I begun this assignment by brainstorming ideas. I made a list of things i'm interested in, which included things like food, pets and Pokémon. I toyed with the idea of doing a documentary about cats vs. dogs, made up of interviews from people asking them about their pets and footage filmed of their pets being cute or funny. I'm going to keep this as my backup plan as I think it could be quite uninteresting if not done well.
Instead I am wanting to make a documentary about my friend Vicky. She's not remarkably interesting, but I feel it would be interesting to have an insight into an 18 year old girls life. She has her own house and funds herself through her job at a fruit shop in Stokesley. It would be interesting to see how much of herself she reveals to me and the camera. However, I am unsure if Vicky will go along with this as she would probably find this idea weird and stupid so I will have to convince her and ensure I have her permission before I begin filming.
However, as I had a bit more thought into what my documentary could be about, I decided to make it about the culture of weed in todays society, particularly with young people. I chose this idea as I feel it could be interesting, however I also want it to be informative and whilst stating the negative effects of smoking cannabis such as causing psychosis, paranoia and anxiety I also want to show how it is embedded within youth culture and can have positive effects such as bringing friends together and making people laugh and be happy. I also want to show how despite the common belief that weed is not addictive, I want to also show how many people become dependent on it as a social lubricant and almost feel unable to function normally without it.
Date
|
Process
|
25/2/2015
|
Planning
and initial research – collate research into single document/folder +
create schedule (2/2.5 hours)
|
26/2/2015
|
Complete
all prep for Task One (2/2.5 Hours)
|
Week
One Homework
|
Location
recces, finding and conducting primary research
interviews with people who may appear in the documentary. Write Synopsis for
show (3 Hours)
|
3/3/2015
|
Complete
writing up of Task One – Start Pre-Production for Shoot: Risk
Assessment, Contacts List, Equipment List and Booking
Gather Media resources (public domain
clips/photos/music) (2/2.5 Hours)
|
4/3/2015
|
Complete
Show Bibles – Genre Chosen (with explanation of
why); Development of your idea (and the research that led to this); Synopsis;
Research for programme (primary and secondary); Legal
Considerations; Pre-Production Planning (Script for narration, location
photos, shooting schedule, equipment lists and booking form, consent forms
from person interviewed, risk assessments for each shoot) (2/2.5 Hours)
|
Week
Two Homework
|
Shoot
interviews and other footage (4 – 5 Hours)
|
11/3/2015
|
Post
Production (Picture Edit) (2/2.5 Hours) +
additional homework time
|
12/3/2015
|
Post
Production (Audio) (2/2.5 hours) + additional homework time
|
Week
Two Homework
|
Complete
Task Three (Production Diary) (2+ hours)
|
Now I've created my plan, I will go on to create my show bible. I wrote a synopsis of my documentary, including the concept of it and what it will include, who I will interview and the kind of questions I will ask them. My next step is to conduct some primary research through brief interviews with people asking them about their opinion on cannabis in general, whether they use it, how often, what they think of it and so on and so forth.
Research
I begun by asking some people I knew if they would want to be involved in the film to ensure I had people to feature in my documentary. I then begum conducting primary research into what people think about the subject in general. I filmed my friends Cameron and Penny, asking them these questions. They both agreed to be filmed for my research, and I kept a note of their names in case I decide to use this footage in my film in which case they will need to sign a clearance. I also interviewed John using the voice recorder on my phone (he did not want to be filmed, but agreed I could use a voice interview as research) asking his opinion, which was helpful as it contrasted with Penny and Cameron’s opinions.
John's views that cannabis use is acceptable as long as people don't overdo it is an interesting view compared with Cameron, who felt cannabis is completely unacceptable and said he will never do it in his life, and Penny who said she can see why some people would want to use it and how they can enjoy it but feels she will never use it herself. All 3 of these people were between the ages of 16 and 19, so this research shows that even people within a similar demographic have massively differing opinions on the subject. It is a highly controversial matter, so I'm hoping by gaining many different opinions my documentary will be thought provoking and interesting.
I then went to one of the locations I want to use for my documentary, and took a few quick recordings on my phone as tests to see how it would work in my film. I also took a few shots of some of the people I would like to appear in my film. I chose to film them whilst they were just sat doing their normal thing, listening to their conversations and watching how they acted whilst they were smoking cannabis. Through listening back through these recordings, I will be able to think of techniques to use and questions to ask when 'interviewing' them, to try and make it more natural and conversation like. I want it to be a truthful and real insight, and hopefully this will help me achieve that.
I then went on to conduct secondary research, in the form of looking on the internet at different articles, I watched the TV program ‘Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial’ which was shown on channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/info/press/programme-information/drugs-live-cannabis). From this I found a lot of vital information, such as the scientific effects it has on your brain, such as the certain parts it activates, and how extensive use can lead to psychosis and even the development of schizophrenia or other related illnesses. I also read this article, http://www.drugscience.org.uk/blog/2013/10/24/think-cannabis-harmless-no-does-anyone-what-about-propagating-drug-hysteria-harmless/ which really interestingly goes into cannabis and it’s effects in depth, whilst also trying to diminish the way in which media propagates drug hysteria, and how that equally has a harmful effect on people. All of this is handy information I can use in my documentary, and from the article I printed it out and went through it highlighting any bits I found particularly relevant and interesting to my documentary, and that I could use in the script for voice over.
From the research I then went on to create the show bible. The show bible included a synopsis for my documentary, a concept, specified the target audience, research, legal considerations, risk assessment and the script for the narration of my documentary.
I then went on to shoot the footage. I already had some footage I had filmed using my phone as part of my research, which would be useable as b roll. I did a couple of interviews with my friends asking them questions about cannabis. I wanted it to feel natural when watched and as though it was just a conversation. I also then went on to interview my Aunty asking her similar quesitons, which I think will be interesting as she is an adult and will have different thoughts on it too children.
I wanted to conduct an interview with Catherine Mulligan, who works for the NHS with the Early Intervention in Psychosis team. She would have a really good insight into the subject of cannabis and its impact on your health and particularly mental health. Her opinion would also contrast with that of all the people I have already interviewed, who were all quite pro cannabis. However at the last minute she said she didn't want to be interviewed, so instead I am going to write out a script and talk over some of the footage I have taken. If I also use clips of found footage, hopefully this will still work.
Though this set me back a bit, it was lucky I had already conducted a lot of research and had some prior knowledge in the subject area in order to write this voice over script. I plan to use a zoom mic to record my voice over.
I found some found footage on www.archive.org and used that in my film. I then went on to edit my film using Adobe Premiere Pro. The main problem I encountered when editing was that some of my footage had bad audio, it was distorted and music could be heard playing in the background. I tidied this up as much as I could using Adobe Audition.
Once I'd exported I uploaded the documentary to vimeo. Overall I feel that extra time to complete the film would have helped. Despite thorough planning and sticking to a tight schedule, the time frame given did not allow much contingency time in the event of something going wrong; in my case the person I wanted to interview changing their mind and some of the footage I shot being of poor quality. Better time management on my behalf and planning in the case of my footage being of a poor and nowhere near professional quality.
Research
I begun by asking some people I knew if they would want to be involved in the film to ensure I had people to feature in my documentary. I then begum conducting primary research into what people think about the subject in general. I filmed my friends Cameron and Penny, asking them these questions. They both agreed to be filmed for my research, and I kept a note of their names in case I decide to use this footage in my film in which case they will need to sign a clearance. I also interviewed John using the voice recorder on my phone (he did not want to be filmed, but agreed I could use a voice interview as research) asking his opinion, which was helpful as it contrasted with Penny and Cameron’s opinions.
John's voice interview
Penny and Cameron's interview
John's views that cannabis use is acceptable as long as people don't overdo it is an interesting view compared with Cameron, who felt cannabis is completely unacceptable and said he will never do it in his life, and Penny who said she can see why some people would want to use it and how they can enjoy it but feels she will never use it herself. All 3 of these people were between the ages of 16 and 19, so this research shows that even people within a similar demographic have massively differing opinions on the subject. It is a highly controversial matter, so I'm hoping by gaining many different opinions my documentary will be thought provoking and interesting.
I then went to one of the locations I want to use for my documentary, and took a few quick recordings on my phone as tests to see how it would work in my film. I also took a few shots of some of the people I would like to appear in my film. I chose to film them whilst they were just sat doing their normal thing, listening to their conversations and watching how they acted whilst they were smoking cannabis. Through listening back through these recordings, I will be able to think of techniques to use and questions to ask when 'interviewing' them, to try and make it more natural and conversation like. I want it to be a truthful and real insight, and hopefully this will help me achieve that.
I then went on to conduct secondary research, in the form of looking on the internet at different articles, I watched the TV program ‘Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial’ which was shown on channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/info/press/programme-information/drugs-live-cannabis). From this I found a lot of vital information, such as the scientific effects it has on your brain, such as the certain parts it activates, and how extensive use can lead to psychosis and even the development of schizophrenia or other related illnesses. I also read this article, http://www.drugscience.org.uk/blog/2013/10/24/think-cannabis-harmless-no-does-anyone-what-about-propagating-drug-hysteria-harmless/ which really interestingly goes into cannabis and it’s effects in depth, whilst also trying to diminish the way in which media propagates drug hysteria, and how that equally has a harmful effect on people. All of this is handy information I can use in my documentary, and from the article I printed it out and went through it highlighting any bits I found particularly relevant and interesting to my documentary, and that I could use in the script for voice over.
From the research I then went on to create the show bible. The show bible included a synopsis for my documentary, a concept, specified the target audience, research, legal considerations, risk assessment and the script for the narration of my documentary.
I then went on to shoot the footage. I already had some footage I had filmed using my phone as part of my research, which would be useable as b roll. I did a couple of interviews with my friends asking them questions about cannabis. I wanted it to feel natural when watched and as though it was just a conversation. I also then went on to interview my Aunty asking her similar quesitons, which I think will be interesting as she is an adult and will have different thoughts on it too children.
I wanted to conduct an interview with Catherine Mulligan, who works for the NHS with the Early Intervention in Psychosis team. She would have a really good insight into the subject of cannabis and its impact on your health and particularly mental health. Her opinion would also contrast with that of all the people I have already interviewed, who were all quite pro cannabis. However at the last minute she said she didn't want to be interviewed, so instead I am going to write out a script and talk over some of the footage I have taken. If I also use clips of found footage, hopefully this will still work.
Though this set me back a bit, it was lucky I had already conducted a lot of research and had some prior knowledge in the subject area in order to write this voice over script. I plan to use a zoom mic to record my voice over.
I found some found footage on www.archive.org and used that in my film. I then went on to edit my film using Adobe Premiere Pro. The main problem I encountered when editing was that some of my footage had bad audio, it was distorted and music could be heard playing in the background. I tidied this up as much as I could using Adobe Audition.
Once I'd exported I uploaded the documentary to vimeo. Overall I feel that extra time to complete the film would have helped. Despite thorough planning and sticking to a tight schedule, the time frame given did not allow much contingency time in the event of something going wrong; in my case the person I wanted to interview changing their mind and some of the footage I shot being of poor quality. Better time management on my behalf and planning in the case of my footage being of a poor and nowhere near professional quality.
