A few people have asked me recently how I make videos of my witnessing encounters. Some have thought that I use a body-mounted camera, like those now worn by British bobbies. Some have had questions about the legality of videotaping someone and putting it on YouTube. Some were curious of how I could chat without someone feeling like there is a camera being thrust in people's faces. So, without further ado, I give you:
The Evangelists' Guide To Video Recording Witnessing Encounters
(NOTE: This guide is not to be intended as legal advice. As always, remember to check your local law enforcement agencies concerning filming and open-air preaching in your area. Seek out qualified legal counsel if you have specific questions. Your mileage may vary.
If you choose to use this guide or any portion of it somewhere, all that I ask is that you please give credit where credit is due, and point back to this blog.)
The Goal of Filming:
What is the goal of filming witnessing encounters with people? Is it getting someone in frame? Is it proper lighting or position of the person? Is it making a great piece of cinematography?
No. The primary goal is the preaching of the Gospel.
You may have the fanciest camera, the most ideal backdrop, a physically-appealing subject, and the perfect degree of sunlight imaginable, but all of that is in vain if you are not preaching the Gospel so that the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins through the espousing of the Law and Grace offered through Jesus Christ. If you forsake the preaching of the Gospel because your subject is unwilling to talk on camera, or because you are more focused on how the picture comes out instead of on sharing God's Word, then you could create an Oscar-worthy piece of tape and it would be absolutely worthless. Never take your eyes off of why you are really out there.
That said, when I film someone, I do so for education, information, and self-review. First, I film so that other unsaved people can see someone examined in light of their conscience, and hopefully they will likely respond with repentance and trust. Second, I film so that other Christians can see some of the situations and scenarios they may encounter while open-air preaching and witnessing one-on-one. Third, I film so that I can see if there were any areas in which I could improve, and then use that for learning and to adjust my speech, mannerisms, and approach. But I never lose sight of why I'm really out there--to do as Christ would in reaching out to the lost.
Equipment:
Beyond a Bible and some good Gospel tracts to pass out, the only other equipment I use is a videocamera. No fancy reflectors, boom microphones, or best boy grips running around. When used properly, this allows you to be the director, producer, cameraman, and narrator all in one.
The videocamera I use is a DXG 506V. While I'm trying to not make this sound like a commercial, there are several good reasons why I bought this camera:
Cost. Although it is a fancy-looking piece of equipment, I bought this camera at a retail store for under $100. I wanted something I could use without breaking the bank, and it gives me the functionality for making simple, decent-quality video. It works well for that.
Batteries and Memory. I like this camera because it uses standard AAA batteries, and SD memory cards. I always prefer universal batteries that I can swap out without having to worry about fancy chargers, odd or hard-to-find shapes, or costly replacements. SD memory card prices have dropped to about $6 per GB in bulk, which allows for about 45 minutes of recording time per 1GB card. So, with about $20 in supplementals for some rechargable AAAs and a couple of chips, I've been good to go without any extra spending.
Size. This camera is small. It's tiny. It's about the size of a deck of cards when stored, which means that I can hold it comfortably and near my body without feeling like I am intruding on someone's personal space. I can stash it in my pocket when needed, and don't have to worry about it being stolen. It can also be brought out, powered on, and running quickly. I still lose function of one of my hands while filming (which is irritating because I do tend to talk with my hands or use two-handed props or motions when preaching), but I'm not hoisting a beast of a camera onto my shoulder or peering through a viewfinder all the time.
Durability. My camera has been dropped, thrown, and smooshed countless times. The only damage it ever really took was when my 20 month old nephew did something to the LCD panel which prevents it from staying at a 90 degree angle when open, and that is pretty good, considering how he is a miniature demolition crew. It still works great and slowly uses the battery power, typically good for 4 hours of stop-and-go filming.
Drawbacks. While this camera is great, it has a few drawbacks. It does not zoom large distances well. The microphone has a limited range. It does not record things well in the dark. So, unless your target is relatively close, loud, and well-lit, your video may come out a little bad. But, I think all of the other things I listed are discount these problems, and prove why it is a great camera.
If you pay a few more dollars, you can get a newer HD camera from the same sort of retail stores. Remember to use your money wisely.
Environment:
When filming your subject, be aware of three main things: lighting, wind, and sound.
Your subject should be clearly visible from your filming angle without looming shadows or bright light beaming into the lens. If outside, try to find a place obscured slightly in shadow or away from direct sunlight. At worst, stand with your back partially to the sun to illumiate your subject, but be kind because this will cause your subject to squint, get hot, and not want to talk as long. Indoors, make sure that there is enough light to film, and there are no flickering bulbs, tubes, or monitors that will make the video crazy.
Wind can be obnoxious for two reasons. One, it distracts and interferes with things like hair and clothes. There is nothing like when your subjects have to repeatedly brush their coiffe aside or adjust their shirt just to converse. Don't forget about air conditioner or heater units, too, even when indoors. Doors that repeatedly open and shut, such as in indoor malls, can also send gusts through the area. Two, it can be picked up on microphones and drown voices out. Which leads to the point about sound.
Even though your setting may be well-lit and free of wind, there can be ambient noise that will kill any conversation being recorded. This includes large crowds, construction equipment, nature, or even a refrigerator going through its power cycle (true story--while being interviewed for a TV program at home, they had to unplug my freezer because the wireless mics kept picking up when it clicked on and off). At skate parks, I always have to contest with plywood and fiberglass slapping metal and concrete. Where possible, keep wind and noise to your back to prevent the microphone from picking it up.
Technique:
Remember that you are talking to your subject, and not to the camera. Similarly, remember that you should be looking at your subject for eye contact, and not the camera. I try to square up my subjects after I start filming, and only glance down occasionally when a person is starting to talk to make sure I have them in frame.
If they move around, move with them like a mirror, step for step. If you need to swivel, turn at the waist, not with the arms, or you'll shift attention to the camera, distract the subject, and probably cut off their picture in some weird way. Use smooth, slow, and easy motions, even for fast video.
Permission:
Generally, you can film on public property such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and fairgrounds with no permit or permission required. This can even include public transportation areas like buses and subways. There are some rules about "sensitive" areas like military bases and some governmental buildings, but otherwise you should be totally fine.
On private property, including malls, shopping centers, and movie theatres, permission is typically required to be allowed to film. There are two ways of going about this: start filming and only stop when asked to cease, or go and seek permission before setting up and filming. If you choose to do the former and do it without checking first, know that no one, legally, can require you to turn over or delete your video; it is your property. At worst, the most they can do is ask you to leave or try to cite you for trespassing. And usually if you say that you are leaving, they will let you go and they would have a tougher time of making any charges stick. If you go down the latter route, and choose to make sure your actions will be fine with the property owners, you will most likely run into people not wanting you film in their establishments. They may cite state-church separation, permits, or other wacky reasons why you cannot film, but if it is truly their property, all you need is their permission to do so. It's more of a stigma and worry about liability that stops them from letting you film.
As for the permission of your subjects, the same sort of rules apply. You can film anyone on public property without their permission, so long as you are not intending to profit from the footage for advertising or commercial purposes (if you plan on using the footage for profit, generally you must have them sign or acquiesce to a likeness usage and release form). You can film people for informational and educational purposes, even for news reports. You can film someone on private property with or without their permission, but they may ask you to leave for trespassing. You can film private property from public property without having to require permission, like standing on a sidewalk and taping people walking on a privately-owned mall grounds. Although, you cannot film areas where reasonable expectations of privacy apply (e.g. bathrooms, through windows into bedrooms).
Age can also be a tricky thing while filming, too. If your subject is an adult, no one seems to care, and you can do with the video as you will. If your subject is a minor, sometimes people can get fidgety about them talking on video. The idea is that it can fall under "child exploitation," and someone will scream, "won't someone think about the children?!" Watch news reports interviewing high schoolers and kids, and note how many times they will not show their faces, depending on the nature of the story. Taking a camera and pointing it at kids at a public park will probably get you a visit from law enforcement pretty quickly, for fears you may be a pedophile.
My own take on all of this is to be polite, stick with adults when filming, and be discreet in privately-owned venues. I typically ask someone if I may film them and put the video on YouTube. Many people like hearing that they will be on the web, and say, "Yes." For those who say, "No," I put away the camera and continue preaching the Gospel, sticking with the goal in mind. It's more important that that person hear about Jesus Christ and be convicted of sin than moving onto someone else who will be less camera-shy.
I hope this helps enable you in getting out there and recording your witnessing encounters.
