Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Friday, 11 January 2013
Progress:
Yesterday, I went to the city to meet my cousin at her work to interview her. I brought along my camera and my questions and discussed with her what the documentry was about, what the underlying questions is and what questions I'd be asking so she'd know what sort of answers I'm looking for. I asked her the question and then she'd answer and then I would film and her and she'd repeat what she's said I tried to direct her in a friendly, informal way as I wanted her to feel as relaxed as possible, so that she'd have more to say and would be more honest. Thankfully she did have a lot to say, so I got a lot of footage to work with and have already begun editing it.
I have an appointment with my head of sixth form next Wednesday to do her interview and I will get an interview with my Dad and my Nana shortly and then I will film myself introducing and concluding the documentry as soon as possible as that is what holds it altogether.
I am currently looking at a lot of documentrys to find out how I want to introduce it, whether I want to film myself while talking, or have a voice over and film something else.
I have an appointment with my head of sixth form next Wednesday to do her interview and I will get an interview with my Dad and my Nana shortly and then I will film myself introducing and concluding the documentry as soon as possible as that is what holds it altogether.
I am currently looking at a lot of documentrys to find out how I want to introduce it, whether I want to film myself while talking, or have a voice over and film something else.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Script draft:
Introduction:
Me - What would you consider feminisim? Does it have any relevance in the modern day? Many people, both men and women believe that feminism is outdated. So what is modern day feminism all about?.. Nowhere in the world do women earn equal wages to men, across Europe there is a staggering 25% pay gap between men and women. An estimated 70% of children not in education are female. Male violence is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, here in the UK 2 women every week are killed by a violent male partner. Women spend an average of £2,462 a year on beauty products and almost every single advert for anti-aging products are directed at women. So why are there still not equal rights? Why are women still not being protected from men? And why even after all this time are women spending a fortune to look good for men? I asked Janet Kane, an ex-film/news editor and how she experienced discrimination within the workplace.
Goes on to interview Miss Kane. After that follow with interview with Mrs Evans.
Me - But have things changed since then? Do young women today still feel discriminated? I've come to see Harriet at her room at the UEA, Harriet is a 20 year old University student and I've come to find out what she feels about feminism and whether she feels it has any relevance today.
Goes to on to interview Harriet.
Me - Paul is Harriet's father I ask him whether he is a feminist and whether he wanted his three daughters to grow up with equal rights.
Goes on to interview Paul.
Me -Danielle is a 22 year old university student who is doing her degree from home, whilst looking after her 3 year old daughter. I want to find out whether she has experienced any discrimination while being a young mum.
Goes on to interview Danielle.
Conclusion:
Me - What would you consider feminisim? Does it have any relevance in the modern day? Many people, both men and women believe that feminism is outdated. So what is modern day feminism all about?.. Nowhere in the world do women earn equal wages to men, across Europe there is a staggering 25% pay gap between men and women. An estimated 70% of children not in education are female. Male violence is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, here in the UK 2 women every week are killed by a violent male partner. Women spend an average of £2,462 a year on beauty products and almost every single advert for anti-aging products are directed at women. So why are there still not equal rights? Why are women still not being protected from men? And why even after all this time are women spending a fortune to look good for men? I asked Janet Kane, an ex-film/news editor and how she experienced discrimination within the workplace.
Goes on to interview Miss Kane. After that follow with interview with Mrs Evans.
Me - But have things changed since then? Do young women today still feel discriminated? I've come to see Harriet at her room at the UEA, Harriet is a 20 year old University student and I've come to find out what she feels about feminism and whether she feels it has any relevance today.
Goes to on to interview Harriet.
Me - Paul is Harriet's father I ask him whether he is a feminist and whether he wanted his three daughters to grow up with equal rights.
Goes on to interview Paul.
Me -Danielle is a 22 year old university student who is doing her degree from home, whilst looking after her 3 year old daughter. I want to find out whether she has experienced any discrimination while being a young mum.
Goes on to interview Danielle.
Conclusion:
Roles:
I am interviewing my head of sixth form on sexism within the workplace and how it still exists today, because she is high up within a high school and will have a lot of experience in this area. She has also expressed an interest in this documentry and believe she has a lot to say on the matter, this is great as I want my interviewee's to have as much to say on the matter as possible as that will give me more footage to work with and will give me a fuller documentry.
I am also interviewing my Nana, as she worked within the film business, but was sacked when they found out she was a single mother, so she has a lot to say about discrimination within the work place and how she was treated.
I am also going to be interviewing my 20 year old sister, who is at university, on her views of feminism and whether it has any relevance today. I know she has a strong opinion about her own rights and her position within society and I think she would be a powerful representation of young women today.
I'll be interviewing my friend who is 22 and had a child at 18. I will be asking her how she feels about feminism and how she thinks the rights that women have today have either limited her or liberated her as a young mum.
I will also be interviewing my dad and asking him whether he is a feminist and whether he's come across discrimination towards females whilst raising three girls and whether he wanted his daughters to grow up believing in equal rights for women.
I am also interviewing my Nana, as she worked within the film business, but was sacked when they found out she was a single mother, so she has a lot to say about discrimination within the work place and how she was treated.
I am also going to be interviewing my 20 year old sister, who is at university, on her views of feminism and whether it has any relevance today. I know she has a strong opinion about her own rights and her position within society and I think she would be a powerful representation of young women today.
I'll be interviewing my friend who is 22 and had a child at 18. I will be asking her how she feels about feminism and how she thinks the rights that women have today have either limited her or liberated her as a young mum.
I will also be interviewing my dad and asking him whether he is a feminist and whether he's come across discrimination towards females whilst raising three girls and whether he wanted his daughters to grow up believing in equal rights for women.
Monday, 17 December 2012
The use of narration
examples of some good short films with narration:
http://34st.com/2012/03/short-and-sweet-the-best-narrative-short-films-from-sxsw/
Voice-Over Narration as an Active Agent in Film
The use of voice-over narration can and has been used in film to help convey greater depth and meaning to the audience. Whereas on the one hand, there are some who see it as a crutch when the director or writer is unable to move along the storyline effectively within a given scene; yet on the other however, when it is used effectively, voice-over narration can be inserted as an active agent to help provide greater impact and understanding to the audience in a way that a complex actor’s performance or scenery cannot convey. It is within this context that this essay will explore individual examples of voice-over narration from select films in which both sides of the issue will be explored; by not simply analyzing each voice-over narration example as either good or bad, but looking deeper at how the context and overall delivery affect the films, scenes and actors within.
To begin with, a proper definition of voice-over narration in film must be established, “Narration, or voice-over, is used in both documentary and fiction. It may be used to deliver information, provide the point of view of an unseen character, or allow an onscreen character to comment on the action.”(Ascher and Pincus 493) Put more simply, “A narrative text is a text in which an agent relates (‘tells’) a story in a particular medium, such as language, imagery, sound, buildings, or a combination thereof.” (Bal 5) By using this standard, multiple methods of providing voice-over narration in film can be utilized to help tell their respective stories, “In documentary filmmaking some of the key stylistic questions relate to how much the filmmaker attempts to control or interact with the subjects, and to the way information is conveyed in the movie.” (Ascher and Pincus 332)
The style adopted by U.K. documentarians such as John Grierson in the 1930s and 1940s is a kind of hybrid that can involve staged events and real people (non-actors)…Many of these films use a ‘voice of God’ narration-the authoritative male voice that provides factual information and often spells out the message intended for the viewer to take from the film. (Ascher and Pincus 333)
http://34st.com/2012/03/short-and-sweet-the-best-narrative-short-films-from-sxsw/
Voice-Over Narration as an Active Agent in Film
The use of voice-over narration can and has been used in film to help convey greater depth and meaning to the audience. Whereas on the one hand, there are some who see it as a crutch when the director or writer is unable to move along the storyline effectively within a given scene; yet on the other however, when it is used effectively, voice-over narration can be inserted as an active agent to help provide greater impact and understanding to the audience in a way that a complex actor’s performance or scenery cannot convey. It is within this context that this essay will explore individual examples of voice-over narration from select films in which both sides of the issue will be explored; by not simply analyzing each voice-over narration example as either good or bad, but looking deeper at how the context and overall delivery affect the films, scenes and actors within.
To begin with, a proper definition of voice-over narration in film must be established, “Narration, or voice-over, is used in both documentary and fiction. It may be used to deliver information, provide the point of view of an unseen character, or allow an onscreen character to comment on the action.”(Ascher and Pincus 493) Put more simply, “A narrative text is a text in which an agent relates (‘tells’) a story in a particular medium, such as language, imagery, sound, buildings, or a combination thereof.” (Bal 5) By using this standard, multiple methods of providing voice-over narration in film can be utilized to help tell their respective stories, “In documentary filmmaking some of the key stylistic questions relate to how much the filmmaker attempts to control or interact with the subjects, and to the way information is conveyed in the movie.” (Ascher and Pincus 332)
The style adopted by U.K. documentarians such as John Grierson in the 1930s and 1940s is a kind of hybrid that can involve staged events and real people (non-actors)…Many of these films use a ‘voice of God’ narration-the authoritative male voice that provides factual information and often spells out the message intended for the viewer to take from the film. (Ascher and Pincus 333)
Cartoon short film with narration by Tim Burton
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
9 tips how to make a documentry:
1) Watch documentary movies. Go see them on the big screen if you can. If not, then hit your local video store or join Netflix or Greencine to get movies mailed to your door. You can even watch them online at sites like FourDocs and the Documentary Film Network. Learn what makes or breaks a documentary film. Think about what kinds of documentary films you like. Learn the various genres and filmmaking styles. For example, Michael Moore's filmmaking style is very different than Ken Burns' filmmaking style.
2) Before you begin your project, think of the END first: Where is this documentary going to be shown (or where do you envision it being shown)? Who is your targeted/primary audience? Answering these questions helps you determine the content, tone, style and length of your film.
3) Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4) Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5) Use your own music – Unless there is a very specific reason to use a specific piece of music, it can be a huge hassle and expense to obtain music rights. I had to negotiate a deal with each publisher and record company of each piece of music used in my documentary. I was grateful that at least that two thirds of the music of my documentary was originally composed.
6) Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
7) Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
8) Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9)Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
2) Before you begin your project, think of the END first: Where is this documentary going to be shown (or where do you envision it being shown)? Who is your targeted/primary audience? Answering these questions helps you determine the content, tone, style and length of your film.
3) Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4) Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5) Use your own music – Unless there is a very specific reason to use a specific piece of music, it can be a huge hassle and expense to obtain music rights. I had to negotiate a deal with each publisher and record company of each piece of music used in my documentary. I was grateful that at least that two thirds of the music of my documentary was originally composed.
6) Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
7) Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
8) Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9)Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
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