AS:Preliminary Documentary

I worked in a group with James Briscoe, Leanne McKee and Matthew Stringer. We worked well as a team and asked a fellow student to be the interviwee.

Pictures of us filming:

As you can see in the images above, Matthew is asking the questions. We placed him to the side of the camera so that Andy was not looking directly at the camera, instead he is looking off camera. This is used a lot in many documentaries. James is directing the light in the right position, in retrospective we should have placed the light in a better position, as it created a shadow. This made it harder when editing the blue screen out. Leanne however is directing the camera, we placed the camera so that Andy would be placed on the frame according to the rule of thirds, another convention used regularily.

In this image we tried to re do the shot, i took James' place and tried to re direct the light so that there was less shadow, as i could see it being a problem further on.

I also tried to help out with the camera, this is when we were first setting up and were trying to place him in the rule of thirds, something that we knew was imperative to our piece.

This shot shows Matt asking the questions, we placed him off camera and when we edited the piece we edited out his questions. This is continually used in documentaries.

We did a close up of how we changed the lighting so that the shadow was behind him and therefore would not be in shot.

In this image we showed the visual of what Andy could see, in this image Leanne and I are trying to sort out the way Andy is set out on the screen. We found this hard at first because we wanted it to look as proffesional as possible.


Editing



Shown here is the timeline. It is fairly easy to see the individual layers, with the still of the mobile phone on the first layer so that it shows up on the Chroma Key filter.





In the following two images, the Chroma key filter is shown. When the chroma key is put into effect the image then looks blurred.

This next image shows the Chroma Key's controls, we put them into effect when establishing the background.



Our preliminary Documentary: Is your phone your holy grail?

Please feel free to watch:



Audience Feedback Notes
They said:
- that the cutaways should all be kept in black and white
- the cutaways in black and white make the documentary look professional
- the documentary needs to be better edited, as some blue screen is shown when not intended
- some of the backgrounds do not relate to the topic being discussed
- some of the cutaways don't relate to the topic
- try and make the first background, the default background
- the documentary needs to be more professional
- good title
- no music means that there is no ambience
- the lighting was good
- the position of the interviewee was good
- he looked at the camera once, which should have been edited out

Conclusions on how to improve
- the documentary need to be more professionally edited for example the blue screen should not show at any time
- allow more time to find appropriate music
- film cutaways after filming the documentary, in order to not waste time. This way you know what cutaways to film
- try to keep the background continous in order to make it look more professional

We will try to incomporate what we have learned, in our final piece. This Preliminary task has taught me a lot on how documentaries need to be filmed and edited.

AS:Interview Planning

Mobile Phone Interviews

Our summer production task is tp plan, film and edit a documentary about mobile phones. Our suggestions:

Interviewee: Matthew

Cut-Away Shots:
Mobile Phone
Annoying Ringtone (Transition)
'Sorry, wrong number'
Someone Texting

These Cut-Away shots can be used to add relevance and interst to the piece.

Possible Titles:
Ring of Fire
Talk to Me
Hello?

Locations:
Bluescreen (useful for providing stock images, allowing a more authentic production to be created.)


1. Who will you interview? Why? Where?

We will interview Andy Touhey, we feel it would be better to interview a person that we are familiar with as we will know how to work with them. We plan to do the interview infront of the blue screen, so that we can edit in a picture behind them. This way the mise en scene will be related to the subject being discussed.

2. What cutaways will you film

- a mobile phone, perhaps one that is desirable and an example of good technology- in classroom- high angle shot/ close up, to see different features
- images of the progression of how mobile phones have changed over the years- off internet
- pictures from the past and future in society- internet
- examples of different uses for phones e.g someone walking down the corridor calling someone- corridor- long shot/pannig shot
- examples of text language- reverse angle shot/over shoulder shot
- someone using a phone in class- in classroom- zoom in
- someone using different apps on their phone e.g internet, music and calling- close up
- someone with headphones in listening to music- classroom- mid shot

3. What props/locations will you need?

- a mobile phone, perhaps one that is a good example of change in technology
- examples of past phones, both of the internet and phones we still own
- images from past and present society
- we will only use the bluescreen as a location, so we can edit things in the background after

4. Possible titles?
- The Digital Revolution


5. Possible music titles

- Lady GaGa- telephone
- Lady GaGa- videophone
- Mika- ring, ring

AS:Codes and conventions of documentary interviews

Usual codes and conventions of documentary interviews

- Interviews with different people are edited together to create a coherent narrative
- Interviewees do not look directly at the camera; instead they look at the interviewer who tends to be off camera
- Questions are edited out
- Graphics are used at the bottom of the screen to introduce the interviewee

- Cutaways are used between head shots to illustrate what's being said
- Background mise en scene is chosen to be relevant to the subject

- Green screen is often used, so that things can be edited in on Photoshop
- One person interviewed at a time
- They are usually positioned at the corner of the screen, which makes the shot look more professional
- Head of the interviewee is positioned on left or right of the screen

• When interviewed, the graphics are simple in order to not loose focus from the subject
• Experts are used if needed and always have their names included
• Conflict is introduced in the middle
• Variety of camera angles
• Voice over used if needed
• Music creates mood
• Evidence
• Mixed style
• Reconstructions
• Vox pops
• Questions asked are simple


Codes and conventions used in examples of documentary interviews

Notes on: Jaws Documentary



- Mid shot is used to show facial expressions
- The camera tends to focus on one person at a time
- Background image is used throughout; this is of a shark which is related to the topic being discussed
- The name of the interviewee is put underneath them when they are talking, some also have their profession
- The title of the documentary is made aware near to the beginning
- There is also the use of examples of props, such as a script
- The interviewees are mainly men (1 woman, this reflects the time it was made
- The use of a famous director boosts the value; Steven Spielberg is seen as one of the best directors in the world
- Statistics are also involved, such as dates the filmed on
- Cast names are used, such as actors involved
- The topic is discussed in detail

Notes on: The Simpsons Documentary



- There is the use of a narrator, to tell important facts
- Names and their profession is put under each interviewee
- Examples, such as props that were used
- The logo is also shown
- The mise en scene in the background is related to the subject, often a picture of a Simpson character they like the most
- Explain how got the names of characters, important facts are revealed
- Give example of one of the first episodes to show the difference in quality
- There are interviews of important people, such as the actors
- The actors also give examples of their voices
- The interview seems relaxed and comfortable
- Music is played in the background, mainly the famous Simpsons theme tune
- It has obviously been edited due to the back and forth between different interviewees, but the cutting is done to make the interview seem continuous.