From: Michael Brennan <vista@ntlworld.com>

Date: Wed Mar 26, 2003 3:04:29 pm US/Pacific

To: gtc_forum@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Remarkable story

Some of us have seen the video phone stories filed by teams in Iraq. There was one yesterday where a reporter came under mortar fire. He jumped into the back of a personal carrier. Imagine 5 frames per second distorted audio, confusion and a few good shots of worried faces sweating in the back of the carrier.

Very moody but not one frame had any particularly interesting action/scene other than the worried faces and feet running ect.

The report was introduced by the journalist by saying this report has no narration because sometimes pictures speak volumes. The studio team spoke at length at how wonderful the report was and how evocative the pictures were, noting themselves that the video phone "added to the realism" Remarkable and extraordinary were used to describe it......

Oh and the reporter got the credit!

Now what really pisses me off about this was that it was mainly the visual effect of the video phone, characterized by jumpy disturbing motion, distorted and delayed audio that gave the piece its mood. It was evocative audio visual suggestion of the fear and panic ect of being under fire. I'm not knocking it, it worked! although it raises the subject of a video "effect" in a news programme.

My point is that it was the first story I have seen that wasn't cut to a script or voice over.

What irony that the images were given their power by the producers friend, the video phone.

There are some talented guys shooting in Iraq, every now and then I see a quick glimpse of a great picture, but in the main it seems there is no room for pictures that tell a story, reporters and producers would be out of a job no?

The happenstance of filing that story by videophone will win someone a emmy...and it won't be the cameraman

Mike Brennan