Behind the Sign - by Jamillah Abdullah

billgentile.com, WASHINGTON, DC, 12 August 2011 -- This was Jamillah's first video piece -- ever. She came to the workshop absolutely cold in terms of this craft and this methodology but, as you'll see, she nailed the process, the "character-driven" methodology that we refer to as backpack journalism.

For the record, I define backpack journalism as the craft of one properly trained practitioner using a hand-held digital video camera to tell character-driven stories in a more immediate, more intimate fashion than is achievable using a conventional, shoulder-held camera and a team that includes camera person, sound person, correspondent and producer. Backpack journalists do it all and, most importantly, we make the pictures, which are the driving force of visual communication. (There's a reason they call it tele-VISION.) In the field, a backpack journalist shoots, acquires sound, produces, reports, interviews. We write the script. In some cases we narrate the piece. Depending on circumstances, we either edit the piece on our own, or we sit side-by-side with an editor assigned to the task.

Backpack journalism is not the 6 o'clock news reported by a single, multi-tasking journalist. It is a character-driven methodology with a specific, time-consuming approach and application that yields unique results and that does not work in all situations.

I think you'll like Jamillah's story, which supports the contention that one can find compelling stories even in the most unexpected places.

For more information on the Backpack Journalism Workshops, see billgentile.com.

-- Bill Gentile

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Mustard Seed qth264
• Jamillah Abdullah
• backpack journalism
• Bill Gentile
• The Backpack Journalist
• backpack journalism workshops
• video journalism
• backpack video journalism
• backpack documentary

[KoolAidBoxTopper]

Awesome

[MsFlossie81]

Great video! I love the idea of resale shops and it is so great to see a small mom & pop business thriving.