After editing my clips together , I started to realises that many of my clips made fun of the teenagers within the piece and making the audience realises the teenagers are ONLY children.
I thought such clips as the close up of the subject drinking from the cup which is very child like contrast against the them of my documentary. Therefore I have a change of direction within my documentary as I have found out though research including my interviews that many teenagers just drink and party at the weekend and I fell producing a documentary showing the counter side of the argument would make my documentary less realistic. Though my research in facts and figures they clearly show that their is a huge problem within the generation and if they are to carry on in this manor then heck knows what the world will be like when generation X which adulthood. I now want to open the eyes of the parents into the danger of teenagers lifestyle at present and show how many teens simply do not have a clue what their children get up to at the week.
I have attrached a sample of the clip which mainly express this:
http://vimeo.com/17209444
From my research interviews the teens express how they conform to the sterotype and simply do not care.
http://vimeo.com/17209422
and
http://vimeo.com/17209361
New Target Audience
As I have changed the direction of my documentary I now have a new direction I want to target my documentary towards the parents and adults within society. As I want them to realise just how naive and clueless these teens are to what they are doing to their bodies, however I fully understand teens are blamed though out the media therefore my documentary may also be a form of entrainment as I plan to follow a teens average life and show the audience the stupid things they get up to provide entertainment to the audience in the same way the document glamour models , mum and me did.
Friday, 26 November 2010
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Pre Production Report - Day 2
I started to edit my cut aways together I have produced a section on each clip and what techniques I used to create the effect upon the clips I desired.
Opening 1. Clip Name - Drinks pan to Left
Effect: High Bright Contrast , Speed Increased, Hand Held Camera
I editing the opening clip in this way as I wanted the audience to feel as they were under the influence like the subjects of my documentary. The high contrast also blurs the brand names which I feel is important to increase that I do not target drinks labels for the actions which are about to unfold. The clip is shot in a handheld manor and the visual of the image is very blurred, I feel this reflects well the feeling people get when consuming alcohol the vison becomes blurred , this thus allows the audience to feel part of the 'wasted youth' . The Hand held camera gives the feeling of audientifsty to the audience. The footage now appears to the audience as really achieve footage supporting the point of my documentary it shows this is the real side of the teenage culture in which may do not see.
I have attrached a sample which has been uploaded upon vimeo:
http://vimeo.com/17211854
Opening 1. Clip Name - Drinks pan to Left
Effect: High Bright Contrast , Speed Increased, Hand Held Camera
I editing the opening clip in this way as I wanted the audience to feel as they were under the influence like the subjects of my documentary. The high contrast also blurs the brand names which I feel is important to increase that I do not target drinks labels for the actions which are about to unfold. The clip is shot in a handheld manor and the visual of the image is very blurred, I feel this reflects well the feeling people get when consuming alcohol the vison becomes blurred , this thus allows the audience to feel part of the 'wasted youth' . The Hand held camera gives the feeling of audientifsty to the audience. The footage now appears to the audience as really achieve footage supporting the point of my documentary it shows this is the real side of the teenage culture in which may do not see.
I have attrached a sample which has been uploaded upon vimeo:
http://vimeo.com/17211854
Pre Production Report - Day 1
I filmed the opening cutaways within my titles of partying teenagers and also my real teenagers research interviews .
I filmed my cutaways in hand held as I wanted to create the feeling that the audience are under influence of drugs or drink and then in editing also create the feeling of under the influence by using such editing techniques and speeding and slowing down the clips adding 'ghost trail' and high contast brigthness to clips.
Click the link below in which I have attrached some of my clips from my first day of filmimg.
http://vimeo.com/17211942Types Of Documentaries
As I finalise my planning and research of my documentary and head towards the filming and production I want to explore the four different types of documentaries in which my documentary will have to fit within one area. There are four main types :
- Expository
Expository documentaries use narrative to address the audience in a 'voice of god' format. Therefore the audience I lead to believe the narrative as the correct view point or the truth. The director of the documentary then has the power to mulipcate the audience to the chosen view. This is the oldest form of documentary. The narrative if normally shared between a number of people such as : experts , witness and participants.
Such examples of this form of documentary are: Crimewatch,Inconvenient Truth and Madness in the fast Lane
- Observational
Allows visual material to tell its own story without narrative, this creates the feeling the subject of the documentary is allowed to happen freely and the audience are free to come to their own conclusion. The presents of cameras is made present within the shots, creating the feeling that the subject being film has been caught unexpectedly without scripting. An observation documentary will use the basic framework of an exposiary documentary however as I have mentioned allow the material to tell its own story. The audience are then given access unmediated material.
"(observation documentaries)..arose from the availability of more more mobile, recording equipment and dissatisfaction with the moralising quality of exposition documentary"
- Interactive
The interactive documentary has be catalysed by the dawn of the online age. The Interactive documentary allows individuals to record their views or life experiences without the invention of a interviewer or camera crew. This method of documentary if often referenced to as a video diary. The increasing use of such sites as YouTube and various blog websites have made this method rapidly grow.
"Interactive documentaries wanted to engage with the individuals more directly while not reverting to classic exposition"
"Archival footage of the past events become appended to there commentaries to avoid hazard of the re-enactment and the monolithic claims of voice of god commentary"
- Reflective
Reflective documenatries are a very sophificated type of documentary. A Reflective documentary postions the audience as the main focus of attention. It refuses to include just on viewpoint, this is achieved by explict knowlegde of the camera viewpoints or ideals.
"...arose from a desire to make the conventions of representation themsleves more apparent to the challenge the impression of reality with the other three modes normally conveyed unproblematically"
All quotes from Documentary modes of representation in : Reprensting Realiltiy by Bill Nichols 1991
I believe my documentary is a Expository Docementary as i desire to show the audience the truth about teenage culture on both sides of the situatuion. I will include both viewpoints howver have a 'voice of god' present thoughout the length of the documentary.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Research into Hyperpublic youth identity
In the role of researcher:
I have read an article with I feel is very useful within the production of my documentary.
"Teens today face a public life with the possibility of unimaginably wide
publicity. The fundamental properties of networked public- persistence,
sociability, replicability and invisible audience- are unfamiliar to the adults
that are guiding them though social life. Few adult could imagine every
conversation they have sitting in the park or drinking tea in a cafe being
available available for hyperpublic consumption, yet this is what technology
enables....Boyd is suggesting that you are unlikely to get much help from your
parents or teachers if you get into trouble in this new world"
My documentary is highlighting the teenager culture of tioday and putting them into the high profile unimaginably wide publicity. I am replicating teenage society not form the media but how I also feel. I am enable to to show my consumers my view and not the current issue of teenagers.
I have read an article with I feel is very useful within the production of my documentary.
"Teens today face a public life with the possibility of unimaginably wide
publicity. The fundamental properties of networked public- persistence,
sociability, replicability and invisible audience- are unfamiliar to the adults
that are guiding them though social life. Few adult could imagine every
conversation they have sitting in the park or drinking tea in a cafe being
available available for hyperpublic consumption, yet this is what technology
enables....Boyd is suggesting that you are unlikely to get much help from your
parents or teachers if you get into trouble in this new world"
My documentary is highlighting the teenager culture of tioday and putting them into the high profile unimaginably wide publicity. I am replicating teenage society not form the media but how I also feel. I am enable to to show my consumers my view and not the current issue of teenagers.
Target Audience
In the role of a producer:
My target audience will be 15-19 year olds as I want the documentary to show not only are teenagers stereotypical shown and teenagers need to be treated Individually, however I want to show the teens that copying what you see on television is harmful and dangerous. Thus providing a good balance within my documentary.
I have compiled a fact file of a average teenager within my target market:
Name : Jo
Age: 17
F.Music: Lady Gaga , Pink , Foo Fighters , Miley Cryus , Jamie T
F.Books: The Notebook , Twilight Saga
F.TV Programs: Skins , The Inbetweeners , Misfits , The Might Boosh
F.Movies: Twilight , Moulin Rouge, Sweeny Todd , Mean Girls
Ambitions: To go to uni and study Fashion Marketing
Jo is an average teenage girl with hopes and ambitions to get into university, she enjoys partying at the weekend and sometimes wonders whether all this partying is doing her any long term damage in body and mind.
My target audience will be 15-19 year olds as I want the documentary to show not only are teenagers stereotypical shown and teenagers need to be treated Individually, however I want to show the teens that copying what you see on television is harmful and dangerous. Thus providing a good balance within my documentary.
I have compiled a fact file of a average teenager within my target market:
Name : Jo
Age: 17
F.Music: Lady Gaga , Pink , Foo Fighters , Miley Cryus , Jamie T
F.Books: The Notebook , Twilight Saga
F.TV Programs: Skins , The Inbetweeners , Misfits , The Might Boosh
F.Movies: Twilight , Moulin Rouge, Sweeny Todd , Mean Girls
Ambitions: To go to uni and study Fashion Marketing
Jo is an average teenage girl with hopes and ambitions to get into university, she enjoys partying at the weekend and sometimes wonders whether all this partying is doing her any long term damage in body and mind.
Interviewees
In the role of producer:
I am going to create a quick profile of each of my interviewees.
Adults within Montage- Interviewing adults will provide the audience with the general sterotypical view of teenagers , which I then then explore and try to highilight the differences within the piece.
PCSO Officer- Male officer to show the stereotypical view of authority to contrast against the theme of the documentary. The Officer will give a view of the real side of teenagers they see on a day to day bases.
Teenagers within Montage- A large mixture of stereotypical "hoodie" teens with "friendly" looking teens thus giving the audience a mixture of views and showing the large variety of teens and that not all fit one stereotype.
Sam Giles's Parents - The parents will be placed within a family living room space as it will make it more inmate appeal to the teens . As it is in an inmate environment the audience will be able to identify with the parents more.
I am going to create a quick profile of each of my interviewees.
Adults within Montage- Interviewing adults will provide the audience with the general sterotypical view of teenagers , which I then then explore and try to highilight the differences within the piece.
PCSO Officer- Male officer to show the stereotypical view of authority to contrast against the theme of the documentary. The Officer will give a view of the real side of teenagers they see on a day to day bases.
Teenagers within Montage- A large mixture of stereotypical "hoodie" teens with "friendly" looking teens thus giving the audience a mixture of views and showing the large variety of teens and that not all fit one stereotype.
Sam Giles's Parents - The parents will be placed within a family living room space as it will make it more inmate appeal to the teens . As it is in an inmate environment the audience will be able to identify with the parents more.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
2nd draft rough script
Bringe drinking party animal yob?!
Is this all teenagers in today’s society are? Or has the media forced a false image upon us.
This year is has been estimated that....
874,819 Teenage girls will become pregnant
2,994,657 Teens will get a Sexually Transmitted Infection
5,429,600 Teens will use Drugs
2,758,643 Teens will be arrested for a crime
And wrongly 2,056,833 Teens will attempt suicide.
(Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Teens)
But is this a real repenstention of the youth of today, or do the media simply focus upon the negative aspects of generation X?
**Newspaper headline****mock up news report*??
Montage of results: What do you think of the youth of today?
PCSO Officer: Do you feel that teens are influence by the media to act such a way?
Teenagers montage: How do you feel the youth of today in portrayed?
Henry;d comment links next bit
Many teens feel they need to act a certain way to fit in with such a stereotypical generation. COMPANY NAME invested the high profile case of samther Giles, a young girl from Bradford who tragically took her life on July 13th this year due to horrific circumstances.
Parents: It wasn’t till Sam hit 14 we started having trouble with her. She would watch such group up programs which we feel were aimed at such an older generation. She began not coming in till early hours of the morning on school nights. She was just out of control
**recon**
She left without saying goodbye that night.
Narration: The night Sam was rapped she was only 16, could the attack of been fullled by copycat effected teens?
Sam’s friend: To me it was a normal night we met with my friends at 10 at the local park and we would just hang out and stuff. We weren’t looking for trouble.
These boys came along offering us drugs and I dunno Sam just looked curious to try. Cause we’d seen them so much on tele that it looked awesome. I left just past 11 and left sam with these lads, she seemed fine, a lil outta it.
Narration: At 3am Sam’s parents received a telephone call form the police
**Recon phonecall*
Parents Dad: getting the phone call....... no parent should ever have to get...Sam was. no parents should have to go though this.. It is a living nightmare..Any parent’s worst nightmare.
Police radio: unidentified young female found. suspected rape . Large amount of bruising to body. naked. Clothes missing
Narration: Sam’s
was discovered was found had been subjected to a horrific rape , violently assaulted and left to die.
*sobs*
Narration: Sam had been given the date rape drug ...... which she had been told to been E. Sam had be violently raped then stabbed.
Parents: Why would other teenagers do that to a young girl!?
They cant of just thought it up. It was influenced by their shows.
Is this all teenagers in today’s society are? Or has the media forced a false image upon us.
This year is has been estimated that....
874,819 Teenage girls will become pregnant
2,994,657 Teens will get a Sexually Transmitted Infection
5,429,600 Teens will use Drugs
2,758,643 Teens will be arrested for a crime
And wrongly 2,056,833 Teens will attempt suicide.
(Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Teens)
But is this a real repenstention of the youth of today, or do the media simply focus upon the negative aspects of generation X?
**Newspaper headline****mock up news report*??
Montage of results: What do you think of the youth of today?
PCSO Officer: Do you feel that teens are influence by the media to act such a way?
Teenagers montage: How do you feel the youth of today in portrayed?
Henry;d comment links next bit
Many teens feel they need to act a certain way to fit in with such a stereotypical generation. COMPANY NAME invested the high profile case of samther Giles, a young girl from Bradford who tragically took her life on July 13th this year due to horrific circumstances.
Parents: It wasn’t till Sam hit 14 we started having trouble with her. She would watch such group up programs which we feel were aimed at such an older generation. She began not coming in till early hours of the morning on school nights. She was just out of control
**recon**
She left without saying goodbye that night.
Narration: The night Sam was rapped she was only 16, could the attack of been fullled by copycat effected teens?
Sam’s friend: To me it was a normal night we met with my friends at 10 at the local park and we would just hang out and stuff. We weren’t looking for trouble.
These boys came along offering us drugs and I dunno Sam just looked curious to try. Cause we’d seen them so much on tele that it looked awesome. I left just past 11 and left sam with these lads, she seemed fine, a lil outta it.
Narration: At 3am Sam’s parents received a telephone call form the police
**Recon phonecall*
Parents Dad: getting the phone call....... no parent should ever have to get...Sam was. no parents should have to go though this.. It is a living nightmare..Any parent’s worst nightmare.
Police radio: unidentified young female found. suspected rape . Large amount of bruising to body. naked. Clothes missing
Narration: Sam’s
was discovered was found had been subjected to a horrific rape , violently assaulted and left to die.
*sobs*
Narration: Sam had been given the date rape drug ...... which she had been told to been E. Sam had be violently raped then stabbed.
Parents: Why would other teenagers do that to a young girl!?
They cant of just thought it up. It was influenced by their shows.
Prosped Questions
Question1 What do you think of the youth of today? - As adults are the largest percentage of the community I feel that asking a montage of adults would produce a good over view of general thought.
Do you feel that teens are influence by the media to act such a way? - PCSO interview. AS PCSO'S general deal with outlawed teens it will be interesting to see their views and if they conflicted the view audience will expect the officer to say.
How do you feel the youth of today in portrayed? I shall ask a montage of teens this question as i am interested in the reflection between question 1 and this question.
Do you feel that teens are influence by the media to act such a way? - PCSO interview. AS PCSO'S general deal with outlawed teens it will be interesting to see their views and if they conflicted the view audience will expect the officer to say.
How do you feel the youth of today in portrayed? I shall ask a montage of teens this question as i am interested in the reflection between question 1 and this question.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Pre Production Questionaire Results
As my target audience is teenagers themselves I have chosen for my main sample to come from my peers within sixth form. 
As the graph shows on the left the largest percentage of my sample enjoy crime based documentaries. I was very surprised at this result as stereotypical females are more emotional than males, therefore I believed the females aged 15.17 would preferred documentaries on emotional true stories. This is a clear signal that I need to incorporate a large amount of crime based themes within my production to hold the attention of a large percentage of my audience. This could be done by using such techniques of cutaways.
Everyone who I interviewed say that they would be very interested in a documentary focusing on the conflict of the media and teenagers. This is a positive outcome it shows that there is desire for such a production as mine. Having a audience who are willing to hear my views within the documentary will allow a good link between my message and their acceptance of the issues.
As well as asking categorical questions such as what gender are you? and what type of documentary do you like to watch? I also asked opened ended question which have highlighted some interesting views from my audience I have highlight to attention some interesting views:
1) Do you feel youth is portrayed wrongly in the media?
- " I believe youth are stereotyped to all be the same though media as they only really show stories about badly behaved youths and no the positive parts"
- " Yes , I think that every teenager is stereotyped under one category when in fact everyone is different"
- " the media acutally protray teenagers in quite an ccurate way.... many teenagers do drink, steal and feel in necessary to rebel against authoity
-".... usually if produced by bias adults"
- " Yes , although some groups live up to the protrayal which encourages the media to sterotype youth as a whole rather than an idividualy"
I find this very interesting has it shows how my peers feel that they are either being misrepenstered though the media, or the media is fulling teenagers to act up to the sterotype. Thus producing a chain reaction of events. Therefore is the media to blame for becoming a catolysis to this thug culutre?
2) What is your view on today's teenager culture
-" we're all the same just differnet breeds"
-"..teenagers can be wither dramatically discriminated or very expecting"
-" .. teenage culture has mere freedom to do whatever they wish"
-" teenagers are becoming a break out stereotypes and become their own person quicker"
This question highlighted that many teens feel that they do not wish to connect themselves with the stereotype but just simply live there lives , and find themselves while not worrying about the bigger picture.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Pre Production Questionnaire- Blank copy
Pre Production Questionnaire
Please circle one
What is your gender?
Male Female
What age category do you fall into?
15-17 18-20 21+
What type of documentary do you like to watch?
Real Life Crime Emotional True Stories Factual/Informative
What was the last documentary you watched?
.........................................................................................................................................................
Do you think documentaried effect society?
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Would you be interested on a documentary comparing the media stereotype and real life of a teenager?
Yes No
Do you feel youth is protaryed wrongly in the media?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
What is your view on today’s teenage culture?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Please circle one
What is your gender?
Male Female
What age category do you fall into?
15-17 18-20 21+
What type of documentary do you like to watch?
Real Life Crime Emotional True Stories Factual/Informative
What was the last documentary you watched?
.........................................................................................................................................................
Do you think documentaried effect society?
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Would you be interested on a documentary comparing the media stereotype and real life of a teenager?
Yes No
Do you feel youth is protaryed wrongly in the media?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
What is your view on today’s teenage culture?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Monday, 27 September 2010
Researching Using Newspapers
I found two newspaper articles : one national and one local to my area and used them as part of my research to build up a picture of
the youth within the media.1.)From my Local paper.
2)From The Guardian National Paper
"
>© Copyright Pending. Any copying without Teens In Crisis name and phone number
being visible is strictly forbidden.
TEEN STATIISTIICS
During the next 12 months (based on National Averages):
1,221,839 Teens will Drop out or quit school
(In some states, up to 75 % of all inmates in the prison system are high
school drop outs)
1,682,867 Teens will Runaway or leave home without permission for at least overnight
or longer.
(71% of runaway or awol teens encounter highly dangerous situations or
Circumstances during the runaway period)
874,819 Teenage girls will become pregnant
(30% will undergo an abortion many without the parent’s knowledge or
consent. For those teenage mothers that carry the baby full term, 90% of the
fathers abandon the mother and child. 70% of all teenage marriages fail.
Children born to Teenage Mothers are much more likely to fail at school,
drop out, or end up in prison.)
2,994,657 Teens will get a Sexually Transmitted Disease
(Over 25% of all current Sexually Transmitted Disease Cases are teens
and this number is increasing.)
8,564,719 Teens will use Alcohol
(One third of all Teens will use of alcohol during the next year. Research
shows Alcohol Use significantly increases a Teens chances of being
involved in violence, stealing, and truancy.)
5,429,600 Teens will use Drugs
(The average age of first marijuana use is 14. Drug use is associated with
home conflicts, school failures, serious accidents, crimes, violence, unsafe
sex, and suicide.)
2,758,643 Teens will be arrested for a crime
(This statistic is showing just the number of Teen arrests. While there is no
verifiable statistics, it is thought that the number of Teens involved in
crimes is several times the number arrested, perhaps as high as 7 or 8
million teens.)
2,056,833 Teens will attempt suicide
(Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Teens)
4,013,920 Teens will contemplate a suicide
(1 out of every 5 Teens have seriously considered suicide, 1 out of six Teens
have actually made a plan to commit suicide. Almost all struggling teens
would fit into one of these two categories)
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Drafting Music Ideas
After outlining my storyline this inspired music in my head which i felt would go well with the imagery, after contact and research I found out that I need to have permission from the artist/songwriter to use any material within my piece however small snippets of music can be used.
Here is a copy of an email from the exam board via my subject teacher proving this is correct:
FYI ________________________________________
From: OCR General Qualifications [mailto:OCR.GeneralQualifications@ocr.org.uk]
Sent: Fri 17/09/2010 14:19
To: E Brown
Subject: Call ID:00079513 Subject:GCE A2 Media Studies Query GCE Media Studies
Dear Emily,
Thank you for your e-mail.
Please see below the response from the Qualifications Manager, Rob Carlton:
In terms of the documentary task (as with all other tasks at A2) the finished product, in this case a documentary extract, should look as close as possible to a real extract from a documentary TV programme in the style of documentary the candidates are trying to achieve.
Whilst access to real experts and professionals is desirable for a documentary, this could be mocked up and scripted. If it is mocked up it still needs to look realistic.
I hope this information helps,
Rob Carlton
Qualifications Manager (Arts, Media, Life and Work Team)
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the OCR Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998, Monday to Friday, 0800 to 1730.
Russell
Customer Contact Centre
Thought out my research i have found the use of Diegetic music within a documentary should add to the theme , either though melody emotions or lyrical. Making this obvious link then sumblimary communicates with my audience.
Here are a small selection of songs in which i am considering to use for my documentary:
- Get smashed , Gate crash by Hadouken
Link Click to Hear : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjoQYmbgcCM
"welcome to our world,we are the wasted youth,and we are the future too..cut the brakes, text your mates let’s tear this house apart"
- Liquid Lives by Hadouken
Link Click to Hear : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZt_8-dr_w8
"I wanna drink drink drink smoke fuck fight I wanna shout, drink, scream, I wanna die!I wanna be arrested I wannabe molested and my heads in pain, next weekend lets do it again! "
.jpg)
Hadouken are a underground grime Grindie ( Grime/Indie) focusing on storytelling rap of destructive youth, their lyrics back up the stereotypical youth and would work well within the opening cutaways of drinking and partying teens.
Hadouken are a fairly unknown band so the easiest way to contact them was by email via the lead singer.songwriter. There is a copy of my e-mail.
- Teenage Kicks by UnderTones
Within the the reconstruction I would like a clam piece of music which expresses being lost and upset, therefore i looked for music which had a soft and calming melody, A song which shot to my memory was a song in which i heard within a film which really reduced me to tears. This is how I want my audience to respond to the the recon.
- Breathe Me by Sia
Link Click to Hear - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPcYqn0p4Y&ob=av2e
"Be my friend Hold me, wrap me up Unfold me I am small I'm needy Warm me up And breathe me Ouch I have lost myself again Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe "
As well as the lyrics expressing being needy and being on self destruct mode , i feel the backing on the track feels like someone is wondering around within the dark ; in which my recon footage will show.
Here is a copy of an email from the exam board via my subject teacher proving this is correct:
FYI ________________________________________
From: OCR General Qualifications [mailto:OCR.GeneralQualifications@ocr.org.uk]
Sent: Fri 17/09/2010 14:19
To: E Brown
Subject: Call ID:00079513 Subject:GCE A2 Media Studies Query GCE Media Studies
Dear Emily,
Thank you for your e-mail.
Please see below the response from the Qualifications Manager, Rob Carlton:
In terms of the documentary task (as with all other tasks at A2) the finished product, in this case a documentary extract, should look as close as possible to a real extract from a documentary TV programme in the style of documentary the candidates are trying to achieve.
Whilst access to real experts and professionals is desirable for a documentary, this could be mocked up and scripted. If it is mocked up it still needs to look realistic.
I hope this information helps,
Rob Carlton
Qualifications Manager (Arts, Media, Life and Work Team)
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the OCR Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998, Monday to Friday, 0800 to 1730.
Russell
Customer Contact Centre
Thought out my research i have found the use of Diegetic music within a documentary should add to the theme , either though melody emotions or lyrical. Making this obvious link then sumblimary communicates with my audience.
Here are a small selection of songs in which i am considering to use for my documentary:
- Get smashed , Gate crash by Hadouken
Link Click to Hear : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjoQYmbgcCM
"welcome to our world,we are the wasted youth,and we are the future too..cut the brakes, text your mates let’s tear this house apart"
- Liquid Lives by Hadouken
Link Click to Hear : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZt_8-dr_w8
"I wanna drink drink drink smoke fuck fight I wanna shout, drink, scream, I wanna die!I wanna be arrested I wannabe molested and my heads in pain, next weekend lets do it again! "
.jpg)
Hadouken are a underground grime Grindie ( Grime/Indie) focusing on storytelling rap of destructive youth, their lyrics back up the stereotypical youth and would work well within the opening cutaways of drinking and partying teens.
Hadouken are a fairly unknown band so the easiest way to contact them was by email via the lead singer.songwriter. There is a copy of my e-mail.
- Teenage Kicks by UnderTones
Link Click to hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oskM5XD_Yc4
"I wanna hold her wanna hold her tight Get teenage kicks right through the night"
As I'm targeting the parents as well as the youths , Using such a ionic song as teenage kicks will relate the adult audience to relate how they felt as a teenage and put themselves in today's generation's shoes. The contrasting between Hadouken and the 1978 hit could be quite effective.
-Teenagers by Haley Williams
Link click to hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfwSPfz4gdQ
"We're teenagers(We don't know anything) Well, how was I to know That what we carved in stone Would be so temporary? (I'm gonna go on) Why must we all make sense? Oh,
I just won't make sense For once, I'm just gonna live I'm just gonna live"
Within the the reconstruction I would like a clam piece of music which expresses being lost and upset, therefore i looked for music which had a soft and calming melody, A song which shot to my memory was a song in which i heard within a film which really reduced me to tears. This is how I want my audience to respond to the the recon.
- Breathe Me by Sia
Link Click to Hear - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPcYqn0p4Y&ob=av2e
"Be my friend Hold me, wrap me up Unfold me I am small I'm needy Warm me up And breathe me Ouch I have lost myself again Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe "
As well as the lyrics expressing being needy and being on self destruct mode , i feel the backing on the track feels like someone is wondering around within the dark ; in which my recon footage will show.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Pre Production Research Mindmap
Using a mind map I can highlight the areas in which I want to explore.
Pre Production Current Media Analyse
Pre Production Analyse of Current Documentary
As part of my documentary I want to analysisize the way in which current production teams take the codes andconventions of documentarys and protray them to traget there market.
BBC THREE- GLAMOUR MODLES, MUM AND ME.
I chose to analyse a BBC Three Documentary as the channel’s target market is students. The Programs in which they show are all centre around growing up and the issues in which incorporate. During the summer season 2010 BBC3 broadcasted a number of documentaries within the title ‘The Adult Season’ One Documentary in which really inspired me was Glamour models, Mum and me in which explores the pressure and relationship between the media, a 14 year old girl and her glamour model mother.
The opening image is the image of the 14 year old girl. The girl appears fresh faced without any make up and her hair has been left to hang natural. The camera is at a close up level. I believe this was done to make the audience focused upon just how young and vulnerable the young girl is. I also believe opening the documentary in this way grips the attention of the
audience right away; as it is if the girl is right in front of the audience having a conversation with them The White background also adds to the feeling of pure and natural.
As part of my documentary I want to analysisize the way in which current production teams take the codes andconventions of documentarys and protray them to traget there market.
BBC THREE- GLAMOUR MODLES, MUM AND ME.
I chose to analyse a BBC Three Documentary as the channel’s target market is students. The Programs in which they show are all centre around growing up and the issues in which incorporate. During the summer season 2010 BBC3 broadcasted a number of documentaries within the title ‘The Adult Season’ One Documentary in which really inspired me was Glamour models, Mum and me in which explores the pressure and relationship between the media, a 14 year old girl and her glamour model mother.
The opening image is the image of the 14 year old girl. The girl appears fresh faced without any make up and her hair has been left to hang natural. The camera is at a close up level. I believe this was done to make the audience focused upon just how young and vulnerable the young girl is. I also believe opening the documentary in this way grips the attention of the
audience right away; as it is if the girl is right in front of the audience having a conversation with them The White background also adds to the feeling of pure and natural. This is a huge contrast to what the young girl is taking about though her narrative; she expresses the idea of becoming a Glamour Model, thus causing a greater contrast between the images the audience are receiving thought the extreme close up and the subject of the documentary. As well as the narrative there is non-deigetic music in the background. At the opening of the shot it is soft piano and a female singer. To me this reflects a lullaby which may be sung by a mother adding to the contrast of the youth of the young girl and the subject in which she is talking about.
The shots which follow the first opening scene of the documentary are short close up shots contrasting a normal life of a 14 year old girl and her mother’s glamorous model life. Shots include posing in the living room with her mother in the living room in contrast to natural actions of a young girl for example biting her nails, looking out of the window. Using shots like these allow the audience to see their own children or even themselves within the young girls place, Whereas the shots of her and her mother posing within the famil
y home sound how this career in being forced into every part of her life from a home angle. The shots are taken from the other side of the room to create the feeling that the audience are sat within the room with the mother and daughter creating the feeling of having an inmate realism look into their lives.
y home sound how this career in being forced into every part of her life from a home angle. The shots are taken from the other side of the room to create the feeling that the audience are sat within the room with the mother and daughter creating the feeling of having an inmate realism look into their lives.While these cut away shot set the conflict within the young girl’s life the narrator begins to explain the situation in which the young girl sits. The Narrator is female, female narrators are normally used for sensitive situation in which I believe this is due the documentary focusing on the conflict of growing up in a beauty obsessed world between mother and child.
Within the chopping editing of the young girls normal/glamour life, the first formal interview is weaved in within the shots. This time the young girl is seen to be wearing make-up and has had her hair style. This is completely different to the image in which the audience first saw in the first scene. The frame is slightly larger as well showing her outfit and jewellery, adding a materialistic value to the young girl than the na
tural fresh face we saw in the first shot. The girl now seems alot more confident then before. The audience thus see how the media and her mother have transformed the girl into the image in which the stereotypical model should look like. When I saw the transformation of the girl I then questioned if a girl of her age should feel the need to look this way.
tural fresh face we saw in the first shot. The girl now seems alot more confident then before. The audience thus see how the media and her mother have transformed the girl into the image in which the stereotypical model should look like. When I saw the transformation of the girl I then questioned if a girl of her age should feel the need to look this way. Within my piece I would like to use a technique in this way as I felt it really shocked the audience. I could use this technique by showing a young girl in her school uniform compared to the outfits and manor how they dance when at parties. This would then target the target market of parents and shock them into the realisation of the ‘real’ side of their children, as if they were a ‘fly on the wall’.
Thought the opening minutes of the documentary there is little narration, the subjects themselves (the mother and daughter) are allowed to set the scene of the dilemma alone with only the same piano non-diegitic music as before. I believe by doing this the director has alone the documentary to have a more personal level to it, as the audience are involved within the family and situation.
Many general cutaway shots are used though out the first 5 minutes of the documentary such cutaway shots as driving down Sunset Boulevard and driving past LAX airport. This allows the audience to understand that at some point within the documentary that the pair travels to America .Using cut away is a useful technique to show the audience a large port potion of time and distance in snapshot form. As well as general cutaway shot the director has also used story telling cutaways to show key areas/events form throughout the hour long documentary. Many of the shots are taken from a long angle and form the next room to the two subject as the audience it feels that we are once again part of the scene are just on looking their normal life ,once again enforcing the sense of realism and normalize to the film.
Within my documentary I feel to gain a true sense of targeted subjects (teenagers) many cutaways will be used to contrast the media stereotyped teenagers and the real teenage life. Adding such cut aways in a similar way to this documentary will enforce my narration.
Within my documentary I feel to gain a true sense of targeted subjects (teenagers) many cutaways will be used to contrast the media stereotyped teenagers and the real teenage life. Adding such cut aways in a similar way to this documentary will enforce my narration.
The ongoing non-diegetic soundtrack is now at its strongest when the titles of the documentary appear well within the opening section. Adding the titles this late I believe was very effective has it allowed the audience to produce a good view point of both sides of the story and issue, before judging upon the mother.
The titles themselves fade in smoothly which becomes very artist. Then fade out 4 seconds later which is the perfect amount of time for the audience to digest the scene. 
The title picture is that of a ‘family photo’ which them makes the audience think of their own family before studying the picture. The photo chosen visual show the clash between the mother and daughter. Having such a strong and clean title photo as this is important for me as I really want to focus my audience into watching the entirety of my documentary as this scene will be in within the first couple of minutes which is peak time for the audience to channel flick though the programs therefore it is vital that my production captures the audience.
The title picture is that of a ‘family photo’ which them makes the audience think of their own family before studying the picture. The photo chosen visual show the clash between the mother and daughter. Having such a strong and clean title photo as this is important for me as I really want to focus my audience into watching the entirety of my documentary as this scene will be in within the first couple of minutes which is peak time for the audience to channel flick though the programs therefore it is vital that my production captures the audience.
After the titles the documentary take a new style. The scene is set by storytelling cut away establishing shots of London, as the audience have already seen shots of America it shows the audience that the pair travels alot which may pressurize the young girl more, which we later confirm.
The narration also decreases and the only sound is digetic sound of the subject conversation between each other. The scenes are now shot with a hand held camera once again making the audience feel they have simple just walked into the house and are in the roo
m watching while the subject carry on with their life. The Mise-en-scene of the shots looks as if the mother and child are just relaxing at home on a day to day life and has not been staged. This creates a great sense of realism. This technique really inspired me I liked the idea of being a fly on the wall in a real life situation. I could adapt this to my documentary by taking this spy like approach to an area in which teenagers hang around. This then appears less filmed for purpose and shows a realistic look/ insight to the life of the subject.
m watching while the subject carry on with their life. The Mise-en-scene of the shots looks as if the mother and child are just relaxing at home on a day to day life and has not been staged. This creates a great sense of realism. This technique really inspired me I liked the idea of being a fly on the wall in a real life situation. I could adapt this to my documentary by taking this spy like approach to an area in which teenagers hang around. This then appears less filmed for purpose and shows a realistic look/ insight to the life of the subject. Overall I felt this documentary was very helpful to research and see the way in which the BBC has interrupted the codes and conventions of a documentary and tailored them to meet their target audience. This documentary focused upon getting the audience to put then audience within the subject’s shoes with the use of realism techniques. This is the feel in which I want my documentary to have.
BBC NEWS 24 -TEEN 24
The production opens with this image. The image focuses on two teenagers hugged however they have been blacked
out. I believe this is done to show how these two teens could be you , your brother or friend. Which then links the documnetary to the audience on a personal level and will lead them to take more attention to the production.
out. I believe this is done to show how these two teens could be you , your brother or friend. Which then links the documnetary to the audience on a personal level and will lead them to take more attention to the production. There is a non diegitic soundtrack in the background it is a classic sounding garge rap track which I believe protrays youth and cities thus linking the music back to the production.
The documentary narration opens with the presenter facing the camera directly and hard hitting narration." Crime ,Booze and general bad behaviour" The opening line uses the magic rule of three, these words then become rememberable and sterotypical of what everyone aspects of teengers.
Within the background of the shot is the river view of London , I believe this is done to show the majoity of the source of media comes from London via newspapers and tevelison broacast however te teens in which she later interviews rebel against this. The soundtrack is compl
etely gone and only the narration of the presenter is present. It creates the feeling of realism as we and simply just watching a class rather than being scripted.
etely gone and only the narration of the presenter is present. It creates the feeling of realism as we and simply just watching a class rather than being scripted.The camera is very randomy zooming and loose almost handheld. I believe his gives the production a feeling of low budget filming as if it as een producted be the teens themseleves.
The next 4 mintues continue with this loose low budgeting feeling. The presenter sits around a outside table with 10 teenagers. The camera then shot from an interesting shot. The camera is postion behing one of the teens heads. This creates the feeling the audience are huddles among the teens. This then makes the audience feel they are one of the teens and maybe should share their views too. 
Another interesting shot the director has used is the use of uptitled angles like the snapshop from the picture to the right. I think this shows the teens as powerful view points in comprassion to the outlook the media gives them. I could consider using this technquie within my production.
Another interesting shot the director has used is the use of uptitled angles like the snapshop from the picture to the right. I think this shows the teens as powerful view points in comprassion to the outlook the media gives them. I could consider using this technquie within my production.Inbetween the 4minute interview are 3 cutaway shots which I feel really add to the production. They are of teens : hooded , fighting and hanging around which many teens and adults will have seen at some point.
The images have been blurred out so just the outline can be seen. I think this gives the images a feeling of mysetry ,however they also remind me of when "victoms" faces are blurred out therefore is the production tyring to protray these teens as the victoms to the media?.
Initial Draft of Story Line
By creating a first draft of my story line/cutaways/speakers and artist direction it will allow me a clear direction of research and areas in which I will need to explore. This way i will not watse time researching unessary piece of information.
Opening Line- Do you really know what your child is watching?
short flashes of reconstructed/ cutaways
partying teenager choppy editing , fast moving : drinking , smoking , dancing ect.
Props needed: bottles, cigarettes
Mise-en-scene: parting clothes, glitter, tight
Facts about teenagers in the media
Possible interview with child physiotherapist backing you facts
Interview taken place in office
Mise-en-scene: Doctors coat, hair tried back= formal, female
Real life story interview with parents in living room about daughter being dragged down into gangs.. was she influenced by programs which she watched?
Mise-en-scene: plain , normal parent look.. Audience relate
Reconstruction footage – hand held camera= following/walking behind subject
Interview filming lots of extreme close up = showing emotion of parents
Interview with PSCO at park at night , children in background?
Contrasting real life story looking at ‘good’ on track teenagers studying hard., Challenging the view of the media
Filming of the studying, smiles, teenagers being good and hard working possible library scene
Smooth camera movements.
Possible Extra Cutaways
- dancing
- teenagers texting
- voilent acts
- driving past skateboard ramps
- smoking
contasing cut aways
- reading
- chatting
- studying
- doing homework
- shopping
- feet
Opening Line- Do you really know what your child is watching?
short flashes of reconstructed/ cutaways
partying teenager choppy editing , fast moving : drinking , smoking , dancing ect.
Props needed: bottles, cigarettes
Mise-en-scene: parting clothes, glitter, tight
Facts about teenagers in the media
Possible interview with child physiotherapist backing you facts
Interview taken place in office
Mise-en-scene: Doctors coat, hair tried back= formal, female
Real life story interview with parents in living room about daughter being dragged down into gangs.. was she influenced by programs which she watched?
Mise-en-scene: plain , normal parent look.. Audience relate
Reconstruction footage – hand held camera= following/walking behind subject
Interview filming lots of extreme close up = showing emotion of parents
Interview with PSCO at park at night , children in background?
Contrasting real life story looking at ‘good’ on track teenagers studying hard., Challenging the view of the media
Filming of the studying, smiles, teenagers being good and hard working possible library scene
Smooth camera movements.
Possible Extra Cutaways
- dancing
- teenagers texting
- voilent acts
- driving past skateboard ramps
- smoking
contasing cut aways
- reading
- chatting
- studying
- doing homework
- shopping
- feet
Analysing Codes and Convention of a Documentary
Using a knowledge of studying previous media production I have compiled a mind map of the codes and convention of a documentaries. I will use this research to ensure that I include all/many of the codes and conventions to ensure my documentary follow the format and the finish product is as realistic as possible and has the same reactions upon the audience as many documentaries in which I have studied.
Interviews with..
• Victims
• Witness
• Professionals and Experts
Interviewers are used to show a point of view they are used to authentic the views of the narrator. Within my documentary I will also use interviews. An interview with a youth on their option on the media’s view on teenagers I feel would be very effect as the media which we receive as a audience is many published by adults their we as an audience are missing a whole view point.
Voice-over/ Narration
• Information tone
• Male voices are used on serious hard hitting narration for example fact and figures
• Female voices are used on sensitive emotional issues such as rape cases
• The Narration is seen as the all powerful view the audience believe they have specialised knowledge
• Needs to be clean and slow
• Ruling class view
I believe as I will be talking about young children/ teenagers I will use a female narration as the audience will see the subject of the production as their own children; However I will a male voice at the start to ensure the hard hitting facts and figures have a hard impact on the audience.
Cutaways
• There are three basic styles of cutaways: Storytelling, Emotional and General coverage.
• Storytelling Cut away - They tell/add to the storyline within the film this could be using image of road signs, exterior shots of the places in which interviews are taken place, images of characters entering places.
• Emotional Cut away – images of deceased family members, hugging, walking hand in clean. Clean natural symbolisation of friendship/Love. These types of images have a unique power over the audience to feel high scales of emotion.
• General Coverage – To express a type of situation using small images of actives for example going to the supermarket: parking the car in the car park , getting a trolley , browsing the products/food , paying at the tell , leaving the shop , re-entering the car. These using small shots which allow the audience to watch large section of time coverage quickly.
I would like to use all three methods of cutaways within my piece as I feel they would add alot of emotion and detail. Thought-out my research I want to pay close attention to the placing of the cutaways within the documentaries and the reason behind why they have been placed there. This will then help me with making my cutaways purposeful and high impacting on the audience.
Realism
• Real Footage
• CCTV
• Natural Lighting
• Digenetic Sound
Archive Footage
• Historical footage borrowed from library/newspapers- copy write would be needed
• Add future information to the documentary which the film making would be unable to obtain any other way
Documentaries go to great lengths to ensure the product gives the audience a sense of realism throughout the whole documentary. To get this within my piece I am considering contacting the local council to enquire if they could present me with any CCTV footage of the villages at night to use within my film. This will also add as a realism aid within a reconstruction.
Reconstructions
• Different points of views created from many different camera angles ; as if the audience are seeing it from a witnesses view
• Typical scenery and Lighting
Within my production I would like to feature many small reconstructions to add as a visual aid to the subject within the narration. Within my research I will study the reconstruction and the effects the editing will have on the audience.
Titles and Captions
• Normal Placement bottom right side
• Quick method to transferee information to the audience.
Titles will be used throughout my production during interviews to express who the speaker is, within my research I am going to explore where the best placement is of the title.
Interviews with..
• Victims
• Witness
• Professionals and Experts
Interviewers are used to show a point of view they are used to authentic the views of the narrator. Within my documentary I will also use interviews. An interview with a youth on their option on the media’s view on teenagers I feel would be very effect as the media which we receive as a audience is many published by adults their we as an audience are missing a whole view point.
Voice-over/ Narration
• Information tone
• Male voices are used on serious hard hitting narration for example fact and figures
• Female voices are used on sensitive emotional issues such as rape cases
• The Narration is seen as the all powerful view the audience believe they have specialised knowledge
• Needs to be clean and slow
• Ruling class view
I believe as I will be talking about young children/ teenagers I will use a female narration as the audience will see the subject of the production as their own children; However I will a male voice at the start to ensure the hard hitting facts and figures have a hard impact on the audience.
Cutaways
• There are three basic styles of cutaways: Storytelling, Emotional and General coverage.
• Storytelling Cut away - They tell/add to the storyline within the film this could be using image of road signs, exterior shots of the places in which interviews are taken place, images of characters entering places.
• Emotional Cut away – images of deceased family members, hugging, walking hand in clean. Clean natural symbolisation of friendship/Love. These types of images have a unique power over the audience to feel high scales of emotion.
• General Coverage – To express a type of situation using small images of actives for example going to the supermarket: parking the car in the car park , getting a trolley , browsing the products/food , paying at the tell , leaving the shop , re-entering the car. These using small shots which allow the audience to watch large section of time coverage quickly.
I would like to use all three methods of cutaways within my piece as I feel they would add alot of emotion and detail. Thought-out my research I want to pay close attention to the placing of the cutaways within the documentaries and the reason behind why they have been placed there. This will then help me with making my cutaways purposeful and high impacting on the audience.
Realism
• Real Footage
• CCTV
• Natural Lighting
• Digenetic Sound
Archive Footage
• Historical footage borrowed from library/newspapers- copy write would be needed
• Add future information to the documentary which the film making would be unable to obtain any other way
Documentaries go to great lengths to ensure the product gives the audience a sense of realism throughout the whole documentary. To get this within my piece I am considering contacting the local council to enquire if they could present me with any CCTV footage of the villages at night to use within my film. This will also add as a realism aid within a reconstruction.
Reconstructions
• Different points of views created from many different camera angles ; as if the audience are seeing it from a witnesses view
• Typical scenery and Lighting
Within my production I would like to feature many small reconstructions to add as a visual aid to the subject within the narration. Within my research I will study the reconstruction and the effects the editing will have on the audience.
Titles and Captions
• Normal Placement bottom right side
• Quick method to transferee information to the audience.
Titles will be used throughout my production during interviews to express who the speaker is, within my research I am going to explore where the best placement is of the title.
Pre Production Planning Outline
What is the subject/what do you want to say?
I would like to focus on the image of a teenager as I feel in the current world it is a very topical subject. The media have created an image of a binge drinking generation who care for nothing apart from violence sex and drugs.
I want to explore both the views of members of the community and teenagers themselves to see if this image in which the media though programs like Skins has created encourages them that this is how they should act and is acceptable.
I want to also prove that many teenagers are different to this thug generation and simply are just growing up faster than pervious generations.
As the number of knife attacks and gang behaviour has been rising throughout the decade I want to explore if this is really happening/ why this is happening.
Who is your audience/target market?
I want my production to target the parents and older members of the community however I want my program to be interesting to youths to see, to show them the harm in which they’re actions could cause and thought provoke many teens who are heading towards this wasted culture.
Where do you want to film?
I want to film where older teenagers hang around in my local area for incense my local playing field in Heacham as well I would like a contrast of teenagers so I want to also film some of my peers in the sixth form. I also want to get a view from a local PCSO office that has experienced youths late at night. As I want to target the parents of these children’s interviewing a family without there child could also bring in a new view point and add to the building picture.
What previous documentaries/current media inspires you?
Over the last year I have been inspired by many programs along my theme:
• Skins – The channel 4 program first broadcast in 2007 it caused conflict between the viewing teenagers and their parents and the themes included dysfunctional families, mental illness (including eating disorders), sexual orientation identity, substance abuse and death in which many parents though glamorized the teens within the dramas lives and would influence their teens. I found this very interesting as the parents bad mouthed and even banned their children from watching it created the need to rebel and interested the desire of the teenagers to watch the program like a dirty pleasure.
• The Adult season on BBC3- Over the summer BBC3 which is highly aimed at the student market has produced a number of programs which explore today’s teenagers and the different types of teenagers and life experiences. This inspired me as it also explored the way many teenagers are growing up too fast and shocked me and some points. I really liked the conflict between the parents and children again in some one the episodes and the way in which at some points the audience where really shocked.
What expertise do you currently have?
I am a A level art student so I feel this gives me a strong vision of what I want my documentary to look like and how to create a feeling within the audience using visual techniques. I believe this is my strongest skill and will allow me to create a strong piece of work, however I need to increase my editing skills though programs such as I want to bring my work to a professional level. Such programs as Imovie allow me to produce work to this level, compare to windows moviemaker which I used to create my AS Level coursework. Moving into A2 will also allow me to used equipment of a much high quality then before which i hope if reflected in my work.
I would like to focus on the image of a teenager as I feel in the current world it is a very topical subject. The media have created an image of a binge drinking generation who care for nothing apart from violence sex and drugs.
I want to explore both the views of members of the community and teenagers themselves to see if this image in which the media though programs like Skins has created encourages them that this is how they should act and is acceptable.
I want to also prove that many teenagers are different to this thug generation and simply are just growing up faster than pervious generations.
As the number of knife attacks and gang behaviour has been rising throughout the decade I want to explore if this is really happening/ why this is happening.
Who is your audience/target market?
I want my production to target the parents and older members of the community however I want my program to be interesting to youths to see, to show them the harm in which they’re actions could cause and thought provoke many teens who are heading towards this wasted culture.
Where do you want to film?
I want to film where older teenagers hang around in my local area for incense my local playing field in Heacham as well I would like a contrast of teenagers so I want to also film some of my peers in the sixth form. I also want to get a view from a local PCSO office that has experienced youths late at night. As I want to target the parents of these children’s interviewing a family without there child could also bring in a new view point and add to the building picture.
What previous documentaries/current media inspires you?
Over the last year I have been inspired by many programs along my theme:
• Skins – The channel 4 program first broadcast in 2007 it caused conflict between the viewing teenagers and their parents and the themes included dysfunctional families, mental illness (including eating disorders), sexual orientation identity, substance abuse and death in which many parents though glamorized the teens within the dramas lives and would influence their teens. I found this very interesting as the parents bad mouthed and even banned their children from watching it created the need to rebel and interested the desire of the teenagers to watch the program like a dirty pleasure.
• The Adult season on BBC3- Over the summer BBC3 which is highly aimed at the student market has produced a number of programs which explore today’s teenagers and the different types of teenagers and life experiences. This inspired me as it also explored the way many teenagers are growing up too fast and shocked me and some points. I really liked the conflict between the parents and children again in some one the episodes and the way in which at some points the audience where really shocked.
What expertise do you currently have?
I am a A level art student so I feel this gives me a strong vision of what I want my documentary to look like and how to create a feeling within the audience using visual techniques. I believe this is my strongest skill and will allow me to create a strong piece of work, however I need to increase my editing skills though programs such as I want to bring my work to a professional level. Such programs as Imovie allow me to produce work to this level, compare to windows moviemaker which I used to create my AS Level coursework. Moving into A2 will also allow me to used equipment of a much high quality then before which i hope if reflected in my work.
Brainstroming Themes for Production
I decided to follow the theme of the image of the teenage within the media which thus links several of the possible themes: body image , bringe drinking , and the 'chav' community. This really inspires me as it provides me with a large area of source to cover as teenagers have become such a huge part of the media.Starting Advance Year 13 Portofolio
This years coursework task has been set
An extract from a new documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with the following:
• a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary;
• a newspaper advertisement for the documentary
The piece can be from any point within the documentary.
I am looking forward to exploring the creation of such a media product.
An extract from a new documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with the following:
• a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary;
• a newspaper advertisement for the documentary
The piece can be from any point within the documentary.
I am looking forward to exploring the creation of such a media product.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Daily Production Report- Day Four
Today I composed my music and recorded my voice over for the film. I did this using a hand held recording deceive this was very good and all of my recording were clear. I wanted a small amount background noise of chatting within my speech to create the feeling of other people within the waiting room and this was achieved by recording the voice over a room away from our sixth form flat thus provide the background noise I wanted. To get the timing right I played the video while recording.
I then over layered the audio tracks upon the visual , however using windows media player the tracks and the narration both went upon the audio layer. Therefore I had to research a way in which to overlay the audio tracks . I did this by using the Ctrl+shift+B tool.
From the music research I wanted a classical feel to the music , so i used a classic piano and edited it with a echo to add to the feel of elegance within the piece.
The film was now complete. I then uploaded it upon Youtube to collect audience's views.
I then over layered the audio tracks upon the visual , however using windows media player the tracks and the narration both went upon the audio layer. Therefore I had to research a way in which to overlay the audio tracks . I did this by using the Ctrl+shift+B tool.
From the music research I wanted a classical feel to the music , so i used a classic piano and edited it with a echo to add to the feel of elegance within the piece.
The film was now complete. I then uploaded it upon Youtube to collect audience's views.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Daily Production Report- Day Three
I now had all my footage filmed. I uploaded them upon my Laptop and transferred them into Windows Media Player. I found this program the easiest out of movie making programs which I have tied.
I selected the best footage from each scene and firstly placed them upon the storyboard function on windows movie marker. This allowed me to see clearly the scene which I had and could match them to my hand drawn story board.
Once I was happy with the footage I had selected I began to fade each scene into each other to create the smooth scene transition which I wanted this. I wanted this smooth transition to continue the feeling of elegance throughout my piece.
Windows movie marker also allowed me to use effects upon the flashback scenes. I chose to use the effects: Old age and Sepia. I felt this made the scenes look like a memories and broke up the difference between the present and past scenes.
I selected the best footage from each scene and firstly placed them upon the storyboard function on windows movie marker. This allowed me to see clearly the scene which I had and could match them to my hand drawn story board.
Once I was happy with the footage I had selected I began to fade each scene into each other to create the smooth scene transition which I wanted this. I wanted this smooth transition to continue the feeling of elegance throughout my piece.
Windows movie marker also allowed me to use effects upon the flashback scenes. I chose to use the effects: Old age and Sepia. I felt this made the scenes look like a memories and broke up the difference between the present and past scenes.
Daily Production Report- Day Two
After we first location of Heacham Hall become unavailable I quickly contacted my main actress playing the role of Grace to see if I would be able to use her Dance School's Dance Studio, which is Miss Ashley's Dance School which is located in Dersingham. An available slot to film was the 29th March.
My main Actress is Polly Balding I casted her as she has performed along side me before and I knew she was a very confident Actress and Dancer. She also has a great feeling of grace and elegance when she dances which I felt was key for Grace to have.
Upon Day Two I filmed the majority of my film opening. Due to the high level of acting skills I did not feel I needed to take as many takes as I did with Charlie Mcshane as after Take Two of each shot I was confident I had achieved a high quality shot.
Due to the short notice of change of location , before I left to film upon the 29th I felt the screenplay needed to be altered. This also meant I changed my Story board.
While filming upon shot 5 where Grace is rehearsing I found I had difficulties with my Tripod and was unable to tilt the camera upwards to ensure that the action was still captured within the frame. This trouble was due to me not being totally familiar with my equipment. Although I am pleased with the shot.
I feel the location was better than my first location of Heacham Hall as the mirrors with Miss Ashley's Studio created a great visual effect which I am very pleased with.
My main Actress is Polly Balding I casted her as she has performed along side me before and I knew she was a very confident Actress and Dancer. She also has a great feeling of grace and elegance when she dances which I felt was key for Grace to have.
Upon Day Two I filmed the majority of my film opening. Due to the high level of acting skills I did not feel I needed to take as many takes as I did with Charlie Mcshane as after Take Two of each shot I was confident I had achieved a high quality shot.
Due to the short notice of change of location , before I left to film upon the 29th I felt the screenplay needed to be altered. This also meant I changed my Story board.
While filming upon shot 5 where Grace is rehearsing I found I had difficulties with my Tripod and was unable to tilt the camera upwards to ensure that the action was still captured within the frame. This trouble was due to me not being totally familiar with my equipment. Although I am pleased with the shot.
I feel the location was better than my first location of Heacham Hall as the mirrors with Miss Ashley's Studio created a great visual effect which I am very pleased with.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Daily Production Report- Day One
Today was the first day of filming due to the availability of my actress , I chose to shoot the 'Younger Grace' scenes. I chose the location of Ken Hill as from the areas I considered off Sandringham Woods and Wofteren I felt Ken Hill was the less busiest therefore creating the dream like atmosphere I wanted.
When first walking the grounds I found a large Oak tree with was surrounded with spring flowers which I also felt added to the dream like memory I wanted from this scene.
My actress I had chosen to play the role of 'Young Grace' was my cousin Charlie Mcshane as she is the correct age I wanted the girl to be and Charlie is also a child model so I could ensure that the acting would be of a high quality.
I shot the two scenes which Young Grace is involved in and did four takes of each to ensure that I got a usable shot. Overall the filming too around 30 mins and I felt it went very well.
When first walking the grounds I found a large Oak tree with was surrounded with spring flowers which I also felt added to the dream like memory I wanted from this scene.
My actress I had chosen to play the role of 'Young Grace' was my cousin Charlie Mcshane as she is the correct age I wanted the girl to be and Charlie is also a child model so I could ensure that the acting would be of a high quality.
I shot the two scenes which Young Grace is involved in and did four takes of each to ensure that I got a usable shot. Overall the filming too around 30 mins and I felt it went very well.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Pre-Research Analyse
Research Analyse
I decided to ask within my sample 25% 11- 16 year olds and 50% 17- 25 years old, as I feel this catchment age is the most common target group to watch a Dance themed Film , therefore to ensure my film satiety their needs I need to understand their demand and what they aspect from my Film.
The three most common genres came as a surprise. The Three most common were: Comedy (35%), Sci-fi (15%) and Musical (15%), this came to a surprise as it shows that within my sample there was no traditional spilt with the genre and gender. As the Three top genres were all a mix of the traditional genres you would aspect genders to mix. From this i have concluded that many males would be interesting in viewing my movie therefore I need to ensure that my Film can satisfy both Female and Males demands within a movie. This will increase the potential market of my Film and therefore increase the profits of the Film.
Most commonly the people within my sample want to be kept interested by the film though suspense and twist in the storyline of the Film. I believe to keep a consumer interesting within my Film I can use a Varity of camera shot and angles. This will ensure my audience to do get bored with my Film.
Many people also stated that they liked to really lose themselves within the film and feel the deep emotion which is portrayed by certain films, The main group of people which wanted this from a film whereas the females within my sample. Therefore as Females are my main market for this Film i need to ensure my storyline portray the emotions of my characters well and make my audience really feel they are totally involved in the storyline. However As I am also targeting my Film at both genders i need to make sure my Film is not top heavy with emotion as this will not interest the male audience and I could risk losing may potential consumers. To portray the emotion within my Opening titles I will use lots of close ups as this will forces the audience upon my actress’s face therefore they shall be studying the emotion she portraying though her facial expression.
From my research I have found out that 75% of my sample choose not to watch sub-titles films therefore it is virtual my film is in English so there are no sub-titles as this will lead to losing a huge percentage of potential consumers.
Within my Research I asked my sample where they believed a Dance themed Drama should be set. The three options I offered where: Dance Studio, The Streets/Urban Setting and A Dance School from my research I found that my audience have a varied response. The most popular setting was a Dance Studio (45%) followed by A Dance School (30%) then finally The Street/Urban Setting (25%). This shows that a large number of my sample believe that a traditional setting would be most suitable however the results have very evenly distributed. I believe to capture the most of my potential audience I need to include elements of both the traditional side of dance and the new arising Street/Urban Side.
I asked My sample to name two of their favouriteActors and Actress. There was a clear divide with the Males Results and The Females. The males within the sample picked actors which were of an older age range which appeared both in Serious and Funny roles such as Densil Washington and Johnny Depp. whereas the females picked actors of a younger age which had not been in many roles and very ‘good looking’ such as Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson which may have something to do with the release of the massive film saga Twilight which both actors appeared in.
Both genders picked there favourite Actress as young beautiful American women. This shows that both genders demand a attractive lead women within a film. As 100% of my audience said they were influence into seeing a film because of it cast , i believe i need to cast a young girl who is attractive for my main role.
I decided to ask within my sample 25% 11- 16 year olds and 50% 17- 25 years old, as I feel this catchment age is the most common target group to watch a Dance themed Film , therefore to ensure my film satiety their needs I need to understand their demand and what they aspect from my Film.
The three most common genres came as a surprise. The Three most common were: Comedy (35%), Sci-fi (15%) and Musical (15%), this came to a surprise as it shows that within my sample there was no traditional spilt with the genre and gender. As the Three top genres were all a mix of the traditional genres you would aspect genders to mix. From this i have concluded that many males would be interesting in viewing my movie therefore I need to ensure that my Film can satisfy both Female and Males demands within a movie. This will increase the potential market of my Film and therefore increase the profits of the Film.
Most commonly the people within my sample want to be kept interested by the film though suspense and twist in the storyline of the Film. I believe to keep a consumer interesting within my Film I can use a Varity of camera shot and angles. This will ensure my audience to do get bored with my Film.
Many people also stated that they liked to really lose themselves within the film and feel the deep emotion which is portrayed by certain films, The main group of people which wanted this from a film whereas the females within my sample. Therefore as Females are my main market for this Film i need to ensure my storyline portray the emotions of my characters well and make my audience really feel they are totally involved in the storyline. However As I am also targeting my Film at both genders i need to make sure my Film is not top heavy with emotion as this will not interest the male audience and I could risk losing may potential consumers. To portray the emotion within my Opening titles I will use lots of close ups as this will forces the audience upon my actress’s face therefore they shall be studying the emotion she portraying though her facial expression.
From my research I have found out that 75% of my sample choose not to watch sub-titles films therefore it is virtual my film is in English so there are no sub-titles as this will lead to losing a huge percentage of potential consumers.
Within my Research I asked my sample where they believed a Dance themed Drama should be set. The three options I offered where: Dance Studio, The Streets/Urban Setting and A Dance School from my research I found that my audience have a varied response. The most popular setting was a Dance Studio (45%) followed by A Dance School (30%) then finally The Street/Urban Setting (25%). This shows that a large number of my sample believe that a traditional setting would be most suitable however the results have very evenly distributed. I believe to capture the most of my potential audience I need to include elements of both the traditional side of dance and the new arising Street/Urban Side.
I asked My sample to name two of their favouriteActors and Actress. There was a clear divide with the Males Results and The Females. The males within the sample picked actors which were of an older age range which appeared both in Serious and Funny roles such as Densil Washington and Johnny Depp. whereas the females picked actors of a younger age which had not been in many roles and very ‘good looking’ such as Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson which may have something to do with the release of the massive film saga Twilight which both actors appeared in.
Both genders picked there favourite Actress as young beautiful American women. This shows that both genders demand a attractive lead women within a film. As 100% of my audience said they were influence into seeing a film because of it cast , i believe i need to cast a young girl who is attractive for my main role.
A Sample of Pre-Production Research
I am going to distribute 20 questionnaires, However a Large Film company would issue 100's of questionnaires. Performing Market Research reduces the risk of Failure and lost of profit and ensures a production meets the needs of the potential consumers.
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Main Task Film Research
As I Have Chosen the Genre of Musical Dance for my Final Piece, I Need to analyse some is existing movies which are from the same genre. I have chosen to analyse “Step Up” and “Honey” as these are both massive hits within the genre.
Film 1 – Honey (2003 )
The Opening image is a black plain image however the audience can hear the opening of the soundtrack music which is of an Urban/Hip hop genre and has a very strong beat very similar to Step Up. The Universal Logo spirals onto the black background. With the music still playing the logo fades away to black.
The Camera Enters a packed Nightclub in which the colour is the same as the sky line (blue, black and purple tones) to highlight that the film starts at a nightclub in the ghetto of this large city. This is when the title of the film enters . The title flys down from the top of the frame and lands at the bottom of the screen, the text is a lightblue colour and flashes like a spotlight is being flashed at the text. The Text exits after 2 seconds by spilting in half and exiting both left and right sides. The Camera Then moves down the bar smoothly to the main subject of the film ‘honey’ she is wearing dark colouring and well turned out apperance. The Lighting on her face and body is turned to a more bright blue and purple compared to the Lighting on the cityscape. Another Title appears in the same manner as the movie title at the bottom left of the frame.
When Step Up begins there is a blank image with no images however the audience can hear echoes of people talking and the sound of feet against a gym floor, which we later learn is Digenetic sound to the scene.
The music suddenly gets stronger and the dance moves of the subjects also get stronger and faster. Though out the next part the scene flick between the Ballet and Street scene both in the same original colour as the images start. The camera movement include Long Shots, Slightly zoomed in Long Shots and the camera also tracks the movement of dancers. Creating a smooth movement following the Subject. I believe this is done to really entersize the beauty and movement of the dancing.
Miser-en-scene
Ballerinas – Light cream tones leotard and silk warm up skirts. Most of them have Pointe Shoes on, all of them have they hair tied up in a smooth bun
Street Dancers – Lots of heavy clothing, which include lots of layers. Many have hoods up or baseball caps on. The females of the group have their hair down and free
Film 1 – Honey (2003 )
The Opening image is a black plain image however the audience can hear the opening of the soundtrack music which is of an Urban/Hip hop genre and has a very strong beat very similar to Step Up. The Universal Logo spirals onto the black background. With the music still playing the logo fades away to black.
The Next scene is shot in Birds Eye view Shot over a city which I am lead to believe is a city like New York or Manthaten. The view of the city is in Blue to Black tones i believe this is done to show the audience that it is at night and the film is set in the downtown / Ghetto side of this bright and glamous town. The camera then seems to zoom really fast as if it is tracking where the action is . I believe this is done to allow the audience to see where the subject and action of the film is set in this massive city.
The Camera Enters a packed Nightclub in which the colour is the same as the sky line (blue, black and purple tones) to highlight that the film starts at a nightclub in the ghetto of this large city. This is when the title of the film enters . The title flys down from the top of the frame and lands at the bottom of the screen, the text is a lightblue colour and flashes like a spotlight is being flashed at the text. The Text exits after 2 seconds by spilting in half and exiting both left and right sides. The Camera Then moves down the bar smoothly to the main subject of the film ‘honey’ she is wearing dark colouring and well turned out apperance. The Lighting on her face and body is turned to a more bright blue and purple compared to the Lighting on the cityscape. Another Title appears in the same manner as the movie title at the bottom left of the frame.
The Girl is see to be working at the club as a bar Lady she is moving to the lound club music which is the same as the opening seconds however the beat has become alot stronger then before
The next scene is shot min Bird eye view. The subject of the shot is the drinks Honey has made. They match the colour and tone of Honeys Face and yet another title appears in the same way as before. The rest of the opening minutes are filled with scenes of dancing from within the club. The scenes are shot on most smooth tracking shots and mostly from bird eye view. I believe this is done to show how packed the club is. However packed it is there are still small circles in which people are having danced off. This shows the audience that whatever type of area you live in there is always ways to express yourself.
Mise-en-Scene
The Clubbers – Urban wear such as combats and jeans however all of earthy tones such as green and red, However no bright colours. The girls of the club are also wearing clothes with show a large amount of flesh
Honey and other bar staff – The bar staff are wearing dark uniform clothing, however their hair is lose and done well. Normal everyday Make up.
Step Up (2006)
The next scene is shot min Bird eye view. The subject of the shot is the drinks Honey has made. They match the colour and tone of Honeys Face and yet another title appears in the same way as before. The rest of the opening minutes are filled with scenes of dancing from within the club. The scenes are shot on most smooth tracking shots and mostly from bird eye view. I believe this is done to show how packed the club is. However packed it is there are still small circles in which people are having danced off. This shows the audience that whatever type of area you live in there is always ways to express yourself.
Mise-en-Scene
The Clubbers – Urban wear such as combats and jeans however all of earthy tones such as green and red, However no bright colours. The girls of the club are also wearing clothes with show a large amount of flesh
Honey and other bar staff – The bar staff are wearing dark uniform clothing, however their hair is lose and done well. Normal everyday Make up.
Step Up (2006)
After 2 seconds the image of Ballerinas in a dance hall fades in the camera is shooting the images on a Long shot. The image has a brown tone to it. This could symbolise the age of the hall they are in and how ballet is an ancient art form. At this point there is still no music just the chatting and feet rubbing sounds. The words “Summit Entertainment Presents” fade in the same speed as the image did. The text is of a classic style and white.
After the text fades the next scene fades in faster than the first scene into view. The scene looks to be set in a boat yard or queue as the audience can see some kind of source of water in the background. The image is a lot darker the first scene and is almost a purple tone and once again on a long shot. There is still no music at this time all you can hear is the subjects in the scene yelling and greeting each other. The Subjects are wearing dark clothing and most of them have their hoods up. Portraying the stereotypical portrait of youths living in cities and built up areas. This is a huge contrast to the ballerinas in the first scene. More titles fade in within this scene.
The imagery then once again fades back to the ballerinas; however the camera is now a slighter close up however still a Long Shot with the ballerina Head to Knees within the frames. The audience can still only hear Digenetic sound of chatting. I believe this is done so the audience can forces upon the huge difference in people within the two scenes and how different the two groups are.
The imagery then once again fades back to the ballerinas; however the camera is now a slighter close up however still a Long Shot with the ballerina Head to Knees within the frames. The audience can still only hear Digenetic sound of chatting. I believe this is done so the audience can forces upon the huge difference in people within the two scenes and how different the two groups are.
This scene is a lot shorter than the two pervious and now flashes back to ‘The Streets’ the imagery is still of a dark purple tone. Into the same slightly zoomed in Long shot.
This is when the title music final begins. At this point the subject starts dancing. The opening of music is a set of string based instruments with a strong beat. The Film Title ‘Step UP’ appears and the letters individual twists much like a dance movement. The scene then fades back to the ballet scene with the title ‘Step Up’ still in the middle of the scene.
This is when the title music final begins. At this point the subject starts dancing. The opening of music is a set of string based instruments with a strong beat. The Film Title ‘Step UP’ appears and the letters individual twists much like a dance movement. The scene then fades back to the ballet scene with the title ‘Step Up’ still in the middle of the scene.
The music suddenly gets stronger and the dance moves of the subjects also get stronger and faster. Though out the next part the scene flick between the Ballet and Street scene both in the same original colour as the images start. The camera movement include Long Shots, Slightly zoomed in Long Shots and the camera also tracks the movement of dancers. Creating a smooth movement following the Subject. I believe this is done to really entersize the beauty and movement of the dancing.
Within this group of scenes the first name of the actor appears in the Bottom right hand corner of the frames in the same style text as all the other titles. Within the stronger Dance scenes they are also lots of close ups of the dancers feet.
An important factor of the opening of Step Up is that the lighting allows the audience to not be able to see the subject’s faces. I believe this is done to the dancers are also an army of their dance form. For example to audience can relate to either group.
An important factor of the opening of Step Up is that the lighting allows the audience to not be able to see the subject’s faces. I believe this is done to the dancers are also an army of their dance form. For example to audience can relate to either group.
Miser-en-scene
Ballerinas – Light cream tones leotard and silk warm up skirts. Most of them have Pointe Shoes on, all of them have they hair tied up in a smooth bun
Street Dancers – Lots of heavy clothing, which include lots of layers. Many have hoods up or baseball caps on. The females of the group have their hair down and free
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