Project Evaluation - (DOCUMENTARY UNIT)
Project Evaluation - Documentary Unit
Introduction
From having quite a difficult start of my chosen group members, i was not feeling confident and comfortable with the chosen individuals i was picked to work with. However, i took some time to think and gain my thoughts of thinking and hoping the entire process could go into a positive direction with my chosen group members. This documentary unit, has been an experience full of unexpected moments of change from the current situation. From having a relevant and a potential idea about the issues of Knife Crime, then to having the option of changing the idea based once again from these unfortunate circumstances. By then, making the decision of changing the idea however with very little time before gaining closer to our pre - production deadline. From which, we changed our idea to the subject of Introverts and Extroverts and by trying to stay positive that this new idea can also have full potential and continuing our progress for our group project.
Research/ Ideas (Knife Crime)
What Went Well
When we began as a group, a couple of us had a thought of having the idea of making a documentary on the topic of Knife Crime. When we were researching, i researched independently on different documentary shorts based on the issue of Knife Crime. I managed to quickly watch and reviewed a total of three short documentaries and the three shorts were called, Knife Crime (2012), Britains Teenage Knife Wars Jermaine Jenas Investigates (2017) and Knife Crime in the UK (2017). I wanted to look into these examples, from all three of their completely different tones and from what tone our own documentary of Knife Crime was going to be about. Continuing on more research for my own blog posts tasks, i watched, took notes and reviewed an observational documentary called Sister Helen (2002). This was a documentary i had never heard of before and interested to see what the story of the individual was about. For that being my first watch of what an "observational documentary" is, it was a refreshing, engaging and personal experience to watch the documentary and learning more from the camera shots and the detail backgrounds of the contributors in Sister Helen.
Even Better If
Before having the unexpected circumstances happened, some members of my group was starting to leave the studios before we were given the time to actually leave for home. This was when i was starting to lose some confidence and trust of my group members when we were still trying to do some more research and i even had this thought it would of been appropriate now to create our first draft of the script. For further improvements, i shall try and remain calm still if members of the group start leaving the workplace of the project, think about what it is i can achieve independently in the mean time before our group will reunite again. In terms of research, i could of looked into some real articles incidents of knife crime and taking place in the areas and locations of Kent/ Medway. As a group though, one of our members did look into actual incidents and for my own benefit, i could of also looked into different incidents and crimes in the subject of Knife Crime.
Research/ Ideas (Introverts and Extroverts)
Unfortunate Changed Idea/ What Went Well
Due to the current situation, my group and i decided it would of been the safest and best option to change our idea. I explained that if we were going to continue our progress of the knife crime topic, i wanted to do actual psychical and in person filming at the chosen locations. However, due to the government rules and regulations, it would of been a lot more difficult to try and get permission of the chosen locations and from the council to film. It would of been more difficult also, to get our chosen contributors to attend at our locations as well and with the social distancing being a very important priority. From a personal and professional opinion, i had felt the new rules and regulations just would of been more difficult for myself and my group to keep the knife crime topic still to be available. When my group decided to cancel on the topic of knife crime, we all made an online meeting about any new ideas we could of came up for and so one of us had a thought on a concept, and which was an idea on the topic on introverts and extroverts. Immediately, we thought our contributors could been members of our family who we live with and learn some information about themselves, if they are identified as either an introvert or an extrovert, or even both which is classed as a ambivert. When going back to working independently for a small time, i needed to research the general meaning and context of introverts and extroverts. I had looked into a couple of websites on the meaning, the different elements an introvert and extrovert has compared to the opposite and by mostly researching into the psychological and social examples of both the opposite individuals will react, cope and process information from those two different aspects. The information i found, was called 5 Basic Differences Between Introverts and Extroverts. To continue on my research on the new idea and topic, i needed to watch a "relevant documentary" and so i had watch a documentary called Louis Theroux: A Different Brain, i thought this was a very appropriate and relevant documentary about the psychological elements of individuals. The only difference this documentary had, is it's about individuals with damaged heads and the aftermath effects it can cause to a human beings brain. However though, i felt this was useful for the style Louis Theroux approaches in his documentaries, how he approaches his contributors and how he interviews them. This was a very useful documentary, to support for when i was going to film and interview my family members.
Even Better If
I feel as a group, we should of cancelled our knife crime topic as soon as when we were all put into self isolation and working from home. Of course though, this was not to be blamed to anyone in our group about having to change the idea as soon as circumstances changed unfortunately. What we should of done, was to get to together as a group online and discuss as a group about the pros and cons of moving forward with knife crime and then by changing to a new idea, this could of given us all more time, research preparation on the new concept of introverts and extroverts. From my own independent work and research, i do not feel i have achieved that well on the research side and on a personal note, i was having a lot of difficulties and struggles on a emotional level to try and concentrate on the documentary unit in general based from the current situation we were all coping and struggling with. In my opinion, with all of my research from the knife crime topic and to the introverts and extroverts topic, i believe the research side of knife crime was more achievable as a group and independently.
Pre - Production
What Went Well
I started working more independently on the multiple pre - production stages, which for me was less stressful and feeling more comfortable in myself of knowing to achieve what objectives i needed to complete before and after the Easter holiday. I had worked on my own storyboard, shot list, risk assessment and consent forms for my contributors. All of these stages, was for my own household of where i was going to film my part of the documentary, of course along with the interviews and other coverage shots. Before though i began working on my shot list, storyboard and other objectives, i had spoken to my family members who i live with in the household. By speaking to them in full detail about what the documentary was about, why i wanted to ask my family members to participate and where in the household of where we shall be doing the filming. I did of course, mention and ask about their availability to be filmed by after the Easter break and i receive satisfying dates and times for them to be filmed. After getting confirmation from my contributors, i started then creating the usual pre - production objectives and most importantly i sent off my risk assessment and i got signed off before concluding the term for the Easter break. It was important to do the risk assessment before the Easter break, which was because of getting the paperwork signed off from the tutors availability and before the two week holiday came to present.
Even Better If
For further development and the future, i believe as a group we could of taken some more time of preparation before filming came around. However, with having to change the idea based from the current situation, realistically and personally i had felt the timing of achieving the pre - production stage was more difficult and the timing in general was less time we only had left. On a independent level, i could of worked more over the Eater break, to be absolutely sure and confident that all of our pre production paperwork was prepared and appropriate to be checked and signed off before myself and one of my team members were ready for the production shoot stage.
To start of with improvements on Karen's interviews, i had felt the first half which was filmed in the garden, was quite rushed through and which was a reason about her needing to leave the household to attend her daily exercises. Which put me in thought of feeling quite concern of trying to achieve the first half of the interview in a rush, before having Karen leaving the household at a certain and a specific time. On a emotional level, i think i needed to take some to myself and think it through and not believing the process doesn't need to be rushed and possibly some overthinking was causing the fast paced interviewing and filming. When i was concluding Karen's interview at the public park, we did occur a technical issue with a interference from this tower radio station and it was causing this distracting noise from the Rode microphone on my camera. However though, i was not aware and was not expecting of this issue to happen and for the further future, i shall be fully aware of the technical issue could be a problem. By researching and finding out if their is any some type of sound equipment that wouldn't have any problems with the radio tower block. Or another option, would be to not attend that area of the park ever again which is a shame, because the area has some great views for doing future and other film projects.
When doing the interviews and filming on Hannah, we did have a technical issue where my camera ran out of battery and i was lucky enough to use Hannah's own camera, but my own lenses still which didn't cause any continuity problems on a technical and equipment aspect. Obviously for further improvements, i will make sure to fully charge my camera the day or evening before i begin the next phrase and scene in any future film projects. On other couple of very small issues and interruptions, sometimes the Cat started meowing a couple of times during the interviews of Hannah and the Dog once barked from another room and which we could hear from the room we were filming. To improve on any further animal distractions if it does become a major problem and affecting the rest of time i could only afford to have left, i would take the animals into another room and by making sure they are feeling happy and healthy before beginning to start filming.
On the final contributor which was Alex, their was a couple of moments when Alex's introduction was felt rushed from his entrance into the room and i made sure we did another take to slow the pace of Alex's entrance. The contributor sometimes didn't understand a couple of the questions from his body language, the contributor though did ask me to be a bit more specific and from that i was acting professional and repeated the question with including more words related to the question. In my opinion, the contributor looked a bit uncomfortable and possibly needed some time to feel prepared and confident of being asked the questions and on that note for further improvements, i shall make sure to ask very simple, clear and casual questions. This is a strategy to make any contributors feel more comfortable, trustworthy and most importantly feeling comfortable about what to expect to be expected from the questions.
I started working more independently on the multiple pre - production stages, which for me was less stressful and feeling more comfortable in myself of knowing to achieve what objectives i needed to complete before and after the Easter holiday. I had worked on my own storyboard, shot list, risk assessment and consent forms for my contributors. All of these stages, was for my own household of where i was going to film my part of the documentary, of course along with the interviews and other coverage shots. Before though i began working on my shot list, storyboard and other objectives, i had spoken to my family members who i live with in the household. By speaking to them in full detail about what the documentary was about, why i wanted to ask my family members to participate and where in the household of where we shall be doing the filming. I did of course, mention and ask about their availability to be filmed by after the Easter break and i receive satisfying dates and times for them to be filmed. After getting confirmation from my contributors, i started then creating the usual pre - production objectives and most importantly i sent off my risk assessment and i got signed off before concluding the term for the Easter break. It was important to do the risk assessment before the Easter break, which was because of getting the paperwork signed off from the tutors availability and before the two week holiday came to present.
Even Better If
For further development and the future, i believe as a group we could of taken some more time of preparation before filming came around. However, with having to change the idea based from the current situation, realistically and personally i had felt the timing of achieving the pre - production stage was more difficult and the timing in general was less time we only had left. On a independent level, i could of worked more over the Eater break, to be absolutely sure and confident that all of our pre production paperwork was prepared and appropriate to be checked and signed off before myself and one of my team members were ready for the production shoot stage.
Filming
What Went Well
The majority of filming from my household for the documentary in my opinion was successful, in terms of my strong contributors, satisfying and professional shots and making most of the time of filming and as well taking the time of the two week production shoot. When i was having the time of interviewing Karen Park (mum), i had felt we picked an appropriate area of the household and which was our back garden. I felt by filming outside the back garden, would represented Karen's personality and interests of having her spare time by spending time in the garden, that is if the weather is appropriate in use. I wanted to conclude her interview still in the back garden of taking some washing cloths down, however i wanted some type of change of showing more about Karen's personality and interests. Of course due to the current situation and the government new rules, i wanted to still show the correct rules of being social and doing the right social distancing. We attended our local park, by keeping our social distances to all the members of the public did attend the location that day and so we decided the most safest and mature option would be to attend a area of the park that is private and less popular compared to other areas of the location. When we attended the focused area, i had made sure that we were keeping our social distancing apart to any individuals who were present their and this was keeping our surroundings happening when we were filming and when we weren't filming. I had film Karen, doing some jogging and going from one side of the area to the next and this was showing from Karen another part of her personality in enjoying her exercise and also enjoying the healthy fresh air. This was a part in the documentary, when i had asked Karen if she has any similarities from her extroverts of being an introvert from any type of element an introvert would have in common. When i continued the filming, i started interviewing Hannah Park (sister). We began Hannah's interview in her bedroom, to show the audience what type of personality Hannah has from her interest in doing university work, Hannah's Cat pet Barney and having a strong and trusting relationship with her boyfriend Alex. I was very satisfied with the shots i achieved in Hannah's first part of the interview, the way the framing was positioned, getting some coverage shots of Hannah's uni paperwork and really showing this warm and friendly atmosphere from the bedroom we filmed in. I had concluded on Hannah's interview in the kitchen of the household, showing more from Hannah's personality and some more interests about making some cookies and from that one example of what Hannah enjoys doing in her spare time as an introvert. I did originally wanted to film Hannah playing with her Cat, however from herself she had suggested about doing baking and which was some cookies and of course with thinking what must comes first is my contributors thoughts and feelings and i was very happy and confident with that decision in the end. Finally, when i began to film my final contributor which was Alexander Jeffries (brother in law). I began interviewing Alex, in his and Hannah's bedroom and by specifically at his desk table where Alex does his mixing in music producing and by experiencing from another introverts perspective in how he spends his time if it's work related during spare time. Which brings to the conclusion of Alex's interview, i concluded Alex's interview with the exact same room and position. However, i asked Alex to do some gaming on his PlayStation and by showing an example of Alex's spare time activities and by answering the the final half of the questions. Alex's interview in my opinion, was a success feeling very patient and honest with the answers he had given me based from the questions.
Even Better If
When doing the interviews and filming on Hannah, we did have a technical issue where my camera ran out of battery and i was lucky enough to use Hannah's own camera, but my own lenses still which didn't cause any continuity problems on a technical and equipment aspect. Obviously for further improvements, i will make sure to fully charge my camera the day or evening before i begin the next phrase and scene in any future film projects. On other couple of very small issues and interruptions, sometimes the Cat started meowing a couple of times during the interviews of Hannah and the Dog once barked from another room and which we could hear from the room we were filming. To improve on any further animal distractions if it does become a major problem and affecting the rest of time i could only afford to have left, i would take the animals into another room and by making sure they are feeling happy and healthy before beginning to start filming.
On the final contributor which was Alex, their was a couple of moments when Alex's introduction was felt rushed from his entrance into the room and i made sure we did another take to slow the pace of Alex's entrance. The contributor sometimes didn't understand a couple of the questions from his body language, the contributor though did ask me to be a bit more specific and from that i was acting professional and repeated the question with including more words related to the question. In my opinion, the contributor looked a bit uncomfortable and possibly needed some time to feel prepared and confident of being asked the questions and on that note for further improvements, i shall make sure to ask very simple, clear and casual questions. This is a strategy to make any contributors feel more comfortable, trustworthy and most importantly feeling comfortable about what to expect to be expected from the questions.
Post Production
Due to my job role into the documentary as a director and director of photography, i did not take any participation of editing the progress of the project. I did however, leave some feedback to our editor of what i was impressed with and of course what needs improving. For when we were working on our synch cut, rough cut and finally our final cut.
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| Synch cut feedback |
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| Rough cut feedback |
Conclusion
In conclusion of the documentary unit, it has been a journey through of change and unfortunately a lot of unexpected events to happen due to the current situation. I have felt proud of coping through the changes and trying to find and think through with calmness of how we are as a group is going to problem solve our process in documentary filmmaking. It truly was a shame of not having the massive potential idea of knife crime happening and in my opinion, if the current situation wasn't happening, we as a group could of achieved a much better concept in knife crime and instead on introverts and extroverts. Working with a group of individuals which i wasn't satisfied with from the start, has been quite a journey and i believe we have all tried so much with effort as a group and independently and with that being having very little time before pitching our rushed idea and to our production shoots. Overall though, i have learnt about no matter how many problems can happen to a group and individually, it is best to think and solve what it is i myself need to focus on and achieve, for myself and as a group in being one of the directors of the documentary project.
Bibliography - Research From the Entire Project (Knife Crime & Introverts and Extroverts)
1.] Niallhhfm - (2012) Knife Crime - Short Documentary [Documentary] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wnx2NoQs (Accessed 11/03/20)
2.] BBC Three - (2017) Britains Teenage Knife Wars Jermaine Jenas Investigates [Documentary] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8LOslrjOzc (Accessed 11/03/20)
3.] Callam, C (2017) 14.49 - 14.59 (Accessed 11/03/20)
4.] Documentary HD Online - (2017) Knife Crime In The UK - Documentary 2017 [Documentary] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAkfyECTgY (Accessed 11/03/20)
5.] Needham, C. (1990) Sister Helen (2002). At: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303394/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1 (Accessed 12/03/20)
6.] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sister-Helen-Travis/dp/B07KK7G3N6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sister+helen&qid=1584186404&sr=8-1
7.] Soleil, V (2016) 5 Basic Differences Between Introverts and Extroverts At: https://www.learning-mind.com/differecnes-between-introverts-and-extroverts/ (Accessed 25/03/20)
8.] Louis Theroux A Different Brain (2016) Directed By Pickup, J [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80182705 (Accessed 14/04/20)
9.] Needham, C. (1998) Louis Theroux: A Different Brain At: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5561598/?ref_=nv_sr_srvg_0 (Accessed 15/04/20)
10.] Documentary, N S. (2012) BBC's Louis Theroux Masterclass - His Style, Technique and Vision At: https://documentary.net/magazine/bbcs-louis-theroux-masterlcass-his-style-technique-and vision/ (Accessed 15/04/20)
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