Videography Blog

This week was one of the busiest we’ve had so far, but it was also one of the most productive. Between helping multiple reporters shoot interviews, adjusting to new cameras, troubleshooting editing issues, and working through the fast pace of Show 1, I felt like I was constantly learning and adapting.

When I found out I got the role of ENG this semester, I was thrilled! One of the main reasons I chose to major in Sports and Adventure Media is because I’m fascinated with working behind the camera, shaping visual storytelling, and being part of the crew that makes everything come together. Going into this show cycle, I felt confident from the start that I could capture strong shots and contribute creatively, while also knowing there is still more for me to learn.

This past week, I learned so much about basic camera operation and the responsibilities of a technical director while in the television studio. For context, I am taking the prerequisite class (JRL 380) this semester, as I am also taking the capstone, which is a challenge. As this was my first week in the field as an ENG, there were lots of things that I learned by making mistakes. 

  It’s crazy to think that we just wrapped show 4 and only have one more show of the semester! I think show 4 in particular is really where it became evident to me how we all have grown over the semester and continue to improve! From pre-planning, to getting creative shots, to edit lab, I just feel like as a class we have improved so much, and it really shows with show 4. 

Well, that’s it, folks! As I’m writing this, I can officially report that we wrapped show 5 yesterday and are almost done with the semester! It’s a bittersweet but also rewarding thought to not only know that we are done but to be able to see how much we’ve all grown over the semester. Whether it be by bettering our packages to make them more creative, or by thinking of more out-of-the-box story ideas. I feel like you can see a clear improvement from story 1 to story 5. There was also a lot of development behind the scenes! Whether it be friendships made or people learning to produce from their position on show days, I think we have learned so much over the last few months.  

Now that I have finished working on show 5 of Mountaineer Playbook, my time is officially over. Thanks to the experiences I had throughout the previous shows this semester, I was able to use these experiences to help me be efficient while shooting in the field. This helped me to put the best content forward that I possibly could and to continue to give me memories and experiences that will be useful after I graduate. 

Through my first three shows for Mountaineer Playbook, I have continued to grow from my experiences and to learn from my mistakes. These last few weeks, I have had a variety of experiences, including early mornings on the road, adjusting to how fall break and going to help cover bridge day affected my schedule and my availability to help reporters, and going back into the field to make last-minute adjustments to stories.  

With show 3 wrapped, we are officially halfway through the semester! Looking back at the start of this journey, I can already see so much growth in not only my work but also my confidence with my craft. Each week, I build upon skills I’ve written about in the past, such as communication, adaptability, and networking with peers, as well as people I met while filming. Tagging along and helping ENG for my classmates has also just made me feel more connected to them as people within this career. You never know who you’ll meet or who THEY will know. Connections are so important, especially in this field! With that being said, the two themes that really applied to show 3 were making connections and seeking adventure. 

With show 4, I am now heading towards the end of my time in Mountaineer Playbook. By using the lessons I have learned to my advantage, while still learning from new experiences and challenges, I was able to contribute my best work yet to the show. With a variety of challenges and experiences, some as close as the engineering campus and taking me as far as Charleston, I had plenty of adventures during show 4.  

For Show 5, I began the week by assisting Joey Bray at the introductory press conference for new basketball head coach Ross Hodge. My primary responsibility was ensuring that the audio setup was handled correctly. I made sure the XLR cable was securely connected to the audio box, which allowed us to pull a clean audio feed from the soundboard. Sound bites often carry the bulk of the storytelling, especially for a story based around a press conference. Having clear, reliable audio from the podium meant Joey wouldn’t have to worry about background noise or inconsistent sound levels during editing. The biggest challenge we faced during this shoot was variety. Press conferences can be visually limited because they typically involve people speaking at a podium with minimal movement. It forced me to think creatively about how to frame shots and look for moments that added visual interest. I captured Coach Hodge shaking hands with President Gordon Gee and mingling with others after the official remarks, which helped add some human elements and variety to the b-roll.