Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Apr 20, 2017 17:49
7 yrs ago
13 viewers *
English term
Footage
English
Tech/Engineering
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
in a political context
Hi,
I am transcribing a short video taken by some individual of riots in the streets using his mobile phone.
First Question: Is it best described as 'video' or 'footage'?
Second Question: In the transcription, I describe the people in the street as follows:
[00:00] Rioters: chanting 'bla bla'
What is the best way to describe the guy who is taking the video?
[00:00] ????: Hi! I'm the guy who is making the video!
Video Maker? Video Taker?
Any suggestions?
Thank you very much
I am transcribing a short video taken by some individual of riots in the streets using his mobile phone.
First Question: Is it best described as 'video' or 'footage'?
Second Question: In the transcription, I describe the people in the street as follows:
[00:00] Rioters: chanting 'bla bla'
What is the best way to describe the guy who is taking the video?
[00:00] ????: Hi! I'm the guy who is making the video!
Video Maker? Video Taker?
Any suggestions?
Thank you very much
Responses
+6
14 mins
Selected
video (material)
'footage' would be a more formal term, entirely appropriate in a professional context, but possibly a little OTT for informal amateur video. "The BBC has obtained footage purporting to show a rocket attack on XYZ" — but maybe "This amateur video shows rioting in London"
Again, in a more formal context, the person would probably be called a 'videographer' — especially if they were a professional; I think you COULD use this term in your transcript, though it is perhaps teetering on the edge of being a bit pretentious!
Otherwise 'amateur cameraman' might be usable (though not terribly PC, as not gender-neutral!). Possibly also depends on whether there is only one of them, or several different ones, in which case you might need to use 'Videographer #1" etc.
Again, in a more formal context, the person would probably be called a 'videographer' — especially if they were a professional; I think you COULD use this term in your transcript, though it is perhaps teetering on the edge of being a bit pretentious!
Otherwise 'amateur cameraman' might be usable (though not terribly PC, as not gender-neutral!). Possibly also depends on whether there is only one of them, or several different ones, in which case you might need to use 'Videographer #1" etc.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you "
+1
7 hrs
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
shots / scenes / clip
First question: (video or footage)
Frankly, it’s neither!
"footage" is a term from the age of newsreels shown in WW2 cinemas – far too anachronistic for live 21st century street action. "video" is borrowed from the world of broadcasting, not "home (amateur) movies". Regardless of its eventual value as a historical record of events, anything "shot" with a mobile phone is mere unedited "moving picture sequences", or a "(video)clip".
Answer: <I>These scenes were shot in the street by XXX, using his mobile phone.</I>
Second question: (what to call the person who used the mobile phone?)
As Tony has suggested, the use of any term drawn from the media professions (journalism, broadcasting, film, etc.) is likely to be seen as pretentious (or worse).
Answer: Hi! I’m the guy who shot this stuff / who grabbed these pictures of the riots / …
FWIW, this "guy" would likely be referred to as a cazanoticias in Spanish, and a chasseur de nouvelles in French – and as a "news hound" in some English-speaking jurisdictions (although that expression also pre-dates the 21st century, by a loooong way). All those street-wise terms avoid the use of professional terminology – precisely to avoid any direct association with the MSM (main-stream media), which (in general) are an anathema to folk who use their mobile phones to gather evidence for use against the authorities.
Frankly, it’s neither!
"footage" is a term from the age of newsreels shown in WW2 cinemas – far too anachronistic for live 21st century street action. "video" is borrowed from the world of broadcasting, not "home (amateur) movies". Regardless of its eventual value as a historical record of events, anything "shot" with a mobile phone is mere unedited "moving picture sequences", or a "(video)clip".
Answer: <I>These scenes were shot in the street by XXX, using his mobile phone.</I>
Second question: (what to call the person who used the mobile phone?)
As Tony has suggested, the use of any term drawn from the media professions (journalism, broadcasting, film, etc.) is likely to be seen as pretentious (or worse).
Answer: Hi! I’m the guy who shot this stuff / who grabbed these pictures of the riots / …
FWIW, this "guy" would likely be referred to as a cazanoticias in Spanish, and a chasseur de nouvelles in French – and as a "news hound" in some English-speaking jurisdictions (although that expression also pre-dates the 21st century, by a loooong way). All those street-wise terms avoid the use of professional terminology – precisely to avoid any direct association with the MSM (main-stream media), which (in general) are an anathema to folk who use their mobile phones to gather evidence for use against the authorities.
+1
8 hrs
Jacek Kloskowski
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Law Economy Computing Defense Medical
Native in: Polish , English
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English, Polish, and 1 more.
recorded (video) material / footage / video
"footage" term is still used in terms of movie making or live reporting:
2. Recorded film or video, especially of a specified nature or subject: news footage; detailed footage of the royal wedding.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/footage
In terms of the CC transcript, I do not think it would be pretentious to use terms like:
"Cameraman/woman", or "camera operator" or simply "operator" to refer to the person making a statement on the video.
2. Recorded film or video, especially of a specified nature or subject: news footage; detailed footage of the royal wedding.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/footage
In terms of the CC transcript, I do not think it would be pretentious to use terms like:
"Cameraman/woman", or "camera operator" or simply "operator" to refer to the person making a statement on the video.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
acetran
7 hrs
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Thank you.
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| neutral |
B D Finch
: I think you are missing the context, i.e. that this is a non-professional recording it on their mobile phone; so, none of your suggestions is appropriate.
11 hrs
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I have personally seen similar references to a non-professional performing the recordings of current events
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| neutral |
Tony M
: The tehncial professional term 'operator' would certainly be out of place (as well as incidentally inaccurate); the professional term 'camera(wo)man' is arguably another pretentious title, and again, technically not totally accurate.
3 days 16 hrs
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+1
1 day 1 hr
Adrian Liszewski
Poland
Poland
Poland
Do it properly, or don't do it at all.
Native in: Polish
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English, English
question 2: author of the video
This proposal just came to my mind, as it is simple and obvious.
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