Lights, camera . . . shake!

It’s all a learning process - oh, and I shouldn’t laugh, writes our Video Blogger James Shaw.

One of the first things I told myself when taking on the video job is that it would always be a huge learning process and so it has proved in recent weeks with my first ever royal visit.
Prince Edward’s tour of Adams Grammar School in Newport was a huge lesson in the various rules that us Press have to follow when filming the royal family.

First, and most importantly, NEVER get ‘in their faces’.

I had already guessed that, to be honest and was prepared to leave
HRH well alone.

The other main rule is to be a discreet as possible when following the party and try not to get in their way.
This I did with some skill . . . although my footage was a little poorer for missing much of the tour.

The visit also gave me the chance to try something new - hand-held camera work. The result, as you can see on the video, is as cross between the Blair Witch Project and Morph.

It was badly filmed, badly lit and took a lot of editing to get to the vaguely acceptable standard that you see before you.

Needless to say, I will not be do that again.

But what about matters at home? My last blog mentioned the impending house move and at last, all is well.

Claire and I are safely ensconsed in our dream house with our pets. Unfortunately, our dog’s habits have rubbed off badly on the cat and he now believes that the full-length mirror in the bedroom is another cat. With exactly the same fur, eyes, and puggy little face.

It isn’t, of course, and our cat now spends his days on his tiptoes with fur sticking on end and walking sidewards next to the mirror. Then he runs full pelt at the other ‘cat’ and the whole episode ends in a loud clunk.

Like I said, I shouldn’t laugh . . .