Hunter News Now students learned all about micro docs and visual storytelling from an award-winning filmmaker last week.
CNN videographer Michael Fequiere came to Prof. Sissel McCarthy’s Studio News Production class to talk about his work, which includes his award-winning short film Kojo.
For his Great Big Story pieces, Fequiere told students he tries to find a character who is energetic and passionate and then it’s up to him to tell their story.
“We’re trying to make something cinematic that looks and feels like a Nike commercial. We’re moving away from the traditional news package format and more towards the VICE news model,” Fequiere said.
‘I was sitting in your seat 10 years ago, and here I am doing it.’
— CNN videographer Michael Fequiere
Students also showed him their first shooting assignments and Fequiere critiqued them frame-by-frame, urging students to use their “sticks,” aka tripods, until they have more experience shooting video.
His other pro tips include: Get the detail shots, shoot outdoors on cloudy days, use natsound throughout your work and go for minimal music like strings or piano that doesn’t distract from the story.
Fequiere is a CUNY graduate, earning a degree in film at City College. He told students interested in this field to believe in themselves and think big.
“I was sitting in your seat 10 years ago, and here I am doing it,” Fequiere said.