The Vlogging Minimalist, Just What Are Your Equipment Needs?

Manhattan Beach, CA—I met with my favorite Media Guru, Michael Rosenblum yesterday.  He’s a long time TV producer and founder of TheVJ.com. Michael is giving 30 rookie Video Journalists their hands on training to cover news for Spectrum’s SOCAL-1, 24/7 news startup.  I suspect there’s no doubt that this offering will shake up the L.A. news market in a big way.  

Gone at SOCAL News1 are the news crews and the obscenely expensive TV gear.  The news stories will either work or fail through the individual efforts of these hand picked youngsters.  These lucky VJ’s will be seen by all manner of agents, producers and TV network decision makers. Those talented ones, that shine will have unlimited opportunities.  

Spectrum has already done the same thing in NYC and this concept is spreading over the nation. Traditional TV new is in a death spiral over their insane fear of making the slightest changes in format or style. Frankly people have flocked to YouTube because their content is a huge departure into a new world of wonderful technology and real eye candy.

Storytelling today is enhanced with wonderful inexpensive user-friendly cameras, audio equipment, editing software and even drones!  The Mainstream broadcast media and their overpaid news managers are being left behind in the dirt.   

Vloggers like me will only have success if I post great content and promote it daily.  That’s easier said than done.  If I do that, I demand compensation now, not after six months or a year.   My rent does not pay itself.  I won’t be one of the dozens of YouTube multi-millionaires anytime soon.  I will however be ready for the right opportunity.

The skills and abilities to vlog about whatever you like is beyond empowering!  You can use a vlog to promote yourself, business, hobby or political ambitions.  You can report news items you come across and so much more.  

You must begin with the basics of good writing and storytelling abilities.  You must snag your viewers right away with interesting video or you’re toast.  When they leave they will not return.  

You can easily spend $25K on vlogging equipment.  I have what I need but I still want a lot more.  Then there is that significant issue of lugging all that expensive crap around as you travel.  I say go light!

Your editing suite can be as simple as a quiet place to use the incredibly powerful iMovie app on your cell phone or iPad.  Using Final Cut Pro X on a laptop gives you more options but you can get very pleasing results with iMovie.  

I like using GoPro cameras because of the versatility of the cameras and the high quality images.  I may need my cell phone as a communication device so having the GoPro is a plus.  

As for audio your iPhone or GoPro cameras can disappoint especially beyond let's say, six feet.  I now use Zoom brand recorders to capture audio especially for interviewing subjects.  I’ve not been using my expensive wireless microphones because they are less reliable than the simple Zoom recorders.  Quality wireless microphones cost a bundle more than the terrific Zoom recorders. 

I have one word to say about audio, redundancy.  Better to have more sources than less. 

Let me make this clear, if you’re lucky enough to be around a really important news happening and you’ve got viewable video documentation, you can demand as much as $100K for a one minute video.   

VJ training can be obtained on line at Michael Rosenblum’s TheVJ.com or you can attend his class in NYC or the UK.  

Be empowered and let the world see what you create!

My Minimalist vlogger kit is lightweight, easy for travel and a lifesaver.  The best camera is always the one you have with you.  

The list as pictured above:

iPhone

iPad

DJI Mavic Pro Drone

Zoom Hn4 microphone recorder

Zoom Field Recorder 1

Lav mic

Zoom Shotgun mic capsule for use with Field Recorder 1

Earphones

Cables
batteries

Below is a fun GoPro vlog I did during a trip to Chicago last February:

The L.A. Trader Joe’s Shooting Story has Taken an even Darker Turn.

Melyda "Mel" Corado

Los Angeles, CA--It all began as a dispute between a 28 year-old drug addicted freeloader, Gene Adkins and his 79 year-old grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Madison in South L.A. 

Adkins allegedly shot his grandmother seven times with a handgun.  In the process a 20 year-old woman that was Adkin’s yet to be identified girlfriend suffered a bullet graze wound to her head. Adkins allegedly then stole his grandmother’s car and kidnapped the girlfriend.  

Suspect Gene Adkins being loaded into an ambulance

In Hollywood, the police caught up with the stolen car that was equipped with a GPS tracking device and the chase began.  

Adkins soon crashed his car near the entrance of the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s and was exchanging gunfire  with police as he sought refuge inside of the crowded supermarket.  Apparently Adkins was wounded in his left arm by police.  That’s when the store manager, Melyda “Mel” Corado was also struck by gunfire.  Corado was quickly dragged outside to the parking lot and unsuccessfully aided by numerous officers.  She died at the scene. 

Melyda "Mel" Corado surrounded by cops in the parking lot

Cops have to make split second decisions but firing into a crowded supermarket at any suspect is absolutely against police training in every American jurisdiction.  

Requirements everywhere in the USA are that before an officer shoots that that he or she knows the target and what’s behind it.  This shooting is out of policy everywhere.  

Ballistic evidence, body cam and other surveillance video will be examined redundantly by cops, lawyers and police trainers in the coming months and even years.

Sherman Oaks Personal Injury Lawyer Lowell Steiger

I contacted Sherman Oaks personal injury lawyer, Lowell Steiger for his thoughts about the case.  Steiger said if he had the case he’d be immediately looking at deficiencies in the officer’s training, background and supervision.  He said any payout by a jury in this case could be astronomical.  He also said he’d put his own investigator on this case immediately. 

Another serious legal question may be about Trader Joe’s responsibility to protect their employees and customers.  

The biggest question remains as to when and how the LAPD will explain this disaster and own up to their failings.  

As for the cop/s that failed here it’s a huge tragedy for them and their families as well.  Nobody wanted this horrible outcome. 

As for the many friends and family of Mel Carado this is beyond a heartbreak.  Mel’s Big brother, Albert Corado now must take charge of healing his family from this unthinkable event.  

As for the Suspect, Gene Adkins, he will be charged under the felony/murder rule for Mel Corado’s death.  He will also face as many as 50 counts of kidnapping along with the shooting of his grandmother and girlfriend.  Last but not least, the theft of his grandmother’s car.  Adkins will never see another moment where he’s not locked in a cage for as long as he lives.  

As for any cops that failed, they too will pay a high price.  As for the rest of the cops that did their jobs heroically, they too will suffer greatly.  Sometimes everyone looses because of the unthinkable.  

Update:  The day after I published this blog article the LAPD confessed it was their gunfire that killed Ms. Carado.  However, they stopped short of admitting liability, negligence or recklessness.   

Shooting With the Stars in Van Nuys, CA

Van Nuys, CA—Despite some of the worst gun laws in the nation people in L.A. still have access to firearms for self-defense. There is a conveniently located indoor range that is frequented by some surprising Hollywood celebrities that received their training and maintain their shooting skills at THE TARGET RANGE.

If you own a firearm for personal protection, that’s only a small part of your needs. Training in efficient use of the weapon and the laws and liability of the justifiable use of deadly force is a must.

There are two types of training you can receive, a civilian course or the more intense Security Firearms Program. The latter is the course mandated for security personal such as armored car drivers and bodyguards. I have always recommended the Security Firearms course for civilians too.

The security Firearms course deals with safety, marksmanship, weapons-retention along with a good dose of law surrounding use of force with follow up written testing. This is really not a difficult course but will give you the best bang for the buck. It may keep you from making a mistake that could threaten your liberty should you need to shoot in the gravest extreme.

At The Target range is Valley Guard Training where you can get a real pro to give you what you need to both protect your life and your liberty. The primary trainer at Valley Guard Training is, Alan Kushner. Mr. Kushner provides the tools to men and women that will keep them safe and inspire their confidence.

As for celebrity self-protection Mr. Kushner is definitely the go-to guy for some meaningful anti-stalking immunization tips.

The facility has a wide range of handguns available for training and purchase.

Click Here to visit Valley Guard Training’s Website.