WASHINGTON, DC, 4 April 2012 — Here’s the latest piece that Time Magazine posted from our work in Cuba last fall semester. It’s another example of what one properly trained practitioner — a backpack journalist — can achieve with limited gear. We could never have done this with a traditional, extended crew. The operation would have been too bulky and way, way too expensive. Esther did a great job on the editing. We hope you like it. You can watch the story HERE.
WASHINGTON, DC, 28 March 2012 — I was one of a handful of judges at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) during yesterday’s “2010-2011 DoD Visual Information Production Awards” competition. We spent the day reviewing and voting on dozens of videos submitted for the competition. I had the opportunity to meet and speak with professionals in the military about the methodology we refer to as backpack journalism.
(U.S. Air Force photos by SSGT Christine Fink)
WASHINGTON, DC, 24 March 2012 — I tell participants of my Backpack Journalism Workshops that they have to understand their cameras before they can make those cameras do on tape or on a digital platform what the students “see” in their mind’s eye. Part of this is understanding how the glass works. Yes, the glass in the lens of the camera, something that most still photojournalists learn about very early in their careers.
Here’s a brief clip of a presentation I did during our March 8-11 Backpack Journalism Workshop regarding the effect that wide angle, as opposed to telephoto lenses, have on people or objects seen in a line. The presentation is all about using these effects as a compositional tool. Shot by Monica Echeverria during the March workshop, you can see it on YouTube HERE.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing. The workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It’s revolutionizing the global exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait to “Engage. Embrace. Empower.” Join us for the next workshop in Washington, DC, on 17-20 May 2012.
- Bill Gentile
WASHINGTON, DC, 24 March 2012 — Jenna Bonello recounts what she learned at the March 8-11, 2012 Backpack Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. Monica Echeverria shot this brief clip while Jenna was shooting a piece about food trucks that now are so pervasive in the city. Watch the clip on YouTube HERE.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing. The workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It’s revolutionizing the global exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait to “Engage. Embrace. Empower.” Join us for the next workshop in Washington, DC, on 17-20 May 2012.
- Bill Gentile
http://billgentile.com WASHINGTON, DC, 24 March 2012 — Caroline Behringer offers her opinion of what it takes to succeed at the March 8-11 Backpack Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. Monica Echeverria shot this clip while Caroline was making a film on a new market located on 14th St. in Washington, DC. I try to get into the field with workshop participants as much as possible. You can watch it HERE.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing. The workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It’s revolutionizing the global exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait to “Engage. Embrace. Empower.” Join us for the next workshop in Washington, DC, on 17-20 May 2012.
- Bill Gentile
WASHINGTON, DC, 24 March 2012 — Monica Echeverria shot this scene of myself and Jenna Bonello during the March 8-11, 2012 Backpack Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. You can watch the clip on YouTube HERE. I try to get into the field with workshop participants as much as possible.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing. The workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It’s revolutionizing the global exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait to “Engage. Embrace. Empower.” Join us.
- Bill Gentile
WASHINGTON, DC, 24 March 2012 — Registration is open for the second “Backpack Documentary Expedition: Nicaragua,” scheduled for 12-23 July 2012.
Bill Gentile accompanies participants to the Central American nation of Nicaragua for an immersion in the process of documentary filmmaking. Participants follow American volunteers working with the non-profit organization, “Bridges to Community,” in the region of Nindiri to learn the essence of documentary — using media to transform the world. Drawing on Gentile’s 30+ years of experience in the field, students acquire knowledge and skills that otherwise might take months or even years to attain.
The region of Nindiri is located between the capital city of Managua and the city of Masaya. While Nindiri town has preserved much of its colonial flare, many of the surrounding rural communities lack even basic infrastructure. Many of the people there are farmers. More recently, some have become workers in the “Free Trade Zone” textile factories. Neither alternative provides more than a very limited income, and the communities have few options to improve their own housing, education or healthcare. Bridges to Community started work in Nindiri in 2006.
Join Bill Gentile and learn to make powerful documentaries in Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes in the heart of Central America. For details, see http://billgentile.com/expedition.php.
Pictured above, 2011 Expedition participant Martha Dodge on her way during a rainy drive to document U.S. volunteers building homes in Nicaragua. Watch the documentary she produced as a result of the Expedition, “A House for Teresa,” at http://marthadodge.net.
WASHINGTON, DC, 22 March 2012 — The second “Backpack Documentary Expedition: Nicaragua” is scheduled for 12-23 July 2012. Bill Gentile accompanies participants to the Central American nation of Nicaragua for an immersion in the process of documentary filmmaking. Participants follow American volunteers working with the non-profit organization, “Bridges to Community,” in the region of Nindiri to learn the essence of documentary — using media to transform the world. Drawing on Gentile’s 30+ years of experience in the field, students acquire knowledge and skills that otherwise might take months or even years to attain.
The region of Nindiri is located between the capital city of Managua and the city of Masaya. While Nindiri town has preserved much of its colonial flare, many of the surrounding rural communities lack even basic infrastructure. Many of the people there are farmers. More recently, some have become workers in the “Free Trade Zone” textile factories. Neither alternative provides more than a very limited income, and the communities have few options to improve their own housing, education or healthcare. Bridges to Community started work in Nindiri in 2006.
Join Bill Gentile and learn to make powerful documentaries in Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes in the heart of Central America. For details, see http://billgentile.com/expedition.php.
Above, 2011 Expedition participant Paloma Jackson documents U.S. volunteers building homes in Nicaragua.
WASHINGTON, DC, 18 March 2012 — Here’s a group shot of the latest participants, assistants and observers at the Backpack Journalism Workshop of 8-11 March. Standing from left are James Eppard, Jose Espinosa, Esther Gentile, Jenna Bonello, Caroline Behringer and Kari Barber. Kneeling from left to right are Lee Poston, Monica Echeverria, Bill Gentile and Nick Ray.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing. These workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It’s revolutionizing the global exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait to “Engage. Embrace. Empower.” Join us.
- Bill Gentile
WASHINGTON, DC, 17 March 2012 — Monica Echeverria produced, shot, wrote, narrated and edited a video about our March 8-11 Backpack Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. In the photo above, I work with Jenna Bonello in the field. Watch Monica’s story on YouTube.
My workshops are intensive, four-day immersions in the craft of “backpack journalism” defined as character-driven television/web productions with hand-held digital cameras by a single practitioner. The workshops cover the gamut of the visual storytelling process from the genesis and shaping of story ideas, to shooting powerful images that drive the story, to the capture and use of sound, to script writing, narration, and editing with Macintosh computers and Final Cut Pro. These workshops are appropriate for beginners with some experience as well as existing practitioners who desire to sharpen their skills or acquire new ones. We welcome photojournalists, print and video journalists, aspiring documentary filmmakers and independent storytellers.
I teach the full range of skills required for effective visual storytelling—from Controlling Idea and Dramatic Arc to pitching, shooting, producing, scriptwriting, narrating and editing the final product. I bring in an Internet marketing expert so participants can learn to market their work, using the latest and most effective social media tools.
My assistants are some of the best and brightest of the field, and they come to each event with the latest information about the field, with a burning desire teach and with a positive attitude.
The era of the backpack video journalist has arrived. It is revolutionizing the worldwide exchange of information and ideas — and changing the way we live. I bring over 30 years of field experience to teach how to produce powerful TV and web productions. Information is power, and I aim to help you harness that power to document and to change the world.
So don’t wait. Join us.
- Bill Gentile
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