n.e.t.w.o.r.k.i.n.g

'What is the meaning of this?'

ouch

I don't know about other people but I'm actually finding this essay not too hard.
Apart from the fact that it's a little boring to do it's not actually too hard.

oh well, the essay won't write itself, better get back to it.

there, a lovely saturday afternoon, gone, just like that.

editing sesh 2

day two of our eternal struggle

we've done pretty well today actually
I started at 1130 to sub-clip all the footage from scratch as the computer crashed yesterday and everything was lost.
(lucky we had just started yesterday)
People started turning up and soon everybody was sat and discussing over clips and what not, only thing we've got on top is we've taken sound into consideration more today

we got up to about 4 minutes of the 10 for the rough edit, looking great! but shall not be giving anything away just yet...more editing tomorrow... :'(

editing stage 1

its awful.
its insane.
its driving every single one of us up the wall.

3 hours of raw footage, excluding alternative angles (another 3 hours on top)

So far we've just chopped the big clip down to subclips of specific action and angles, generating a first edit with the rough footages.

At least then we know where we want which clip when...thereafter it should just be a matter of condensing it down to its finest essence.

"China's Stolen Children"

this is a documentary broadcasted on Channel 4 (again) - the voice of documentaries and home to alternative programs.

The story follows a detective on his job - trying to 'rescue' children who've been snatched and stolen off the streets of China and traded for money.

It involve a desperate couple trying to retrieve their beloved son; another couple who's desperate to get rid of the new born girl as she's without a birth certificate; a detective, a buyer and one of the trafficker.

As the documentary goes on, the audience slowly realizes, that human trafficking is a result of the 'ever-so-right' One Child Policy - which is now the major underlying problem of the policy.

Facts and figures are being thrown at us whilst at the same time we follow the personal stories of these people who are all somehow intricately involved in this process of trafficking.
However, the 'addressing the actual problem itself' doesn't happen til right at the end - without obvious jumps, the director has managed to build the emotive jump for the conclusion.

It's very factual and informative - almost as if the producer was trying to make a point.
I learnt things I didn't, and I took away a lesson of treasuring loved ones.

That, means its a good documentary - not only was it moving and convincing, the audience was also able to walk away remembering a lesson that was taught through the medium of a documentary.

capturing...AARRGHH

capturing is any editors' nightmare if the camera guy filmed too much.

Because we went away on a day trip to an unfamiliar place - it was best to have more on film then less just so we have more choice.

So, my mini dv JVC gave me two tapes, and the Z1 gave us 3 tapes.

It's a nightmare.
Me and Mr Director will be capturing the 3rd tape tomorrow.

I have started editing the JVC tapes, freehand and behind the scene.

Raunds? Raunds!

its late at night (got back at 10.15pm), and im tired, but I'm so excited still!
we did it.

Having nowhere close to enough sleep, we started working away at 7.30am when Liam had to get up for school.

It was a long day, and yes very hectic - but the fact is, I'm happy with what we had managed by the end of the day. It was good fun and we all enjoyed it.

Because I'm too tired right now, pictures will have to follow tomorrow or over the weekend. I have photos to upload and tapes to capture.



(for a few more - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48147&l=ce960&id=501853784)

Post production war has begun, yikes.

preping the filming day

so, the day before shooting, we called a meeting to make sure everything that needs doing is done - we're off tomorrow, the remain checklist is here

• schedule - event log needs printing out
  
• call sheet updating with hosiptal info and first aider - and printing
• storyboard needs printing out after scanning and shrinking
• interview questions updated and printed
  
• shooting log needs printing
  
• expenditure log needs printing
• all the battery charged for camera and mini dv
  

bought some spare tapes - thought we better be safe than sorry just incase the one tape we have 'doesn't work' and last minute we'll have to spend the whole day running round trying to get another.

we will be travelling down to Raunds tomorrow evening and will start filming on the Wednesday morning bright and early when Liam gets up to go to school.

"director&producer small talks - sshhh"

throughout the so far preproduction process, I'm required to have small talks with my director frequently, making sure we're on the same track and acquiring his views and so adapting them to make his vision real.

so we had another small talk - sat down and discussed a list of things that needs doing -

• checking train times, availability and prices
• doing recce, release forms, risk assessments
• detailed shooting schedule
• draw up logs such as shooting log, continuity log and event log
• shrinking and tidying up storyboards
• delegate who does what during the shoot

so I'm gonna go now, and do all the above..

"Shot Design"

(source - filmcity.tv/miseenscene)
shot analysis The first thing that caught my eye was the source of light on the right - this is because for one there is an obvious break of pattern but more importantly it is much brighter than the rest of the image - contrast. My attention was then drawn towards the characters face - this was done with a piece of 'string' - a physical(though minor) connection - and the placement of his arm, leading the attention away from the fence but towards the body. The face comparatively is not as well lit - but contrast has done it again as the character has relatively darkish hair contrasting with the paler skin.


(source - filmcity.tv/miseenscene)

Very different from the previous shot - much brighter. However though the shot is very well lit, the black uniform against the white background makes the situation almost cynical (despite the obvious expressions carried by the actors).
Very deep space and feeling very enclosed - as if you can't run away from the situation.
Diagonal lines suggests tension and the position of the black uniform males are above the 'victim' suggesting power over him.

"The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off" - Patrick Collerton

The story follows the last days of a man, Jonny Kennedy, who has a rare genetic disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa - who eventually became diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The documentary was very gripping - in such a way I almost felt it was so bizarre it can't be true.

To start the documentary, we see Jonny in has casket - v/o done prior to his death telling his thoughts. We then start on a journey where we follow his last days and sharing his mixed emotions with him.

There were a few specific things I picked up on regarding techniques involved -

• music was very mellow and calm, overall it was almost soothing and soul calming to watch - this was a twist as you would most expect the audio to be sort of sad and well, not comforting to say the least - this re-emphazises how much a difference audio makes
• have the character being engaged in a conversation - trying to hard to tell your viewers what the character now seems to me like a 'i don't know what to do, so i should play safe' type - let the audience decide and judge your character
• when talking about the background, it could be useful sometimes if montages of photos were used

The documentary sent me on an emotional journey as we see his ups and downs that he has to deal with on a daily basis. Roughly about half way through we were given details on change of dressings on his back and we see him in a lot of pain - and for the first time in the whole documentary we see our character with his head down being in so much pain.

That was a twist, a really big twist.

Somehow you knew the weaker inner self is there, but the positivity is so strong (up to this point) it then becomes almost unbearable to watch our heroic character being in pain - that is contrast very well done. You set them up high, and get them down low.

Being an inspiring documentary, the mood soon gets picked up again - tending towards the end, music were not only mellow and soothing, the beats actually started to pick up - almost as if metaphorically making the undefiable death as a relief as we find out more about his dilemma on the views of trying to stay alive.

Right at the end, the funeral was shown, and we all attended, having Jonnys' favourite music played - Queen-Don't Stop Me Now - which again, a total mis-match for the occasion.

But that again, is the contrast card that will ensure this story will stay in your heart now and always.

All in all, it was a well shot documentary, and I as the viewer had been taught a lesson I won't forget - treasure what you have.

http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/B/boy_whose_skin_fell_off/index.html

Producer - thats me

it's true what they say - everybody on the team is as important as everybody else, but I think being a producer is a very big responsibility.

according to skillset, a producer is....

'responsible for identifying and specifying an interactive media product' highlevel requirements or purpose, and ensuring that its business objectives and creative vision are understood and maintained by everybody involved in the project'

to be honest, I have no idea why they say it like that apart from making it look 'professional' because i don't understand that.

but from what I've learnt and what I know, to my own definition I think being a producer simply means you have to be very organised -

it's all about organisation and communication

Scheduling, call sheets, organising meetings, doing all the bit of paperwork, location release and shooting permissions, making sure everybody knows what the meetings are about, coming prepared and participate, at times (and to be fair most of the time) running the meetings and keeping everybody focused and not side-tracked, and most of all making sure everybody is ON TIME...its a pretty tough role but its all worth it.

I just hope everything turns out right because if they don't I am probably the one to be blamed.

documentary group meeting # 5+6

the proposal

ouch, thats tomorrow, a bit nervous to be honest

Anyhow, we had two meetings of similar nature and since it was based on the same thing I thought I'd just blog it together.

The two meetings were based on the proposal that needs to be pulled together - although we are all very clear as to what it is we're trying to achieve, it was essential that we have it established on paper so there won't be arguments lateron, something to fall back on and to keep us focused.

We sat down and talked about all the shots and have gone deeper and more detailed, planning every shot and transitions - this is much like the shooting script that would usually exist if you work on a film set but we have a small team and we have a clear objective(and a storyboard) it seems hassle to write a script.







The group proposal is all done now - thanks to the 3 hours of locking ourselves in - but now, I'm turning in to do the personal proposal on the role producer.

new video

copy right should've been an issue but I'm not re-producing to make money so..

recently i went partying with my fellow friends and i managed to take along my dv - so heres the result after the mayhem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nk-h93TNBU

book research etc

I've been reading up on producing documentaries and related topics - here are the first two books I found relavant -

1/ Technique of Documentary Film production by W.Hugh Baddeley

About the half the book wasn't relevant to what I was doing - as its a very old book, it had parts involving how to sync sound and tape etc. There were also parts involving budgeting and shooting overseas which to be fair, could have been useful but not for now.

I found this book quite useful in terms of getting my self focus so I know exactly what shots I would need to achieve the effect I'm looking for. it also contains diagrams where it was too difficult to be explained in words and be clear at the same time.

A good book full of essential fundamental. I found that stuff in the book I knew most of it in theory, however there were tips and it was useful in such a way it fills the gaps that nobody ever told you about(or that I never found out).

2/ Making Short Film by Clifford Thurlow

Comparatively this book tells you all the theory and has a LOT of history as to how the film industry started in the first place - it has sections of useful tips and bullet points, list of websites and names of organisation - useful book to gain an understanding of the industry.

documentary group meeting # 4

In this meeting we took the liberty of brainstorming - in order to create a list of questions that c ould be used for the interview.

We devided the thinking process into three key stages - past, present and future.

Seeing as we are trying to add more 'energy' into the documentary, we figured one of the two ways to achieve this would be through questions - with the other being audio.

After some discussions, I've taken all the brain-storming diagram and narrowed down to about 15 questions - we are expecting to improvise questions from answer that will be given for questions from the list.

We briefly considered the need for a shooting script - however as the nature is documentary and nothing has been planned to the detail in terms of reactions(which we cannot possible guess what they would be) we thought the storyboard was quite enough - we will however be doing a lot of cut-aways and extra filming to ensure our editor will have what he needs.

documentary meeting # 3

we took out a study room at the library at 11am...





we were all half dead, tired and worst of all, not up for any detailed discussions on anything.

the aim was to draw up the basic story board and if time allows fit in the list of shots we would like filmed. After some 15-30 minutes of settling down, we've managed to start working.



Seeing as we are actually filming in Raunds, Northampton, we cannot allow for mistakes and had to be very clear on what we were trying to achieve as we will only have one chance to get most of it right (we will probably get it all right but always leave room for errors right). It is crucial that each and every one of us in the group has a clear understanding as to what we are aiming at - we've decided to let the documentary flow as the day goes by(it will happen in the daily routine sequence)

• intro shot
• dad at home composing - what he usually do during the day, a few questions thrown in: informal interview
• montage with interview answers as audio
  
• pick kid up from school, play in the park
• 'chips on bench in park' as dinner - to show emotive caring side of fatherhood
• dad gets changed at home whilst kid gets interviewed - informal
• on the way to gig - more casual interview
• gig
• aftermath of gig

all of the above WILL be filmed however not all will be in the final edit - it's important we have more than enough clips so to allow options as to what the final edit will be.

we have a vague idea of what audios we would like but nothing has been decided and set in stone yet - we have agreed that for the final credits we will be asking Tom(our single dad) to play us a version of his songs on acoustic guitar allowing us to use music that is not only relevant, but most importantly will save us trouble with copyrights etc.
- however due to the nature of how our documentary is filmed at a travelled location we will try and concentrate on alllowing more time for the editing (hence the possibly excessive amount of footage that will be shot).







we shall conquer, watch this space