“Lights, Camera, Action:” Inside the Furman University News Channel Reflection Blog

Never in my life had I envisioned myself behind the camera of a newsroom. I was tangled up in a whole new world, and I had no idea how to operate it. Surrounding me were computers playing taped shows, four large cameras, a daunting TriCaster with mismatched color keys, and wires twisted together. The conductor of this show was shouting “action,” “cut,” or “ 3, 2, 1 … go,” and I was like a fly on the wall observing it all. Eventually, I decided to give the show a try, even though I was utterly ignorant of it all, but after several takes, I finally got the gist of it.

What I learned:

• How To Operate 4 HDMI Cameras

I practiced turning each camera in the proper direction to face the speaker, adjusting the lenses and angles for the best shot, and shut it down correctly.

• How to Work the TriCaster

I learned how to operate the TriCaster from explicitly learning the coding for each color behind the scenes. The red key program is shown and recorded, while the green key previews what is being cued up.

• How to Use Specific Apps

Nick taught me how to use the graphic and management apps and save or export files and recordings to the computer or USB drive. This helps save what was recorded and makes the editing process more manageable.

Behind the scenes with the cameras

Learning Experiences

• Observing the Speakers on the Show

I never realized how dependent the speakers are on the teleprompter and how challenging it can be to clearly and precisely enunciate each word. Isabella did a great job at making her voice enthusiastic and sophisticated at different times depending on the subject, which was something I had not considered much before.

A new point of view

• Observing the Editing Process

Nick showed me the processing of editing a brief news report, and I was genuinely ignorant of how involved it truly is. For example, each clip has to have the perfect frame, transitions are hard to render and flow, and microphones have to be spot on with no preface. Not only this, but cutting out clips and layering is another process in and of itself.

The value of student television boils down to cultivating the perfect story for an audience. While editing transitions and capturing the best angles of speakers is vital, the writing lays the groundwork for the story to be built. Furman students are putting their trust and interest into the Student News Channel. It is up to the writers and editors to publish informative and captivating stories that resonate with the Furman Student Body. Although this is a challenging task, it is also rewarding because it strengthens a community in

front of and behind the camera.

Nick showing me the show in

action

My goal is to take the knowledge I gained from Nick and Digital Storytelling and apply it to my marketing career. Even if I am not actively behind the camera taping something, I will be able to use editing tools on projects, cultivate the right story for the right audience, be familiar with the speaking and interview process with clients, and use design and transition techniques in videos I may potentially produce.