WIP! :)

Studio

• Equipment (video/audio)
• Setup
• Photos
  • Custom shutter control
• Process
  • Livestreams: Streamyard, destinations, promo, etc.

Field

• Equipment (video/audio):
  • iPhone
  • Røde VideoMic Go II – I don’t carry the bracket or wind cover; just roll up the cable and stow/clip it on my hip bag, which works fine 95% of the time.
    • It’s a shotgun mic, so I hold it ≥24” from my subject to prevent clipping. Most people I interview aren’t used to video, so if I give them a mic to hold, they’ll wave it all around. And clip-ons are a PITA and can pick up noise from clothing. With this mic, I can move the phone around to look at something, while keeping the mic pointed at them. This gives a natural feel to the video and reduces the amount of editing I have to do later (always a bonus!).
  • Rechargeable bright LED light: similar to this – small and fairly powerful. I rarely need to use it (which is good because the battery life isn’t amazing), but when I do, it’s a lifesaver.
  • USB power bank & phone cable
  • MicroSD cards + USB adapter + USB-to-Lightning adapter: to quickly back up media, free up space on my phone, and organize media for later usage
  • Business cards: hand one to the person so they can see where their video may be posted
  • Swag: I’ll often bring stickers, pins, etc.
• Setup
  • Key words: SMALL and LIGHT. I run around events for hours capturing media clips like Pokèmon, so I try to keep it ultralight.
  • Spacious hip bag: phone, mic, power bank, business cards, swag, etc. This is better for my shoulders/back than swinging a backpack over one shoulder. Also includes my wallet/ID, a multitool, tiny sunscreen, spare face mask, and earplugs for dampening the sounds of public transport.
  • Tote bag: water bottle, warm layers, snacks. Life support.
  • Backpack: For big/long events, this may contain my hardware projects, my laptop + adapters for presentations & programming, my portable hardware fabrication/repair bag, small sunscreen, backup face masks, lotion, etc.
    • I use the same one for travel, so it’s usually stocked up. For journeys, I tuck in my quart bag with travel liquids, plus a pouch that holds my eye mask, heavy-duty earplugs, etc.
• Process
  • Ask permission – If someone’s in the middle of a demo, I may start filming right away so they don’t have to repeat themself (and to catch the “natural” version) – especially if I know the person, and they know my work. But I’ll introduce myself and ask permission as soon as possible. 95% of the time, I ask first: introduce myself and the channel I’m filming for (with a business card if need be), then ask if I can get a quick, 1-minute vid.
  • Ask them to start with their name, company/group (if applicable), and the name of the project/product. Let them know I’ll edit it down to 1 minute if necessary, so they can say as little or as much as they want.
  • Ask if they’re okay with being on camera. I can just focus on the object(s), but most people are cool with it; some will fetch a colleague who’s more comfortable on film, or who has media training and is allowed to speak for the company.
  • Start by capturing their face and intro, ideally with Thing in the frame. Ask questions if they lose their spot. I’ll ask follow-up questions, especially if they said something earlier that I thought was interesting/unique.
  • Take a couple of still photos for the thumbnail & detailed close-ups
  • Get their handle(s) for tagging in the video
  • Give them a business card (if we haven’t met before), and/or stickers, a pin, or other swag

• Posting

Editing

• InShot
• Screenshots, links, etc.

Posting

• Tagging: people, companies, hardware, topics, places