You need to have the following to show that your shooting was well organised and planned to fulfil the concept:
Treatment: Para1. concept; Para2. how the film will be constructed; Para 3. how the film will appeal to audience.
Chapter planning: A plan showing how your documentary will deliver the concept/ sequences/chapters/sections giving an overall structure/argument
Storyboard: The storyboard should show each shot (frame and camera movement) alongside the sound (voiceover, music, SFX)
Scripts: Your film will have some kind of narration, voiceover, to camera piece which links the chapters and explains the 'purpose' of the piece
Questions: You need to show that you planned the questions before you conducted your interviews
Monday 25 January 2010
LO1 - Documentary Techniques
In your portfolio you need to include a page or two to explain what each of these terms/ techniques are:
- Two Shot
- Noddy
- Over the Shoulder Shot
- Cutaway
- Interviewer
- Interviewee
- Looking off-camera
- Rule of Thirds
You could use still images to illustrate your ideas (google them, or draw your own), but you must explain what the technique is and why you might use it.
LO1 - 'Louis and the Nazis' compared to 'This England'
'Louis and the Nazis' was a documentary shown as part of a series in 2003 where Louis Theroux visited various odd people (racists; wrestlers; swingers) to learn more about their lifestyle. It uses a presenter (Louis, who also speaks through voice-overs) to guide us through the documentary, influencing our view. It is made in a style that is known as a particpatory documentary, because the presenter participates with the people that the film is about.
'This England' was a documentary from 1977 about a nightclub (Wigan Casino) in the north of England. It used interviews and footage of people at the nightclub, as well as footage of the local area, to give an insight into the lives of the people who used the club.
Watch the two clips below and create a Venn diagram comparing the two clips in terms of the documentary techniques that they use. The information in this page will help you: take the words at the top of the sheet and put them into a Venn Diagram in your portfolio.
'This England' was a documentary from 1977 about a nightclub (Wigan Casino) in the north of England. It used interviews and footage of people at the nightclub, as well as footage of the local area, to give an insight into the lives of the people who used the club.
Watch the two clips below and create a Venn diagram comparing the two clips in terms of the documentary techniques that they use. The information in this page will help you: take the words at the top of the sheet and put them into a Venn Diagram in your portfolio.
LO1 - Investigating representations of Britain
Do you remember way back last year when we watched:
To remind yourself of the films, watch these clips and read my comments after each one.
This Is England
If I were to be writing about this, I'd comment on the way the grainy footage and the bleak mise-en-scene (grafitti; old cars; dirty streets; council estates) represent Britain as run-down and derelict. I'd also make notes on the way the colours are quite drab and greay, making the place seem murky and depressed. There's also some great contrast between the glamorous world on the TV clips of people dancing/ enjoying themselves in brightly coloured clothes, compared to the everyday shots of the places where real people lived.
This film represents Britain as a depressed, dark and sad place.
About A Girl
Like 'This is England', About A Girl is a film that aims for gritty realism and seeks to show the dirty side of Britain. If I were to be writing about this film, I'd comment on the way that the handheld camera makes the film seem less stable (and therefore makes the girl seem less stable) and the way that it lingers on depressed moments. I'd also look at the way the choppy editing makes the video (and the girl) seem more fragmented and fractured. Also - look at the locations that are used: old terraces; derelict warehouses and post-industrial places; dirty canals; a run-down pub; a windy football field. These locations show that Britain is derelict and broken. The representation of Britain in this film is similar to the representation in 'This is England', and I would make comparisons between them.
Notting Hill
'Notting Hill' represents Britain in a totally different way. The smooth camerawork and smooth editing make the place (and the character) seem more composed and together. The bright colours make Britain seem vibrant and cheerful. The abundance of flowers and blue sky, as well as the diversity and smart locations, all emphasise the cheer of Britain.
- This is England?
- About A Girl?
- Notting Hill?
To remind yourself of the films, watch these clips and read my comments after each one.
This Is England
If I were to be writing about this, I'd comment on the way the grainy footage and the bleak mise-en-scene (grafitti; old cars; dirty streets; council estates) represent Britain as run-down and derelict. I'd also make notes on the way the colours are quite drab and greay, making the place seem murky and depressed. There's also some great contrast between the glamorous world on the TV clips of people dancing/ enjoying themselves in brightly coloured clothes, compared to the everyday shots of the places where real people lived.
This film represents Britain as a depressed, dark and sad place.
About A Girl
Like 'This is England', About A Girl is a film that aims for gritty realism and seeks to show the dirty side of Britain. If I were to be writing about this film, I'd comment on the way that the handheld camera makes the film seem less stable (and therefore makes the girl seem less stable) and the way that it lingers on depressed moments. I'd also look at the way the choppy editing makes the video (and the girl) seem more fragmented and fractured. Also - look at the locations that are used: old terraces; derelict warehouses and post-industrial places; dirty canals; a run-down pub; a windy football field. These locations show that Britain is derelict and broken. The representation of Britain in this film is similar to the representation in 'This is England', and I would make comparisons between them.
Notting Hill
'Notting Hill' represents Britain in a totally different way. The smooth camerawork and smooth editing make the place (and the character) seem more composed and together. The bright colours make Britain seem vibrant and cheerful. The abundance of flowers and blue sky, as well as the diversity and smart locations, all emphasise the cheer of Britain.
Camera Logs
You need to complete 4 further camera logs in addition to the ones you have already filmed.
1. Describe how you developed your initial ideas and try to describe the stages you went through in developing the concept. What was your first idea and why and how did the concept develop?
2. Think about the technical skills you have developed during the making of your documentary.
Think about the following areas of:
1. Describe how you developed your initial ideas and try to describe the stages you went through in developing the concept. What was your first idea and why and how did the concept develop?
2. Think about the technical skills you have developed during the making of your documentary.
Think about the following areas of:
- camera shots, movement and composition when you were filming.
- diegetic and non diegetic sound used in post production.
- editing skills.
Comment on:
- what you did well
- what you did that didn't work well
- what you would do next time.
3. What problems did you encounter in making the video? Comment on the following areas:
- Planning - developing the concept, deciding on roles, planning the filming days
- Production management - organising and coordinating the location, cast, crew, props and costumes. Unforeseen problems that arose during filming and how you solved them. An assessment of how these problems and solutions affected the final piece.
- Post-production - comment on how you used your footage in the editing process. What footage worked well and what did you feel you could have shot additionally to improve the final piece? What other elements did you need in post production? Eg: titles, music
4. A final evaluation of the documentary. You should comment on the process and the final product.
- the final piece and how effectively it has conveyed the concept
- production values and whether you feel there were aspects of planning and organisation that affected the final piece
- technical aspects of the final piece and an evaluation of how you could develop your technical skills to improve a final piece
- an evaluation of the team work of the production group and how the dynamics of the team affected the final piece
- how the final piece has been received by audiences and whether the reaction was the one you intended in planning the concept.
LO1 - How have new technologies changed film-making in recent years?
Think about these things:
Take a look at this. Colour in each of the boxes at the top of the page and match these up with the boxes underneath to show what effect the technologies had.
Here's an example of the kind of thing you need to create. You need to make the PowerPoint with one slide per development, and then put the print out into your portfolio.
- YouTube
- Cheap and easy-to-use digital cameras
- Cheaper and easy-to-use editing
- Mobile phone cameras
Take a look at this. Colour in each of the boxes at the top of the page and match these up with the boxes underneath to show what effect the technologies had.
Here's an example of the kind of thing you need to create. You need to make the PowerPoint with one slide per development, and then put the print out into your portfolio.
This blog
This blog will provide you with guidance and materials to turn your Record process portfolio in to something brilliant. Follow it's every word.
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