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VJ storyteller: Franco Foraci
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In this Q&A-series, we put video journalists in the spotlight. They are a special breed and, in the spirit of The Concentra Award, we love to hear their fascinating stories. As a VJ working for the Hessischer Rundfunk, Franco Foraci was a nominee in the first edition of the Concentra Award with his story 'Health and laughter for clowns in the hospital'. He gladly gives us an insight in his VJ-life.
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How much work experience do you have? And how long as a video journalist?
I work at one of the larger TV channels in the pool of public German TV cannels (ARD), which represents a broadcasting corporation of regional channels on the first german net. Since 1996 I work as a television journalist, and I don't regret it at all. It is sometimes considerably stressing, but it's a lot of fun! I work as a video journalist since autumn 2002. We were the first journalists who were trained in Germany by VJ-Guru Michael Rosenblum from New York in a three weeks lasting bootcamp.
How many video journalists work at your station?
Meanwhile, after more than one dozen of small and large seminars, there are far over 70 videojournalists working for my channel. Almost all of them work as a freelancer, each one connected to specific editorial offices.
What is the biggest advantage of your work as a video journalist?
I believe that a video journalist is much faster accepted during film shootings – even in the most private situations. Because he is alone there, he is in a position to connect on a more personal level with his protagonists. You should not become friends with your main characters in the film. This helps you to keep the necessary journalistic distance. Due to their sensivity, video journalists have the chance to get closer to the people. This is my experience. Camera teams with three/four people for example can do that more rarely, because they must communicate often also among themselves. This impresses the protagonists often negatively or makes them more frightened. So rarely authentic moments are possible.
VJ-photographs are simply more realistic than all other methods on the television! An example is a hospital in Frankfurt am Main, where I had a film shooting. At first, the people there saw me - the VJ - as a stranger. It only took a few hours before I was considered as a staff member of the hospital. Those are stories of everydays life, which one rarely can create by conventional methods.
Do you encounter problems as a video journalist?
I find it most difficult to make reports during constant light changes. That looks often not too bad, nevertheless I get dissatisfied again and again. The reason is that I prefer not to use the automatic button. I like to set the aperture and to control the white balance manually. That was exactly the main problem with the film about the midwives. In hospitals there are really thousands of different light situations.
Tell us about your camera, editing software, ...
We still use the Panasonic A DX100. I still get on with this camera best of all. The cut is made by the AVID express software. This equipment has influenced the story only positively. Because I'm comfortable working with the control and operations of my devices and software, I can focus on the story instead of having to think about the technical conditions. Time is money, also for a VJ.
Do you use a tripod? Why (not)?
For God`s sake: No! The use of tripods destroys the authentic recording of the story. In situations where the picture should not be shaky, because for example macros must be taken up, then other practical methods are enough in order to stabilize the camera.
Do you have an insider tip or trick for fellow video journalists?
Very simple: Even if at the beginning everything runs out of order, don't give up. Things going wrong is part of the learning process. And it is important to hold your camera with both hands all the time. Otherwise one gets used to wrong framings. Contentwise I would say: Try out and experiment, as much as possible. Otherwise one never finds his own style. Above all, do not try to copy others. That not only holds you back, it is also simply boring!
External Link: Hessischer Rundfunk
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