Viewmagazine.tv
March 25, 2008
David Dunkley Gyimah created Viewmagazine.tv to demonstrate the integration of new Video techniques in factual story telling e.g. VideoJournalism and online multimedia media design- referred to as IM6 VJ. If you haven’t been introduced to his work and site, you’re in for a pleasure. He’s one of my new visual heroes.
This guy can turn anything into a stunning piece of visual journalism. The site is actually overwhelming, there is so much there. Be patient, the site has always taken a while to load for me, is it just me? Lots of inspiration here,
enjoy,
-r
I don’t know man,
I can appreciate somebody in our craft pushing the boundries and trying new things. I think it definately has its place in helping all of us to try new things.
But I think you have to come at these things with a bit of a cynical eye.
I found his web design to be extremely complicated and overwhelming. I spent 30 minutes looking for the page of his story “8 Days.” The videos didn’t have enough controls, the information wasn’t organized in a way I could easily understand it and the writing was disjointed. Also everything loads extremely slowly and some of the links don’t do anything.
And then there is his video. I asked myself, “How much of this is innovation, and how much of it is blurring the lines between fact and fiction?” The National Press Photographers Association has some guidlines that I think show these tactics to be crossing the line. He essentially takes news packages and adds Michael Bay (Transformers, Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon) special effects to it. I’m not convinced thats a surefire way to improve online journalism.
And I’ve really got a problem with how this guy mixes his audio.
My point is style shouldn’t trump substance. I’m not sure how good this guy’s substance is because I can’t access anything but his trailers.
I’m not saying he sucks, I’m just saying all that style should be approach cautiously.
Regards
Dan
i hear you about the site, it’s A LOT of stuff, maybe i’ve been following him long enough to have seen the pieces with substance. I’ll post a few more direct links to david’s stuff so you can get a better feel.
But I HEAR you. I struggle with what you are saying about style everyday.
I also find the site is a bit slow to load but is stuffed full of intersesting things.
Don’t forget, the UK sufferes from some really really bad video content from most newspapers and we are in danger of it falling flat.
I like the funky cutting and jiggy jig jig.
I will declare I am a fan of DG’s work and he really was the one (along with some of you) who has helped me decide to dip my toes into video.
if you look hard enough there is a piece of his work that includes the sitbonzo crew :-)
David and I have been corresponding for the past year. His encouragement and continued mentorship is the primary reason I jumped in with both feet into video - not really knowing what the fark I was doing. His site is in a constant state of evolution - confusing at best, but as koci said, worth digging through to find the nuggets of information that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else so far on the ‘net.
David has the credentials, and his unique perspective on the language of cinema and applying it to the solo vj paradigm has caused great interest for me. He’s partnered with Robb Montgomery of VizEds and I’m planning on attending the advanced web video journalism workshop being run in May along with Angela Grant of Newsvideographer.com.
If you take the time to dig through David’s site, you’ll understand what he’s doing. The comment about the UK suffering from really bad video content is an inaccurate blanket statement - the same can be said for the video content being created here in the states (seen alot - been guilty of some of it myself).
If you’re serious about shooting video as a hybrid visual journalist, then learn what it takes to shoot video - do a workshop - even if its on your dime (which is what I’m doing).
Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt
Cliff you are right of course, i can only comment on what I’ve seen.
I am looking desperatly to go on a course and without question will have to fund it myself probably the camera too but I am prepared to do that coz these guys look like they are having such a good time!
what workshop are you recomending?
david (sitbonzo) - I’m attending the Advanced Web Video Journalism Workshop being held by Visual Editors in Chicago. Angela Grant of newsvideographer.com is teaching the Beginner and David Dunkley-Gyimah is teaching the advanced. Robb Montgomery is going to be involved as well in each of the courses being offered. Check the Viz Ed site for the details.
Regarding the gear - I’ve done some fairly extensive research on the matter and have my personal opinions about what most “THINK” they need and what will be more than sufficient for both web video and potential broadcast. I honestly don’t believe many of the photogs out there need to jump headlong into a camera such as one of the larger Canons, SONY’s or Panasonic’s. And for post - much along the same lines.
Dan - regarding your comment about the NPPA - although I can see why you make your position, I don’t buy the notion that the NPPA have the final say in what is “crossing the line”. Rules were made to be broken and from what I have seen of the so called “NPPA” way of shooting video - 99% is lacking in originality and substance - at least from what I have seen of the TV shooters who follow said guidelines. I find DDG’s visuals and unique story telling perspective refreshing in the cookie cutter world of TV news shooters who profess to know all, see all (much along the same lines as those who form the detractors club over on Michael Rosenblum’s blog).
This profession needs fresh blood that isn’t tainted by stodgy dictum’s - I say we solo vj’s need the freedom to experiment without fear of reprisal if it doesn’t go as planned. It’s through making mistakes we learn about ourselves and our craft. Otherwise, the same boring pablum that is passed off as video journalism will be reconstituted ad nauseum. Cutting edge people like DDG, Rosenblum, and others are espousing a tearing down of the old ways and replacing it with something different - and I personally believe that paradigm shift is the future of cutting edge, engaging video journalism - both short and longer form projects.
Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt
I met David in Cairo last September and though we come from different world - broadcast for him, print for me, we found that we had a lot in common as web-first journalists
I had no idea just how talented he was or how fantastic an instructor he is until I worked with him. We need more David’s.
His credibility is not the issue - if you actually didi your homework, you would find that the guy has been a documentary VJ on international assignments for years. Filing stories for little known outfits likes of ITN, BBC, and ABC News in South Africa. . . David says he has filed over 500 video reports in a 12-month span. Trust me, he is in a different league entirely.
Oh, and he is a Ph.D candidate and a senior lecturer at Westminster U . . blah blah. If you want credentials - he’s got him. Are you impressed by awards? He’s got ‘em. Won the Batten award for a film called 8 Days. A film he made while training U.K. newspaper reporters how to shoot Web video reports.
His Web site is an experiment. A collection of a lot of experiments, actually. .I have been advising him - here and there - about his navigation and giving users sound controls. He really likes pushing Flash solutions and that, at time, is what hurts the site. But, David is always ripping it up and applying his new knowledge and feedback from colleagues. We need more Davids!
Here is a film he shot, reported and had online in less than 12 hours.
LINK:
http://vizeds.blip.tv/#384519
If you want to know how to produce fast-turnaround, high quality documentaries then you should come to Chicago for Camp Video Journalism May 5-9 at the Chicago Sun-Times.
http://www.visualeditors.com/workshop
Registration:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2345982/Camp-Video-Journalism-Chicago-May-59
Camp Video Journalism - Chicago May 5-9
Let me start by saying David is THE most inspirational person I have ever met.
He absolutely opened my eyes (and those of countless others who have been lucky enough to train with him) to what is achievable as a videojournalist working in today’s industry.
Just when my group of trainees thought we would end up filming the same-old BBC style reports, he showed us a whole new world of creativity. The difference this one man has made to our outlook and production when it comes to video is incredible - if not terrifying to think of what we could have ended up doing.
Some aspects may not find favour with everybody - we’ve entered something of a new era and it’s a very subjective matter so there will always be the traditional broadcast view versus the alternative VJ approach.
But my personal view is, aside from being accurate, modern news needs to be engaging and entertaining. David’s style does this superbly.
His After Effects work and overall look is just sublime. If someone wants to present a news package with a big Hollywood style then to me that’s very much a good thing. Modern viewers, especially online, want something different and are getting fed-up with the standard offerings.
I found I got on incredibly well with David and am massively thankful for the feedback and tips he has continued to provide since the course ended.
David really is in a different league when it comes to inspiring, creative, honest and hard-working tutors (not to mention the mountain of VJ work he does!).
He had such an effect on me that I completely re-evaluated my career in the industry, which had until that point been solely in print - and have been looking toward a more video-orientated future ever since…
Gareth Bartlett - Digital Editor, Cornwall & Devon Media
Hi R
woops - er - oh dear!
thanks for the shout r. Really appreciated. I have been a huge fan of yours way back ( about 2 site changes back). Gave it a shout at the Apple talk today. It’s a great site showcasing your work and many others.
That cut out plane stop action you did on your way to judging a competition - sublime.
Glad you’re back online. You get me out of many holes LOL.
Cheers
David
p.s Supposed to be spring here and its flippin freezin, well it was.. What’s the weather there like cuz if its anything like I have seen in Chicago bhrrrrrrweer!
Snowing in Chicago, today, mate. Will all be sunny, green and divine when you arrive in early May.
I am off to Berlin and Warsaw for nine days and I have my HVR-A1U, 3:6:9 and the truth.
Say - I just saw that Apple UK gave you a PRO write up and have your demo reel on there. Brilliant!
http://www.apple.com/uk/pro/profiles/gyimah/
hey D, i mean d, oops, David.
Anytime. Give a shout if you’re ever in the Bay Area.
-r
r will do
and “D” - that would be me :)
D