As a previous videographer for Mountaineer Playbook, I learned that it's more than just showing up with a camera and hitting record. Every story is different and brings on a new set of challenges and learning experiences. This past week was packed with shoots covering everything from city council meetings to warehouse operations, political interviews, and yoga sessions. Each shoot pushed me to improve my technical skills and problem-solving.
My week started off with a shoot with City Government and Main Anchor Patrick Walsh at the Morgantown City Council. We got to sit down and talk to Danielle Tremble in the City Council chambers, where I decided to frame her with the American and West Virginia state flags behind her to give the shot an official government feel. We had no audio or camera issues, and Patrick was well-prepared with strong questions to help his story. After the interview, I focused on capturing B-roll that reinforced the council atmosphere, such as wide shots of the empty U-shaped desk, close-ups of the chairs, and a few low-angle shots of the wheels. I also made sure to film some exterior shots, including the City Council sign and a statue of a police officer with a child outside.
One thing I struggled with was finding creative ways to shoot B-roll for news packages. Last semester, I took Mountaineer Playbook, our sports news program, and unlike sports where there is always movement and things happening, news doesn't always have a lot of action. So I learned quickly it's about getting a variety of angles and details to make the visuals engaging. This is a skill I need to keep developing, especially as a videographer, where strong visuals are crucial.
Audio has been one of the trickiest parts of this semester, from audio kits cutting out, not connecting, or wires shorting out, it never seems to be easy. While helping Legislative reporter James Daily record two interviews with state senators in Martin Hall, we ran into a significant issue, which was awful piercing feedback and hissing in the microphone. I quickly tried to troubleshoot the issue by swapping audio kits, using different LAV mics, and testing the stick mic but still nothing worked. We eventually pivoted to using James’ phone microphone, knowing we could sync and match the audio in Premiere Pro later.
After the interviews, I tested the mics again, and the feedback was gone. My theory? The senator's phone was interfering with the wireless mics. Now, I know to always ask if someone has a phone nearby when I hear feedback. It's a simple fix that can and will save a ton of stress on future shoots.
One of my favorite shoots this week was at the Abraham Linc factory in Bridgeport, where I helped James capture B-roll for his package on tariffs. Since we were filming in a warehouse, I was able to add a lot more creativity and interaction to the shots.
James’s stand-up included the word “increase”, so I came up with the idea to have a worker raise a pallet of merchandise with a forklift as he said it. The timing worked perfectly, and it made the stand-up feel more engaging.
We then split up to capture B-roll, James focused on workers unloading trucks, while I shot forklifts in action, a worker cutting palettes, and merchandise being moved. I also made sure to get plenty of NAT sound pops, like forklifts beeping, palettes hitting the group, and drills cutting wood. These details help make the package more immersive for viewers.
Filming in low-light conditions is always a challenge, and I ran into the problem while covering a yoga and meditation story with Health reporter Andrew Fried at the WVU Health Science building. Before the class started, we filmed Andrew’s stand-up, and I suggested he transition between yoga poses instead of just staying in one yoga pose, making the shot feel more interactive. Everything was going smoothly until the class started and the room went completely dark.
With only a small orange light in the corner, I had to adjust my camera setting. I opened my iris all the way to let in as much light as possible and focused on capturing tight shots such as hands in the air, on the mats stretching, and slow movements. Unfortunately, there was not much we could do since the lights were out, so we did the best we could. For the interview with the instructor, we got creative and had Andrew sit on the floor on yoga pillows during the two-shot interview to visually connect to the story even more. I framed the two-shot low to the ground to emphasize their seated position, making the scene feel natural.
This shoot taught me that us as videographers and reporters, don't always control the environment. We always need to adapt and think outside the box.
One of the biggest milestones this week was directing WVU News for the first time. Directing a live show means coordinating the entire production, calling camera shots, working with the technical crew, and troubleshooting issues in real-time as we had multiple audio problems. Harley, our producer for WVU News, and I worked through them and decided to use the time to rehearse with the anchors and crew around us so once those issues were solved, everyone was comfortable and confident in their roles. Despite these challenges, we pulled off the show in just two takes. Directing always makes me appreciate how much teamwork goes into WVU News, it's not just about the reports or videographers, but an entire crew working in front of and behind the camera to make sure the final product is smooth and professional.
Overall, I learned many valuable lessons, and I'm excited to keep refining my skills. Whether it’s ENG work, coming up with creative stand-ups, or directing a 30-minute newscast in the studio, there’s always something new to learn. I am excited to continue working with my crew for the rest of the semester and produce the best possible show.