Today’s class was all about what happens behind the camera during interviews — the kind you see before or after a match, or at press conferences. We had a workshop with Mario Santos, who introduced us to the Panasonic 4K X350E and walked us through everything from setup to sound.
Understanding the Basics
We started with the essentials: how to turn the camera on, adjust lighting, and connect external microphones. It sounds simple, but the moment you see all the buttons, switches, and settings, you realise there’s a lot more to it than pressing record… and the stress begins.
Mario explained how important it is to balance light and sound, especially when filming indoors, outdoors or during high-pressure situations like post-match interviews. I found it super interesting, but also a little overwhelming as there’s so much to absorb in such a short amount of time.
A little glimpse of the camera.
Hands-On Practice
After the theory part, it was time to try it ourselves. We worked in groups, taking turns to film and check the sound for each other. I filmed my classmate’s short link, then switched roles to have mine recorded.
Let’s just say it wasn’t easy. The camera is heavy, the tripod needs to be perfectly level, and the lighting can change everything. My video ended up a little too dark — lesson learned. Then there’s connecting two external microphones and making sure the audio levels are correct before you even start filming. It’s a lot to keep track of, but that’s part of the process.
Behind the scenes of trying to find the right set-up.
Next Up: Real-World Practice
For next week, we have homework: film a short interview with a classmate and practice zooming while recording (which sounds way easier than it actually is).
After that, we’ll get thrown into the real thing — conducting short interviews during basketball and Castilla matches. I’m both nervous and excited, but honestly, that’s exactly what makes this course so much fun.
