Photo: designwallah

If everything is “the best” or “the most,” what’s left as least or worst… or in between?

I’ve decided to collect all the superlatives I come across in the month of May. The purpose? To see if the use of “best of”/”most of” is really as common as I think it is, and then, to reflect critically on what it means to classify everything in categories of extremes.

I won’t be going out of my way to look for superlatives–I’ll just be collecting them as I come across them.

If you find any, feel free to send them my way. I’ll post my findings here at the end of the month.

Once you’ve got your gear, it’s time to start working with it. In this article, we’re going to talk about filming. The lessons we share here were learned through trial and error… lots and lots of error. We’re still learning every time we hit the “start” button!

1. Embrace the learning curve.

If you’re brand new to video, as we were, understand that the first few weeks or even months with your camera are best devoted to on-the-street experimentation. Even if you’ve read dozens of reviews about the gear you’ve bought, even if you’ve scoured the instruction manual cover to cover, the way in which you manage your camera and push it to its limits will be unique.

Don’t make the mistake that we did and film “important” footage during this learning and acclimation phase–important being footage you’re not likely to be able to capture again. Film birds, cars, people on the street. Just don’t film that interview it’s taken you months to arrange.

Otherwise, you’ll have loads of footage you can use to write an article like this one.

2. Do a sound check. Every single time.

Sounds simple enough, but the temptation to skip sound check is strong– let’s just get to filming!–especially when what you’re filming is a scene unfolding spontaneously before you.

But if you do that silly “testing, testing, 1, 2, 3″ (Yes, every time!), you’ll save yourself the disappointment of sitting down to review your footage, only to find out that what you’ve filmed is a silent movie.

3. Get stills and filler.

No one shoots a film–no matter the length–in a single fluid shot.

A finished video is the result of the movie equivalent of a cut and paste job. In addition to capturing your primary subject, be sure to film some still and filler footage you’ll be able to use for introductions, transitions, and credits.

4. Think about the big picture. Unless you’re sending footage to “Candid Camera,” think about the implications of the people you’re filming. In certain sensitive situations, such as my recent visit to the naval base and detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, you’ll want to get verbal confirmation that your subjects are willing to be filmed. In some cases, you may even want to request that your subjects sign a consent form, which indicates their willingness to be filmed and releases you from responsibility once the film goes live.

5. Develop a storyboard. If you’re setting out to film with a specific subject in mind, develop a rough storyboard that lays out the trajectory of the narrative you want to tell. This exercise is useful for helping you anticipate the kinds of shots you’ll want to get while filming.

There are many other variables to take into consideration when you’re filming– light, angle, and sound being just three of them–but you’ll develop your own sense of the importance of each and your style of managing them the more you handle your camera. The tips above will just get you started!

Curve photo: Extra Medium (Flickr creative commons)

Microphone photo: jschneid (Flickr creative commons)

Scissors photo: reebob (Flickr creative commons)

Earlier this week, a CollazoProjects reader wrote:

I’d like to put more video on my blog but I’m a complete beginner. What software should I use for editing videos, adding music & text etc? Also appreciate any other resources you could point me towards to get started.

Heather’s question is a good one, and it requires such a detailed answer, we decided to write an article–or four– in response!

This is the first article in a series of four articles that offer you a crash course in boosting your blog with video. In this article, we talk about the gear you need to get started.

The second installment will share filming tips; the third will explain the intricacies of editing; and the final article will teach you how to upload, publish, and promote your videos.

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Boosting Your Blog With Video: GEARING UP!

If you want to add video to your blog, you’ll need a video camera.

Wait- I know what you’re thinking: “Forget that I asked! I can’t afford a video camera!”

Don’t stop reading, though.

While there are top of the line professional video cameras that could drain your bank account in one fell swoop, there are also a couple of lower end cameras that will fit into almost any budget. My personal favorite is the Flip Camera, a lightweight, pocket-sized video camera with the capacity to film and store up to 60 minutes of footage at a time. At just $153.00, this video camera is cheaper than most digital cameras and will let you produce some fantastic footage for your blog.

The Flip has some serious limitations, but if you’re aware of them from the beginning, you’ll be able to leverage the camera’s strengths to capture quality video. The Flip works best when you’re in a situation where you can shoot close up. There’s a zoom function, but it doesn’t permit slow and steady user control; furthermore, the microphone is small and won’t capture sound that’s far from the camera itself.

Watch our videos “The Happiest Woman in Guantanamo” and “Alpura Milk Dancers” to get an idea about the kinds of subjects and settings where filming with the Flip works best.

The Flip is super easy to use with respect to downloading and editing. The camera has a USB device that plugs directly into your computer and allows direct downloading. The software comes with the camera and installs quickly. Once you’ve got your video footage on your computer, you can use Windows Movie Maker to edit your clips and produce a finished piece.

If you’re serious about developing quality video and have the budget for a bigger camera, we recommend the Canon HG10. This is a high definition video camera that’s a notch above the home video camera and a few notches below a professional video camera.

This camera has far more flexibility and capability than the Flip, but if you’re going to invest in a camera of this type, be prepared to buy a couple of non-negotiable accessories.

A tripod is a must– we’ve got hours of shaky footage that’s unusable because we shot without a tripod. You can purchase a very decent Canon tripod that comes with its own bag for about $40.

Another accessory you’ll need is an external microphone. While video cameras all come with built in microphones, you’ll be hard pressed to capture audible sound without an external microphone (also called a shotgun mike). We use an AZDEN camcorder microphone. Two notes about this microphone: 1. You’ll need batteries (and will ALWAYS want to do a sound check before you start filming to make sure your battery hasn’t died) and 2. You should always check to make sure your microphone is on before filming.

Our next accessory purchase will be a lavalier microphone, which ranges between $20.00 and $700.00. A lavalier microphone clips onto your subject’s shirt and permits you to capture the very best sound, close to the source.

The Canon HG10 comes with a software CD that provides you with the Corel Ulead editing system. It’s not the most intuitive editing system I’ve ever used, but the quality of video is certainly superior to that of the Flip. Check out our “House of Memories” video to see if you can discern the difference between the Flip footage and the Canon footage. (And you’ll see why we advise you to buy a tripod!)

Finally, once you’ve got all your gear, you’ll need a bag to put it in. There are fancy hard shell cases with interior padding that will keep your gear protected, but these tend to be expensive and are heavy to carry. We use a Baggallini padded valise.

If you buy any of your gear at a store, the salesperson will try to encourage you to buy lots of other gear, but these are the basics. You’ll be just fine if you start with these items and start testing them out. Over time, once you’ve decided what kinds of videos you want to make and why, you’ll develop a better understanding of the accessories you’ll want to buy to enhance your video production.

Movie man photo: Simon Pais-Thomas (Flickr creative commons)

Gear photo: lucianvenutian (Flickr creative commons)

Flip camera photo: rmphotog (Flickr creative commons)

There are dozens of stories to share, and I’ll be writing more about my experiences at Guantanamo both here on CollazoProjects and on the Matador Network in the coming weeks. In fact, you can check out two pieces I’ve already written– Sweet Digs, Harry Potter and the Real Chamber of Secrets, and 5 Things You Should Know About Guantanamo — to start getting a sense of what’s been happening here.

In the meantime, I’d like to introduce you to the happiest woman at Guantanamo.

Sam, the assistant manager of the kitchen responsible for preparing all detainee meals–not to mention galley meals for troopers–is a Korean American contractor who has been working on Guantanamo for five years.

As most terms of service at Guantanamo–military or contractor– are one year or less, Sam definitely has some seniority around here. And though she gets off the base every six months or so for vacation, the island fever that one might expect to set in after so much time here doesn’t seem to affect her in the least.

She’s quite possibly one of the most positive people I’ve met, and the troopers I met confirmed that they’ve never seen her with anything other than a smile. So… meet the happiest woman at Guantanamo, who has no plans to leave any time soon.

This week, we surfaced at the Bellas Artes Metro stop. Bellas Artes, as its name promises, leaves you gape-jawed at the unexpected beauty of the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts).

It also leaves you gape-jawed and with an itchy photog finger in the park alongside the museum…

One of the exits for the Bellas Artes Metro. The building in the background is NOT the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Standing in the entryway of the Palacio de Bellas Artes to wait out a rain shower, I looked up and noticed this banner on the side of the Torre Latino (the skyscraper that looks quite a bit like the Empire State Building). It says “We demand security,” and it was placed on the building for last weekend’s peace march. With the Mexican flag and the statue finishing the composition, how could I not capture this photo?

And speaking of security… this Bellas Artes guard looks like he might be slacking on the job a little too much. Caught him in this photo before he asked Francisco to turn off the video camera.

Independence Day is coming up and the flags are out in force. This one, mounted on the motorcycle, was attractive enough as a photographic subject, but with the interesting couple in the background, I quickly overcame my usual reticence to take photos of people. Snap!

Leopardo, the young boy in this photo, is an expert pine needle basket weaver. We struck up a conversation and he told me that he learned the art from his father. His whole family weaves baskets. They’re from Michoacan. And in case you’re wondering, I ended up with a basket in addition to this photo.

Aura cleansing is a popular activity in touristy areas here, and the Bellas Artes stop is no exception.

Below is a video Francisco shot on the first day of the Mompox bullfight, or la corraleja. If you are sensitive to animal cruelty or physical injury, then skip the video and just read the article!

You probably haven’t heard about el “Caso Marti,” the tragedy that was one of the reasons why the march was organized. On June 4, Fernando Marti, a 14 year old boy who was the son of a wealthy businessman, was kidnapped on his way to school. A month and a half later, Marti was found dead in the trunk of a stolen car.

In the weeks since, Marti’s father has been tireless in demanding that the federal government take more active measures in combating kidnapping and other forms of violence. He voiced the thoughts of thousands of Mexicans when he appeared before a group of politicians and authorities and, exasperated with their excuses, said, “If you can’t fulfill the duties you’ve been given, resign!”

Caso Marti was a high profile case among the thousands of crimes that are committed in Mexico City and the country on a monthly basis, but it seemed to be a tipping point. A group began to organize the Iluminemos Mexico march and informed politicians that they weren’t welcome to make speeches at the event. The capital’s newspapers dedicated entire sections not only to informing readers about the event, but also to publishing investigative pieces about the problems of crime in Mexico.

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The plans for the march spread quickly from one city to another, and last night, at 7 PM, people in towns across Mexico put on white shirts, lit candles, and took to the streets in a show of unity in their declarations for peace. Here in Guadalajara, it was raining until 6:40 PM. Yet by 7:15, at the corner of Vallarta and Avenida Cuatuhemoc, there was a mass of people as far as I could see in either direction. There were the obviously wealthy and the obviously poor. The young and the elderly. Children on their fathers’ shoulders. People in wheelchairs. On crutches. People with white flags, with Mexican flags, all moving en masse to the Minerva fountain, where doves would be released and the crowd would erupt in the national anthem.

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We had the camera and two video cameras and weaved in and out amongst the marchers. “Poverty is also a form of violence!” yelled one student. “Felipe Calderon [the Mexican president] is my friend,” one elderly woman told me, cupping her hands around the flame of her candle so it wouldn’t go out. “We’re here because we want a safe future for our children,” said one mother, a tear rolling down her cheek as she talked to me. “Thank you for being here,” said men and women, again and again as we stopped them and asked for brief interviews.

At 8:30, the crowd gathered at the fountain and placed their candles around its perimeter, filling the entire space. And suddenly, a wave of applause ripples up the avenue… a group of indigenous students, dressed in outfits representative of their respective cultural groups, is making its way to the fountain and the crowd welcomes them with whistles and applause.

They’re taken aback, surprised to be drawn into the crowd’s embrace. “There is so much discrimination and violence against indigenous people,” said one young woman I interviewed, “so it feels very special for the people to welcome us in this way.” “VIVA MEXICO!!” one woman screams with a kind of primal ferocity, her face contorted with rage and hope. “VIVA!” the crowd roars back, before it begins to dissipate.

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Photos: Francisco & Julie Schwietert Collazo

by Francisco Collazo; Translated by Julie Schwietert Collazo

Walking in Mexico City, we come upon a group of dancers in a park near Circular de Morelia Street. The group, we learn, is named Binniruyaa, and is comprised of a group of students from different disciplines: all of them young, cheerful, and committed to the responsibility of saving the traditional dances of the Oaxaca region. They’re preparing to participate in a dance festival that will take place in September at the National Arts Center.

Their professor, Karla Flores, is dedicated to rescuing this form of dance from the coast, which was once very popular but which is all but forgotten today. She tells us that her group was formed three years ago by teachers and students. Today, one of the instructors is teaching three dances: “La Sarna,” “El Gallito,” and “El Palomo.” In the sarna, the dancers scratch themselves as if trying to seek relief from a terrible itch, a move incorporated into the dance that is executed without missing a step or losing the rhythm. In the “gallito,” the men follow the women just like the rooster does with his hen, even making rooster calls at the end of the piece, a faithful imitation of the cock. The “palomo” dance is carried out with the same detail and liveliness of movement as the other dances. And all of the dances are enlivened by typical folkloric costumes, which will be worn on the day of the Putleco Carnival in Putla Villa, located in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast.

Mexico City dances to the music of the world. Here, it’s not hard to find rock, samba, tango, or danzon; bars and nightclubs fill up with dancers eager to enjoy all types of music. In fact, they dance to tropical rhythms that are no longer popular in their countries of origin; one of these is the “danzon” of Cuba, a rhythm that was very popular around 1800, but which is danced today with the same kind of fervor in Merida, Mexico, attracting thousands dancing in competition. What’s interesting is that these rhythms aren’t danced by the immigrants from those countries where the songs and dances originated; rather, they’re danced by Mexicans with the same kind of feeling that characterized those who first danced to these songs. Mexico is the world’s dance floor. In music and dance, Mexico celebrates its universality and reminds us how much a part of the world it is.

Its recognition of the rest of the world isn’t only found in its dance steps, but also in the streets that carry names of the world’s rivers: the Mississippi, the Amazon, the Nile… and as if this wasn’t enough, the city’s streets are also named after world cities, including Rome, Medellin, and Luxembourg. The streets also honor the world’s writers and philosophers, among them Plato, Socrates, Edgar Allan Poe, Rousseau, and Tennyson. In this landlocked city, you can walk alongside all these rivers, in all of these cities, conscious of the fact that art is universal and belongs to everyone.

Today, there’s more dancing than usual, as Mexico’s independence day draws near. On September 16, Mexico will celebrate almost 200 years of independence. And throughout its history, there has always been dance. The Aztecs danced to celebrate victories, births, marriages, and all manner of festive occasions. Today, Mexico dances out its daily life, dipping and turning with grace around obstacles. It dances its corn and its oil, during crisis and during victories. If there is one thing for us to learn about Mexico, it’s that dance fortifies the country and is a source of pride…. If you’ll excuse me… can I have this dance, please?

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[Version en espanol]

“Fiebre de Baile a lo Mexicano”

Caminando por la ciudad de Mexico, nos encontramos con un grupo de baile en el parque localizado en la circular de Morelia. Su nombre luego sabemos que es grupo folklorico “Binniruyaa,” compuesto por un grupo de estudiantes de diferentes disciplinas; todos ellos jovenes, alegres, y sobre todo llevan sobre sus hombros la responsabilidad de salvar los bailes tradicionales de la costa de Oaxaca. Ellos se preparan para formar parte del festival de baile que tendra lugar en Septiembre en El Centro Nacional de Artes.

Su profesora, Karla Flores, esta decidida a rescatar esta forma artistica del baile de la costa que antes era muy popular, pero hoy ya casi olvidado. Ella nos cuenta que este grupo se formo hace 3 anos por profesores y alumnos de la escuela media y superior; ellos ensayan hoy tres danzas muy movidas que llevan por titulos “La Sarna,” “El Gallito,” y “El Palomo.” En la sarna se le hace incapies a los bailadores para que expresen la picazon que esta produce sin perder el paso y manteniendo el ritmo. En la del gallito los hombres persiguen a las mujeres como el gallo lo haria en su gallinero, he inclusive producen los cantos del gallo al final de la pieza haciendo de esta manera una imitacion fiel de este. La del palomo con igual destreza y viveza en sus movimientos y ademanes. Nos deja saber tambien que todo esto va acompanado de sus trajes tipicos de mucho colorido, como se usaria en el carnaval Putleco de la Delegacion de Putla Villa en el Departamento de Guerrero en la costa del Pacifico.

La ciudad de Mexico baila la musica del mundo. No es dificil escuchar un rock, samba, tango, o danzon; los bares y centros nocturnos se llenan de bailadores para disfrutar de esta musica. De hecho aqui se bailan los ritmos tropicales que ya no son populares en sus lugares de origen; uno de ellos es el “danzon” de Cuba, ritmo que fue muy popular en esa isla alrdedor del 1800, pero que hoy se baila con furia en la ciudad de Merida atrayendo miles de entusiastas para su competicion. De todo esto lo mas facinante es que estos ritmos no son bailados por los inmigrantes de estos paises que alli residen; estos son bailados con el mismo sentimiento y sentido de pertencia con que lo bailaron sus creadores. Mexico es la pista de baile de la musica del mundo. En la musica y el baile, Mexico celebra su universalidad y nos deja saber en una forma muy especial que nos tiene presentes a todos.

En su esfuerzo por hacer justicia a la universalidad de esta ciudad podemos encountrar con facilidad calles que llevan los nombres de los rios del mundo: Mississippi, Amazonas, Nilo, y por si esto fuera poco, tambien le da a sus calles nombres de las mayores capitales y ciudades del mundo tales como Roma, Medellin, Luxemburgo, y finaliza dandole mencion a escritores y filosofos de todos los tiempos: Platon, Socrates, Edgar Allan Poe, Rousseau, Tennyson. En esta ciudad sin puerto puedes caminar los rios de todas estas ciudades y tener siempre presente que el arte es universal y es de todos.

Hoy todavia mas se baila ya que se acerca su dia de independencia, Septiembre 16, casi dos siglos desde aquel entonces 1810-2008. Para ser exacto se ha bailado siempre. Los Aztecas bailaron sus victorias, sus nacimientos, sus uniones matrimoniales, y en fiestas y celebraciones tradicionales. Mexico baila con la vida diaria, da un giro al frente y una media vuelta para salvar obstaculos. Mexico baila su maiz y su petroleo, durante sus crisis y sus victorias. Si una cosa debemos aprender de Mexico es que el baile fortifica y nos orgullece……una pieza, por favor?

Video: Francisco Collazo
Photos: Julie Schwietert Collazo

In “Tu no sabes…” Miguel Davila, author of “Bienvenido a Mompox/Welcome to Mompox,” interviews Julio Zambrana and Hernando Sanchez Villalba, author of “El Otro Lado del Rio/The Other Side of the River,” about the importance of the Magdalena River in the lives of people who live in Mompox.

Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the video is worth watching. Julio, dressed in his school gym uniform, has borrowed Francisco’s watch to look “more professional.” Hernando has dressed in his best outfit and is distracted by Francisco’s cigar, which he appropriates during the interview to give himself an air of seriousness. Although the boys are cutting up and Miguel’s filming skills are somewhat compromised by the fact that he’s lounging in a hammock as he interviews his subjects, the knowledge and talent of the three boys shine through.

Equipment Used:

Based on what we learned (and what we’ll be sharing in future stories), we’ve come up with this list of 8 easy things you can do to help Mompox. Like many towns across the world, Mompox has amazing potential, but simply lacks some basic resources that are needed to realize its own capabilities.

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8. Clean your closets. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, my mom always said, and she’s right. Those gently used clothes, that box of pencils you’ve saved but will never use, the crutches you needed when you broke your ankle… every single item you no longer need can be repurposed for people in need. In Mompox, kids need school supplies–notebooks, pens, pencils. Residents of the local nursing home would like art supplies–brushes, drawing paper, paints. And the hospital is in desperate need of used but still serviceable crutches, walkers, and other pieces of medical equipment. If you have these kinds of items and would be willing ship them–either directly to Mompox or to CollazoProjects, which will be sending materials periodically–you’ll not only be lightening your own load, you’ll be helping someone else!

7. Adopt a kid. The kids in the Voces de Mompox project and many of their peers live in profound poverty. Some don’t eat even two meals a day. Many miss school because they lack proper shoes (and are sent home if this is the case) or have damaged uniforms. If you could commit to “adopting” one kid and sponsoring his or her school-related needs for six months or a year, you’d be improving the quality of education and the future prospects of students who are eager to realize their potential. And the good news?? Sponsoring a kid doesn’t cost much. School uniforms range from $8.00 to $16.00 depending on the item being purchased. If this option interests you, please contact us directly at writingjulie@gmail.com.

6. Collect soda can tabs. Soda can tabs are easy for us to send to Colombia and can be recycled by the kids for money.

5. Browse through your bookshelf. In Mompox, the local public library receives funds to buy new books every four years. The condition of the books in the limited collection is quite poor and children can’t check books out to read at home. Any books that you no longer want would be welcomed by the kids– whether in English or in Spanish. The same is true of old magazines.

4. Donate old electronics. What’s your plan for that old laptop or camera? Don’t recycle it; repurpose it! Going from no technology to some technology is a big step for the Voces de Mompox project. And as we work towards non-profit status, you might just be able to claim a tax deduction.

3. Lend a hand. What’s your talent? What might you be able to do to support the Voces de Mompox project? We’ve received offers of website development and grant writing, both of which are welcome. If you have a talent that could be used to move this project to the next step, let us know; we’d be happy to benefit from your expertise and enthusiasm!

2. Visit Colombia. Combat the negative stereotypes of Colombia by traveling there and seeing amazing places and people for yourself.

1. Spread the word. Share your enthusiasm about the Voces de Mompox project with friends, family, and contacts. Encourage them to adopt one or more of these action steps as a personal challenge to make a positive difference in the lives of these amazing young people. What are specific ways you can spread the word? *Forward your favorite Voces de Mompox article to your contacts and encourage them to visit the site. *Link to CollazoProjects and the Voces de Mompox series on your own blog or website. *Feature Voces de Mompox in a story on your website.

For more information about any of these tips, please e-mail us at writingjulie@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Thanks,
Francisco & Julie