead to an unsteady and unprofessional look in videos. The video advises locking the focus to prevent this issue, ensuring a stable and clear shot, which is crucial for maintaining viewer engagement.

💡Locking Focus and Exposure

Locking focus and exposure is a technique mentioned in the script to stabilize the visual quality of a shot. By locking these settings, the smartphone camera maintains a consistent focus and lighting level, preventing the image from fluctuating in brightness and clarity. This technique is essential for creating professional-looking content, as it ensures that the subject remains crisp and well-lit throughout the recording.

💡Zooming

Zooming, in the context of smartphone videography, refers to the act of digitally magnifying the image to get closer to the subject. The video advises against this practice, as it results in a loss of image quality by simply enlarging pixels. Instead, the script suggests physically moving closer to the subject to maintain image quality, which is a practical tip for enhancing the visual appeal of MOJO content.

💡Safety Shots

Safety shots are additional footage taken during an interview that can be used to bridge edits and smooth transitions between different parts of the interview. The video explains that these shots help to cover up jump cuts and maintain the flow of the narrative. Examples from the script include close-ups of hands, reverse angle shots, or wider shots showing both the interviewer and the interviewee, which are all used to create a more polished final edit.

💡Bridging Edits

Bridging edits are a video editing technique where additional shots are used to cover up the cuts between different parts of an interview or scene. The video discusses the use of bridging shots to avoid abrupt changes in the footage, which can be jarring for the viewer. By using a sequence of related shots, editors can create a more seamless and professional-looking video.

💡Interpersonal Space

Interpersonal space is the physical distance between individuals during social interactions. In the context of the video, it refers to positioning the camera at an appropriate distance from the subject to mimic a natural conversational distance. This technique helps the audience feel more connected to the subject, as it mimics the proximity of a face-to-face conversation.

💡Action Shots

Action shots are close-up footage that captures the details of an action or activity. The video emphasizes the importance of getting close to the subject to capture the raw details and emotions, particularly focusing on hands and facial expressions. These shots are crucial for conveying the intensity and authenticity of the action, providing viewers with a more immersive experience.

💡Slow Motion

Slow motion is a special effect that allows for the capture of fast-moving actions at a higher frame rate, which can then be played back at a slower speed during editing. The video mentions the use of slow motion to provide more detail and a closer look at quick actions, enhancing the storytelling by allowing viewers to observe细微之处 that might be missed at normal speed.

💡Time Lapse

Time lapse is a video technique that condenses lengthy periods of time into a shorter video sequence, effectively speeding up the passage of time. The video suggests using time lapse to show processes that unfold over an extended period, such as the changing of a landscape or the progression of an event. This technique adds context and visual interest to the narrative, providing a unique perspective on time and change.

💡Journalistic Principles

The journalistic principles mentioned in the video refer to the fundamental questions of journalism: who, what, when, where, and why. These principles guide the creation of comprehensive and informative content. The video applies these principles to MOJO by suggesting specific types of shots that answer these questions visually, such as establishing shots for 'where' and close-ups for 'who,' thereby ensuring that the video content is both engaging and informative.

Highlights

Mojo stands for mobile journalism, which is the use of smartphones to create high-end professional broadcast quality content.

The video is being shot on a smartphone, showcasing the capabilities of mobile journalism.

To overcome focus hunt mode, lock the focus on the subject to maintain consistent exposure and avoid unwanted zooming.

Avoid pinch-to-zoom as it degrades video quality; instead, move the phone closer to the subject for a better perspective.

Safety shots are crucial for bridging edits in interviews, ensuring a seamless flow in the final video.

Bridging shots can include close-ups of hands, reverse angle shots, or wider shots to mask edits effectively.

To avoid jump cuts, build a sequence of shots rather than relying on a single shot.

Journalistic principles like who, what, when, where, and how are essential for capturing key story elements.

Establishing shots, such as wide shots of a location, provide context and a sense of place for the audience.

Interpersonal space in video corresponds to being about a meter away from the subject for a natural conversational feel.

Capturing action involves getting close to the subject to reveal raw details and emotions.

Close-ups of the subject's hands and face are important for conveying emotions and the nuances of communication.

Varying shot types, such as wide shots, mid shots, and close-ups, provide a good range of perspectives.

Smartphones offer special effects like slow motion, which can reveal details in fast-paced actions.

Time-lapse is useful for showing the passage of time and can add context to a story.

When using special effects, consider whether they add value to the story and enhance the viewer's experience.

Transcripts

[Music]

mojo stands for mobile journalism it's

effectively the use of smartphones who

make high-end professional broadcast

quality content this is actually being

shot on a smartphone this is mojo the

very first thing is when the phone

starts to go into focus hunt mode in

other words if something moves in the

scene and if the focus is not locked on

the course subject it starts to pump in

and out so you can overcome that there's

an ability to lock the focus so that it

does not pump like that that actually

will also lock the exposure so the shot

doesn't get brighter and darker the next

thing you need to be aware of you should

try to avoid zooming if you pinch to

zoom all you're doing is simply

magnifying the pixels and that basically

means that your shot is going to greatly

depreciate in quality so you can always

just move the phone's closer to the

subject as long as it's safe to do that

and that will still give you a change in

perspective but it won't deteriorate the

quality so those are three tips to help

you get better quality with your

smartphone when you're conducting an

interview you often want to get yourself

safety shots that allow you to bridge

edits when you're actually putting an

interview answer together so for

instance if you were to ask me three

questions and needed them to take them

the middle answer that I gave you out of

that you would have answer one and

answer three and clearly if you cut the

two of those together there will be a

job because I'm moving around them

animated usually you might bridge that

edit with a sequence of shots something

relative to what I'm speaking about that

involves three four or more shots

overlaid over the interview so you don't

see the Edit often those bridging shots

will be simply a cutaway of perhaps a

close-up of the hands a reverse angle

shot of the person who's asking the

questions or maybe a wider shot showing

the two people both the guests and the

interviewer personally my favorite way

to sort of to solve the issue of jump

cuts is to effectively have a sequence

to build out rather than a single

[Music]

we go back to the principles of

journalism the ink what when where and

how

why idea there are specific shots that

allow you to capture those key pieces of

information for instance the where can

be a wide shot of location some people

call it establishing shot the other

things you can use it like place holders

signs landmarks anything that gives the

audience a sense of where a story is

taking place for who you really need to

move the camera a bit closer to the core

subject so in interpersonal space you're

usually about a metre to a metre and a

half away from one when you're having a

conversation with them in many ways

that's exactly what you need to do at

your camera you need to bring it to that

level of the interpersonal space with

the subject that way the audience

watching the video feel that same

relationship and then for the action the

real key skill here the idea of getting

really really close in with the camera

to capture the real raw detail of

whatever the action is usually that

involves getting a close-up of the

subjects hands if you want to get a

sense of how they feel and the camera

has to get a shot of their face they

need to particular CV eyes they say the

eyes are the windows to the soul

but actually so much of our

communication skills are based on

expression as well as the nuanced tone

it's really really important that you

get a good variety of shots the simplest

forms of those would be to get a wide

shot and mid shot and a close-up and

it's really good discipline to allow

yourself to roll for a minimum of 10

seconds on each one of those aside from

the basic features of being able to take

good photographs and shoot video your

smartphone is more than likely capable

of a whole myriad of other special

effects so for instance like slow motion

which slows time down by shooting a

multiple of higher frame rate slow

motion if you want to see something that

is happening very very quickly in more

detail when you shoot in slow motion you

can slow it down in the Edit and it

basically will give you far more detail

and time to look at what actually

happened and then the flip side of that

is many smartphones also have a time

lapse which speeds time up time lapse as

it suggests is very very effective and

showing the package of

time the key thing is to understand do

they add something to the story

something that the viewer will

appreciate something that gives them

additional context

[Music]