Just Jennifer

I worked in the TV News industry for more than 20 years , shooting with the big broadcast cams and editing on the pro systems. I jumped ship when the gear got affordable for the layman, and I wanted to control what I shot and where it aired. I am now Videomaker’s managing editor, and I get to learn about and play with the latest video toys out there.

In my professional days I’ve shot with huge Sony Betacams, and even bigger video cameras that had shoulder mounts and recorder decks.  I edited first on tape-to-tape Beta decks, then Avid Newscutter and Avid Composer. Now I shoot with my Sony VX2100 or a Sony A1U, a cool tiny HD cam, that I’m told Sony has discontinued and I edit with Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Express HD, and Final Cut Pro.

I have shot in almost every type of conveyance possible: from the back of a motorcycle to sitting at road level in a sidecar; from tiny “mosquito” helicopters to big military beasts like the Sikorsky. I’ve shot from hot air balloons, blimps, from on top of a horse, a camel and an elephant [don’t ask] and seacraft from catamarans to aircraft carriers.

I’ve had many unique opportunities as a news shooter to go places and see things not often open to civilians. I held a 2-week old Bengal Tiger kitten in the palm of my hand, and a full-grown Emperor penguin. [Those really ARE tiny feathers all over their soft bodies!] I was able to assist the dig on an unexpected Wolly Mammoth archaeological find and helped rescue lost hikers. While shooting news I’ve been chased by an escaped Brahma bull, attacked by a knife-wielding nut, and hovered over a blazing forest fire while strapped out the window of a helicopter. Shooting is in my blood and editing is my art.

I was dubbed “Just Jennifer” by a friend because I’m really just a simple girl who likes a simple life. Sometimes, though, I gotta add a little spice.