Documentary/Drama Evaluation
For the
documentary we came together as a group of six, consisting of Kyle Piercy
(Producer), Jack Roberts (Cinematographer), Anthony Wilson (Sound Recorder),
Charlie Poyser (Sound Editor) and Reece Ronan (Editor). We began by researching
ideas that had recently been in the news in Liverpool. Our ideas consisted of “Lay your love in
stone”, a report about how couples placed bricks on a road outside of the
cathedral due to Valentine’s Day. Another was to visit the harbour docks due to
a famous ship being sold from there. Our third idea was to look at how the
Cavern club has changed style and music throughout time. We decided on the “Lay
your love in stone” idea because we liked the premise of Pockets by James Lees.
We thought that doing fox pops in the streets of Liverpool asking “What do you
love?” would gather a mixed range of answers from many different people in
Liverpool.
From
there we storyboarded potential shots and angles that we could use when we were
out fox popping. We aimed to use tight locked off shots from a variety of
distances such as close ups, mid-shots and long shots. We weren’t originally
going to use shopkeepers and owners because we wanted to use spontaneous
answers but the shops gave us a different dimension.
When we
first arrived in Liverpool we wasted no time and started to recce straight
away. We tried to get hold of as many
shops that would be willing to participate in our film to give us many
perspectives. As Director I wanted to make the film as aesthetically pleasing
as possible using different close ups and extreme close ups but also using
aesthetically pleasing through the people that we interviewed. I wanted to
achieve different age ranges, genders, races and classes that would please the
eye on screen similar to “Pockets”.
At first
I thought our plan to do fox pops was quite risky, I had doubts that we would be
able to get enough people to put together a film but I was wrong, we managed to
get many people. We made it more effective by buying a sign and writing “what
do you love?” People came up to us, after a while we didn’t need to approach
people. Examples of some of the types of people we had would be; an old couple
who are devoted to god, two young liverpudlian girls who love cupcakes, an
Italian who loves himself and two young girls who don’t know what they love. As
well as the fox pops we also got interviews in a tattoo parlour, a record shop
and a Christian bookstore. In these places we got some interesting shots of the
interviewees as well as some good cut-aways. The first day we covered outside
St Johns shopping centre, this was a great location as there were people
flooding in and out of the building that we could ask. We set up in the centre
of the path so we could ask as many people as possible. This proved effective
as we managed to get crowds of people asking what we were doing. On the second
day we worked around the docks, it was a nice sunny day so all sorts of people
were out walking around the docks. This is where we found a variety of people;
most people were more interested on the docks as well because they were just
out for a stroll. As director I just wanted to create as many creative shots as
possible. We tried to get an interview with the priest from the cathedral but
he didn't have enough time and wouldn't let us film in the cathedral either.
For the
editing section of the piece I was sat by Reece’s side, editing and helping him
edit the film. What I wanted was for all of the things that they loved to be
spread apart because then it wasn't so repetitive. I then chose to mix up the
interviews, cutting them up into pieces across the documentary so that we see
the same people several times. I felt that this was effective in getting the
audience to relate to them. It also spread out the different types of things
they loved. As best we could we tried to categorise the types of things that
people loved. I.e. Religion or Sport. We
edited it smoothly with a range of cut aways to keep it interesting for the
viewer. We also began and ended the piece with a sunrise and a sunset which we
filmed when we were in Liverpool as well. This book ended the piece and also
added an eye pleasing aesthetic. For colour grading we added a warm tinge to
the footage making it feel happier to the audience.
Overall
after It was complete I thought that we had an audience pleasing documentary.
It turned out very light hearted and quirky which is how I envisioned it. I
felt as the director, very happy with the piece. I think if I was to improve it
then I would have tried a few more creative shots when interviewing the subjects
as well getting more relevant cut away shots such as flowers and couples
holding hands. Even though our team was missing a person in Liverpool I thought
we worked especially well together there and then when we came back as well,
even though none of us had worked together before.
For the
Drama we teamed up again because we worked so well before on the documentary.
This time round I took the role of producer, Kyle (Editor), Charlie
(Cinematographer), Reece (Director), Anthony (Sound Editor) and Jack (Sound
Recorder). We began our project by brainstorming ideas. Our first idea was
based upon mental illness, in particular Schizophrenia.
We came
up with our first idea and it stuck, we didn't want to do anything else other
than that idea. However we did come up with another idea based in a post-apocalyptic
world but it wasn't as good. As producer I then put together a pitch with
Reece, our director. From there we moved on to the script. Reece was then set
with having to complete a first draft of a script by the second week of Easter.
Unfortunately this did not happen and is the reason we were set back two weeks.
Reece struggled to write the script so I began to write it with him by my side.
I
arranged locations in Nottingham for us to shoot and also got ten actresses to
come for audition, no actors contacted me though. A week later I found our
protagonist, Nick Marsh in a Sheffield Hallam Drama Society. Over the week we
had also done storyboards and shot lists. However later that week we discovered
that we couldn’t use the house in Nottingham because someone was renting it to
stay in. So we had to make a sudden change to shoot at Endcliffe and in Reece’s
flat. This was annoying factor because we had to re-write and draw the short
list and story board. We also had
trouble in trying to find another male actor and last minute we got Jody Wing.
I
thought that all the actors and actresses we auditioned were all of a good
standard. But I felt that Nick was perfect for the role of Jay when I first saw
him and Francesca who we gave the part of Nikki to was a good actor and also
had a bubbly outgoing personality.
Throughout
the whole production I have been there every day putting in a helping hand,
making sure that everything went to plan.
Overall
after looking at our film I feel pleased with the way that it has turned out. I
feel that we could improve many parts of it though. We could improve it by
changing the tone of the voices in the sound, by making them sound like
whispers. I felt when I was writing it, it should have been quiet whispers that
you can barely understand because the voices are too clear currently and it
gives off a cheesy effect. Another thing we could improve on is the effects. I
felt that we used too many of the same effects, I feel that we could have put
some data moshing in to make it more tense and disturbing. Another improvement
would be a soundtrack. Originally we had a songwriter, Thomas Truman lined up
to write a score for our work using piano and violin. I feel that this could
have added another dimension to the piece, making the film more eerie in parts
and even more dramatic when he goes into his episodes, this is something we
will look into improving in our spare time.
I felt
that the best things about the piece were the shots that we had. Our edit was
very smooth and clean cut along with the superb acting by Nick which drove the
film.
As the
producer I felt that I did a good job, the role was very challenging especially
when it came to acquiring actors and actresses. Although I found meeting and
auditioning all of the actors and actresses was a great experience and gave me
an insight into the casting world. I felt it challenging when it came to
organising everything and sorting out all of the paper work but I felt I done
it well considering I’m very un-organised.
From
this project I have learned a range of things like the five shot process being
essential in shooting to make the editing easier and smoother. I have also
learned that dramas are difficult to make convincing when you don’t have
experienced actors, such as our death scene which we had to cut because it didn't look convincing.
