VJ storyteller: Geert Verdickt

In this course, Philip Hilven, the chief editor of TV Limburg, was a trainer.  I guess he liked what I did during excersises and he asked me if was still looking for a job. The answer was 'yes', so the next day I started as a VJ at TV Limburg.

I think I was the first VJ, being trained as such.  Most of my colleagues had been a traditional journalist before they were 'converted' into videojournalists.

For TV Limburg, I made all sorts of newsitems, but the most remarkable project I did for them was 'The Flying Limburger'.  Basically I travelled to 10 european countries in a mobilhome, to go and look for people from our region Limburg who were living abroad.  I made my footage for portrets on them, I cut most of my rough cuts on a laptop on the road and 18 pieces were broadcasted during the summer of 2005. I have received the Talent award for this project at the 2nd international festival for videojournalism in Weimar , Germany .

After that, the VPRO (Dutch National tv-station) asked me to make 10 portraits for their program 'Brusselse Kermis'.  It was a show in which we tried to give a face to the European government in Brussels .

After a short stay at VTM, a Belgian commercial station, I now do all kinds of stuff: portraits for regional stations, websitefilms, congressfilms, morningaftertv, edit-projects for the national station 'één' and I give workshops about camerawork, editting and storytelling.  As a freelancer I really like the variety of the things I do and I think this variety is a great source of new ideas and excitement.

How many video journalists work at your station?

Since I am a freelancer I always work alone. But the station I feel most related to is TVLimburg. The news-squad consist 100% of VJ's. And the work they do is great.

What is the biggest advantage of your work as a video journalist?
I think there are several advantages for VJ's. First of all the whole creative process happens in your own head. You think of a way to tackle a story, you go out and film it just the way you want it, then you come back and edit it the way you intended while filming, you add your own words and accents to it in your voice over… there are so many fields to be creative in and to keep growing and finetuning your skills… 

To me, being a VJ is the ultimate creative experience. Secondly, as a VJ, you have access to places, moods and feelings where a traditional crew will experience trouble entering. You carry a small camera and you are alone, so it is easier to create a special relationship with the person you are interviewing. A relationship that is very personal. This personal touch can be brought out in your authorship, so it adds to your personal style as a VJ.

Do you encounter problems as a video journalist?
Well, if I have to come up with a problem as a VJ, it would be that I can lose myself completely while working on a piece. Once my computer is running and my headphones are on, I am in another world. So I lose track of time and domestic duties my girlfriend asks me to fulfill. Several times I have been doing the dishes at four in the morning!

Tell us about your camera, editing software, ... What effect does your gear have on the story?
I like to film with a Sony PD170. I like the size, I like the colors, I like the audiocontrol and I like the way it makes great pictures even though there is not a lot of light, though it would be nice if it would also have a bigger screen (like the panasonic).

I have tried filming with a Panasonic and a Sony Z1, but I don't find them as convenient as a PD170. The audiocontrol on a Panasonic is not a nice I think and the high weight and the big size of a Z1 is not that handy, though the most dissappointing fact about the Z1 to me is the positioning of the screen.

I spend a lot of effort in breaking the ice with the people I interview, but this camera ruins your eyecontact simply by having the screen right in between your eyes and the eyes of your character. I also don’t like the fact that the Z1 needs so much light. So I am waiting for a camera that is built like the PD170, with a big screen in the right position, with a lens like the Z1, but not in need of so much light… if anyone knows where I can find a camera like that, please let me know. 

Do you use a tripod? Why (not)?
It depends on which style I am making my piece in. If I am making a ‘slow’ piece, I tend to use the tripod a lot. If I am making a funky piece, I leave my tripod at home and look for stability on the ground, on posts.

Do you have an insider tip or trick for fellow video journalists?
Do not touch your camera before you are completely filled with adrenaline about your piece.

Did you compete in other video journalism competitions?
I have received the Talent Award at the second international festival for videojournalism in Germany.

How was it to be a jury member for the 3d Berlin VJ award?
It was a great honor to be a member of the Berlin jury.  But what is even more important is that I met more people. More people with more ideas that inspire me.  The family is growing and that is a great feeling.