FDL Book Salon Welcomes Arun Chaudhary, First Cameraman: Documenting the Obama Presidency in Real Time
Welcome Arun Chaudhary (White House) and Host Christina Bellantoni (PBS News Hour)First Cameraman: Documenting the Obama Presidency in Real Time
Arun Chaudhary was the man behind the camera when Barack Obama officially made Joe Biden his vice presidential running mate, capturing something that ultimately would be shared with thousands of supporters and the online world.
That was just one moment of Chaudhary’s experience documenting on film the historic Obama campaign as a member of the new media team, and later, as the first-ever White House videographer. He outlines those experiences in First Cameraman, Documenting the Obama Presidency in Real Time, an inside look at what happens behind the scenes in the White House. When bills were signed, when the president was holding pivotal Oval Office meetings, Chaudhary was there.
He shares stories about big policy decisions, how the White House chose to do its messaging via YouTube and his own views of an increasingly polarized Washington.
In the book he outlines his thoughts on about filmmaking, how to reveal true personalities from behind the lens, and the natural tension between the traditional press and the politicians who realize they no longer need reporters to get their message out.
But First Cameraman goes way beyond videography, exploring the changing nature of political storytelling.
Chaudhary, who lives in Washington, D.C., earned a Masters in Fine Arts in filmmaking from New York University, and later was a member of the faculty there.
Join us for a chat at 5 p.m.
I spoke with Arun at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Watch that here.
[As a courtesy to our guests, please keep comments to the book and be respectful of dissenting opinions. Please take other conversations to a previous thread. - bev]
