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My Documentary’s Research

Overall, I feel that my research and planning documents have helped me gain understanding in what I need to know when filming and created a clearer image of what I need to do on the day of filming. I have a better idea of what sound and lighting set-up I want to use, how to make my story come across in the way I want it to and specifically how I should go about filming sport. I know what music I would like to use in my documentary and how I will fit this around the story. I have gained some great ideas for shots and sequences I can film which I think will work well in the editing suite. I have obtained sufficient information on Health and Safety and also Legal Restraints that I can follow to make my film safely. I have also provided some footage from Leah that I plan to use in my film that can show her background and things she has partaken in. I feel that I have know what message I want to portray in my film and how to convey this through my film-making. 

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I considered using this music for my film but found it was sad than hopeful and didn't think it fitted as well as my chosen music.

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Recce and Risk Assessment

I have been to all locations I plan to film at and analysed if they would work well for my film. I have filled out both documents for all my locations and this highlighted any health or safety risks I should be aware of. 

This includes:

Electricity- Making sure there are outlets to plug in equipment such as lights and sound. Making sure you use an RCD Adapter so it can prevent fires or shocks and helps absorb energy from each voltage transmission. This is a safer way to work

Lighting- Making sure there is frequent daylight available so you aren’t lighting a pitch black room. 

Wires- Wiring is the main trip hazard whilst filming. There are lots of wires when filming on set so making sure that there is a reduced risk in tripping by placing your wires carefully or taping them down is vital.

These are just some examples of what I found by doing this and I was satisfied by all my locations. I will continue to use these locations on my filming day.

[gemmacogc]

After searching through Youtube’s Audio Library, which is all copyright free music, I spent time listening to each song and imagining what it would be like in my film. I wanted to make sure I found a song that fitted well with my documentary meaning and wouldn't ruin the message. I didn't want any vocals to be present within the music as I thought it would distract the viewer and take away from the message. I always imagined a piano based song and I feel this one will work well with my documentary as it is the perfect length to run throughout my whole film if I wanted it to. The music also modifies and adds to the rhythm to make it more interesting. I think this will work well as in my documentary I want to show the progression of Leah’s dancing and the music replicates this.

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Health and Safety

https://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/theatre-tv/film.htm

https://www.filmsourcing.com/filmmaking-health-safety-keeping-your-cast-and-crew-safe/

Health and Safety of both the crew and contributor is vital in any production you partake in. I want to make sure I can provide the best health and safety for my crew and interviewee. Having trip hazards on set can have a detrimental effect on your film and the process of your shoot.

The main things to ensure whilst filming include:

a basic but essential step is making sure the bags for equipment aren’t lying in the way of crew. The crew are focused on setting up the kit and leaving kit lying at your feet can cause a trip hazard.

Ensure that wires are safely placed and if possible tape down them or use a wire hider to ensure nobody will be at risk of injuring themselves or damaging the kit. 

Lights can be very hot over time and can make you feel very unwell. When filming under bright lights over an extended period of time it is best to take some breaks to avoid headaches, dizziness or dehydration. 

After analysing both these websites advice and guidelines, I feel I know exactly what I have to do to keep myself, my crew and contributor safe on set.

[gemmacogc]

This video was very helpful and informative in showing a full set-up of creating the best sound for an interview. This has cleared any worries and confusion I had about sound before watching it. Although, some of these techniques will not be necessary, it is still beneficial to learn these techniques. I will definitely take some of these tips forward into my film.

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I have created a documentary pitch to help explain to my peers what my programme is about and what I intend to do before my shoot.

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I wanted to look into what different commissioners are keen for content creators to be making. BBC Three would be an ideal commissioner for my documentary as they are keen to target their work at 16-24 year olds.

BBC Three are looking for content that are specifically made for this generation and that you could not imagine it on any other platform. I feel that my documentary could be very inspiring to this age group and would fit in well with BBC’s target.

My film is aiming to show inspiration to younger people who may be lost on what they want to do in life. They may be undecided whether to pursue their passion or just find something more convenient. This can be comforting to young people to show they are not alone in being unsure in what to do. Leah is very passionate and determined in her performing so I think her enthusiastic personality should resonate well with a young audience. BBC wants their content to “resonate with young people and tackle issues important to them”. I feel a program like this can spark a teenagers imagination. I think this can help young people to find something they are keen to get involved in and stick at it. Pursuing a career like musical theatre like Leah intends to is some people’s hobbies or even dreams. Showing that you can achieve this with hard work and determination is key to achieving what you want in life.

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This documentary is about US fencer Nzingha Prescod, named after Queen Nzingha from Angola who was a warrior queen. The documentary shows how she trains and how she has got herself into the position she is now, #2 women’s foil fencer in the US. She has been training with Peter Westbrook since she was 9 and he is a well known legend in the fencing industry for his diversity. He fenced at a time when black fencers were banned and was distraught by this so he started a foundation to introduce inner city kids to fencing.

Things I enjoyed in the documentary

What really impressed me in this film was the attention to detail in both cinematography and storyline. It is clear that the story was well thought out before even heading to the shoot. Each location present within the film worked effectively and drove the story forward.

A scene that really stood out to me from the whole film was the train scene when she was travelling to her training. The message behind this scene was to show that fencing is always on her mind. It’s all she thinks about everyday 24/7. I feel the way the film makers portrayed this was outstanding. Having a voiceover which includes her repeating her steps as if it is a routine in her head helped to show her passion and determination to do well. Her focus for making sure she is connected to the subject and that every movement is precise is well shown in this sequence. They also show her fencing through the windows of the train as if she is fully imagining herself in that moment. I feel that this scene was the main thing that gained my attention and motivated me even more to film my documentary on a sport.

Personally, I found the start of the film very successful as I was immediately drawn into the storyline as the sound gradually increased and as she walks into the spotlight she becomes in focus. This was a dramatic start to the film but paid off well as I feel it grabs the viewers attention straight away. I also found that the close-up shot of her helmet was very well shot, revealing the texture of her suit and then pull focusing to reveal her eyes under the armour. Cinematography within this film was highly successful. I like the idea of using sound to draw in the viewer as I think it is really engaging. I plan to use this technique when I film my documentary with Leah and maybe use the sound of her tap shoes.

I think showing all aspects of a professional athlete is very important. Thinking of what the viewer would want to see is key as everyone gets to see them in the spotlight but revealing their background can increase interest in your film. Showing her life at home really benefitted the film. Her mum was very strict on her, making her do press-ups etc when she had been bad. I found this helped cover all bases people would be interested in which is key in storytelling.

The main message that comes across in this film is Nzingha’s determination and passion for fencing. She is very resilient and motivated at all times. I was interested to know whilst watching this documentary what made her so determined and how she didn’t want to give up. She had idols to look up to who she saw were training so hard and coming back with gold medals. This inspired her to keep going and that anyone can do it as long as you believe in yourself. Her dream is to be one of those idols. The end of this documentary signifies how her dream has progressed and that in 2015 she was the first African-American woman to win an individual medal at the Senior World Championships. The following year she was due to progress onto the Summer Olympics being the first African-American woman to do so. 

The last minute or so of the documentary does not feature any more interview audio and just shows Nzingha fencing. I think this was an effective end to the film as it showed her doing exactly what she enjoys and in a match instead of training. 

Overall, I was truly inspired by this documentary with 3 main factors that stood out to me; Cinematography, Storytelling and her motivation. This documentary has gave me so many ideas and inspiration that i can take forward into my own documentary.

[gemmacogc]

This video was great to give me some help if I find my footage is not coming out clear and the way I want to on shoot and what I can change on my camera settings. Being creative with your shots and making sure you show how fun the chosen sport is. Creating effective transitions would work well in the edit and through sport you have plenty of options to do this.

[gemmacogc]

I found this video very useful as it gave me some ideas to think about whilst filming. The most useful tip in this video was editing in your head whilst filming. Thinking about what angles to use and knowing when to switch angles. This can help manage time-keeping as well as you will know when the time is right to move onto the next location.

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Legal Constraints

Before making my documentary, there are some legal constraints I have had to learn so that I am legally allowed to create my documentary. There are also some legal stages within editing that apply to my film that I will have to abide by. In order to make sure I follow these steps correctly, I have been researching legal constraints relevant to my programme and ensuring I am following this. I found that https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/consent/ was the best website for conscise and accurate information.

As I will be filming sections of my film in public, I need to make sure no other members of the public are in my shot, otherwise I would have to make it aware to any members in shot that they are being filmed and have a consent form signed. According to BBC’s Editorial Guidelines, this is known as “Uninvited Contributors” who are “individuals caught up in the production process”. As I plan to film at the Kelpies in the early morning, it should be quiet and I shouldn’t have bother having nobody else in shot.

The Editorial Guidelines state, “Wherever practicable we should obtain consent in a form capable of proof, which may include a consent form, an email exchange, a recording, or a contemporaneous note of the consent conversation.”

Before filming my subject I have to ensure I have a signed consent form from my interviewee so that I have documented proof that they have agreed to being apart of my film. This is useful so if any issues come up that your contributor was to say they never agreed to it, you have physical proof of agreement. I think that a consent form is the most reliable source of proof so I have used that. I have also received an email from Leah that signifies her giving permission to use any photos or videos she has submitted to be apart of the film.

Similar to my last point, it is important to make sure you have a location agreement in place if you are filming somewhere that is owned by someone else. I am planning on filming in two locations so In order to film there I will have to get both locations signed off by the person who owns the building. Ensuring I have this before filming is ideal as then I film as soon as I arrive to this location. Going to your desired location before shooting to take a risk assessment and reccee of the part you will be filming in is crucial as this can help you decide if this is a good location to film in. This can include things like is there enough daylight in the room, is there any overwhelming sound that could interrupt the film and is the location visually pleasing (leading lines etc). 

After looking into the BBC Editorial Guidelines, I have found there are several types of contributors and Leah falls into the category of Invited Contributors. According to the website, “Invited Contributors are those who have been asked to take part in our programmes in advance of making their contribution and who are not responsible for criminal or anti-social behaviour which we are exposing in the public interest”. There are 3 different types of invited contributors; straightforward, vulnerable and collaborative. Straightforward is the category my film would fall into as it is not a sensitive subject or could impact their life with a controversial nature.

As you have received consent from the contributor to use the footage you have the right to use it how you wish. However, you are in charge of how your contributor is portrayed so remaining courteous is very important. Checking with the contributor after filming to see if they are happy with everything they said and if there is anything they do not want included in the final cut. Making sure you portray your interviewee in the right light is essential to avoid claims of mitigation. The interviewee has provided you with their story and opened down a barrier to their privacy. In my opinion, abusing this power is very unfaithful and cruel.  After looking into this, I found on the website https://theclearancelab.com/protect-film-libel/ ways to protect your film from libel and defamation. Although it is not possible to protect your film from all claims, the best way to protect your film is to get a script clearance report. This can help avoid a costly lawsuit. 

[gemmacogc]

I found this video was precise and straight to the point about shooting the sequences. I found this great to create different shot types to use within my film. Shooting to make the edit work well is essential. As you shoot with different shot types, it is crucial to make sure the person you are filming is following the same action with the same movement, for e.g. picking up flour with her right hand. This makes editing much easier, so it is beneficial to make sure this happens on the day of your shoot.  He also explains how using cutaways are a great addition to the film as it shows the audience the location and what the person is talking about.

“A good sequence has a beginning, middle and end and you have to tell it with pictures”

Overall a good precise and well thought out film.

[gemmacogc]

I found this video very helpful to pinpoint exactly what sort of film I want to create and make sure I have a key theme flowing through my documentary. This video was very interesting as it shows that the storyline needs to be strong from pre-production, production and post production. You want the viewer to understand the story. Showing a turning point or climax within your documentary is great as it can make the story much more intriguing. Sometimes stories can include antagonist and protagonist. I don't feel this would be something that would be present in my documentary however this film helped to create a clear image of what my storyline should be.

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These are some photos from Leah’s experience of participating in Pinocchio in December and January with her dance company as a backing dancer. This is one of the great opportunities Leah’s career in dancing and performing has allowed her to do and at the age of 16 taking part in Pantomimes and being apart of the Royal Conservatoire are massive achievements. 

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These are some more traditional style dance photos and I think this helps to show all the different styles of dance Leah participates in.

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