CARACAS, Venezuela 2 May 2012 — Friends and relatives of prisoners inside the notorious La Planta Penitentiary in Caracas maintain a presence at the prison gates to ensure those inside are not transferred to facilities far from the capital. Prisoners inside rioted on Monday 30 April, sparking a 10-minute gun battle and speculation that authorities […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]