The public go silent for me

One of the first things a budding journalist will be asked to do is a vox pop.

You know the kind of thing - get out there, asked some people what they think, write it down.

But when you are a video journalist, the job takes on a whole new dimension.

Perhaps understandably, people are less willing to talk in front of a camera, tripod and big hairy microphone.

You can try it without a tripod, but the results are never as good as those with a tripod.

I had this problem when filming the ‘big sports weekend’ video a few days ago. See: County pundits’ sporting say

Although many people wanted a chat, only a VERY few wanted to appear on camera.

Of course, when you get people to talk on camera, there is no guarantee they will provide useable footage.

One of the first lessons I learned as a video journalist is that you can never tell what will happen until you press record.

Some people may appear to have more ‘front’ than a Minogue family reunion, but when the cameras start to roll, they clam up.

The same could also be said of the opposite.

This happened during my filming session at Telford shopping centre.

I began an interview with a pair with a feeling of dread, as I had barely persuaded them to talk and I thought there was little hope.

But when I started filming, I could hardly shut them up!

Unfortunately, I could not use the footage as they were like a female version of Derek and Clive… but with much more swearing. Oh, and they managed the slander half the sporting world in the process.

The same can happen with birds, as well.

A recent video about Bodie the talking parrot fell flat on its face when I failed to film him chatting - and believe me, we tried everything. See: Bodie breaks his silence

I even attempted to fool the feathered blighter by walking out of the room and leaving the cameras rolling - just in case he though I had left the building.

It didn’t work, of course (he saw me in the mirror) and all got I was a couple of beeps, whistles and a dry cough.

Still, that is more than Midlands Today got, so I can gain some satisfaction. However small.

Talking of animals, my pets, Blue and Onyx, have moved into their teenage phases.

My wife Claire and I have taken off their jackets (they began to smell) and I suspect they are rebelling.

First, Blue will chase Onyx up the stairs and then wait up to 30 seconds for the cat the reverse that process.

They then engage in some sort of wrestling which inevitably ends with them meowing and barking as the crockery wobbles on the sideboard.

They are, of course, the best of friends, but I suspect they would be no good on camera. Or would they?