Artis Rules

posted @ 12:27...

I'm writing this as i take a short break from editing one of the better stories I've shot over here.  That's all I'll say for now.  You'll have to see it when it's done.  (Of course, you may think it stinks, thereby dashing the world's hopes that I may one day become a great broadcast journalist, but anyway...)

 

I've been reading up on my job by studying books about filming documentaries.  In many ways, what we do over here is produce miniature one-to-two minute documentaries.  One of the best books out there is "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide" by Anthony Artis.  It's a no-nonsense guide to producing documentaries with "any budget, any camera, any time."  In addition to page after page of in-depth instruction, it's also full of pictures, illustrations, and diagrams that very much make producing documentaries clear and accessible.  Granted, much of the advice is stuff I learned at the Defense Information School when I was trained to do this job.  But the book is also proof that no matter how much you think you know, there's plenty more you can learn from others... especially from a guy like Artis, who has been making documentaries for years.  As useful as the book is, there are some things that don't transfer to Army broadcasting.  There's advice about budgeting for your shoot, hiring a crew, feeding that crew, securing permission for shooting on location, etc.  But the key is taking what clearly applies to my job, and using it.  One thing I'm going to suggest to my chain of command when we get back to the States is that we purchase a few copies for new broadcasters that will be coming into the unit.