Philip Bromwell is one of the leaders in the mobile journalism field. Like many reporters, Bromwell has filed a number stories on the impact of COVID. A few months ago we featured his “Jack’s Story” about a teenager’s encounter with the pandemic. Now, the Irish journalist is back with “Christmas 2020: Dublin Airport,” which explores feelings of people whose work lives have been transformed by the disease.

Interview with Philip Bromwell

MobileMovieMaking: How did you get the idea for this story?

Bromwell: This was really about marking a moment in time. That idea is something we have returned to several times during our reporting of the pandemic (you can see a similar idea marking a return to school report. While COVID has created a relentless conveyor belt of stories, sometimes I think it just makes sense to stop and try to capture a mood or feeling. Christmas at Dublin Airport is normally a very special time – indeed I have reported on the heart-warming homecomings and reunions several times in the past. This Christmas, the contrast was stark, so this report aimed to reflect that – through the eyes of the people who work there. Obviously, there were various ways you could illustrate “a very different Christmas”, but for many Irish people the usual scenes of joy at the airport are what it’s all about.

MobileMovieMaking: Was it difficult getting permission to shoot at the airport?

Bromwell:  No – we have good relations with Dublin Airport and a request was submitted through the usual channels. It is a lot easier for members of the media to get this type of access though.

MobileMovieMaking: How long did the shoot take?

Bromwell: I was there for 2-3 hours, working my way between the different locations. I find that shooting my own stories gives me more time than I would get with a camera operator (who may be required elsewhere).

MobileMovieMaking: What gear did you use?

Bromwell: Apple have kindly loaned me the new iPhone 12 Pro Max and this was my first time filming with it. I use the FiLMiC Pro app for shooting. The rest of my kit consisted of a Manfrotto tripod, Shoulderpod grip, Shure MV88 mic (for better natural/ambient sound), iRig Mic HD 2 (for interviews) and a Litra light. Throughout COVID, the iRig mic has been attached to a monopod to ensure social distancing while doing interviews.

MobileMovieMaking: Were there any surprising challenge that occurred during the shoot?

Bromwell: No surprising challenges, as I’m used to pandemic filming at this stage. It’s obviously not visually ideal to conduct interviews wearing masks, but those are the rules and they need to be followed.

MobileMovieMaking: Could you say something about your editing process?

Bromwell: So there were multiple edits of this story, for our different news platforms. You are looking at the captioned version for social media and our website. In keeping with best practise, the captions allow the mobile audience to consume the story “on-the-go”, without listening to it, if that’s what they wish to do. I also edited a shorter version for tv news, with me adding a voice-over. And there was a version for radio too. All of the edits were done on mobile. I use the excellent LumaFusion editing app on an iPad Pro, airdropping the footage between devices. So it’s a “mobile-to-mobile” workflow, if you like.

MobileMovieMaking: Did you edit with a specific concept in mind?

Bromwell: As far as a “concept” was concerned, this was all about capturing a “mood”. The opening shot of the story was actually one of the last things I filmed. But I knew I was going to open with it when I captured it – it just says everything about the situation we are in.

MobileMovieMaking: What kind of feedback did you get?

Bromwell: Well, I was happy with the finished piece! I felt it came together nicely and I achieved my aim of “capturing a moment in time.” As far as I know, the participants were happy too. I tried to layer the story with “feeling” – they were all great interviewees, who spoke honestly and openly about a place they love and clearly miss (even though it’s still there). They were only short contributions, but I think most people can empathize with those sentiments. After all, we are all missing loved ones and all think about how much things have changed.

MobileMovieMaking: Do you have any advice for someone who might like to shoot this kind of report?

Bromwell: Telling stories is the best part of my job, but I think this report illustrates that there is a value in just stopping and recording a moment. These are unprecedented times and they can/should be documented. Smartphone filming gives everybody the chance to do that.

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The editors of MobileMovieMaking have chosen “Christmas 2020: Dublin Airport” as the Mobile Movie of the Week.