i've created a
link to pages
so, which will i use for my final major project?
my documentary was my best college work to date, I loved the unscripted nature of the work and believe i could produce the best work by creating a final documentary.
summary
-call to action (inspiring others)
-providing a voice or a platform to tell a story
-bringing light to important issues
pros
i always have ideas bouncing around for documentaries. i like expository styles and real topics. i lean towards creating unscripted work as it allows the audience to se the true authenticity.
ideas
-can be hard to stand out or be unique
-can be extremely time consuming
-can lack technical/visual impact
cons
documentary
1)
i've realised how much planning and preparation is needed to create a good short film, i don't particularly enjoy this side of the production. although i still think i could create a great peice of work
summary
-allows the filmmaker to show their voice
-keeps audiences attention
-can be visually amazing
pros
i have snippets of concepts but no solid ideas for short films. i don't have enough to warrant me to lean towards creating a film again.
ideas
-can lack character development
-usually on a tight budget
-crew, cast, equipment...
cons
short film
2)
my music video was okay, i wasn't fully confident and happy with the outcome. i feel now i have many more ideas that would've been better but i don't want to create another music video for my fmp.
summary
-many music video types and ideas
-can be done quickly and unplanned
-the music writes the script for itself
pros
after creating my music video i came up with way more ideas, i wasn't aware how much planning it actually can take to execute them well.
ideas
-can be misleading to the viewer
-usually require sfx and transitions
-i'll struggle to get the original creator of the song
​
cons
music video
3)
why do i want to create a documentary?
i really like the unscripted side of documentary film-making, i want to create something real, edgy and controversial. i want to touch on a topic that splits opinions and forces the audience to pick a side. my best work has been produced when making documentaries and this is the area i'm most interested in.
waad al-kateab
"there isn't a crazy idea"
during a course with the bfi film academy i had to chance to meet waad al-kateab, a syrian journalist and filmmaker. she talked about her experiences making documentaries and how challenging yet rewarding they can be. we watched a film she made called 'For Sama' which was extremely moving and has inspired me to make films from my heart that are real and pure.
​
emotions
![20240215_223742961_iOS[1].heic](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f0088_31f2710b425540be8ef2e1bbe0b62733~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_237,w_3024,h_3559/fill/w_164,h_193,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20240215_223742961_iOS%5B1%5D_heic.png)
![20240215_223742961_iOS[1].heic](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f0088_31f2710b425540be8ef2e1bbe0b62733~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_504,w_3024,h_3024/fill/w_119,h_119,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20240215_223742961_iOS%5B1%5D_heic.png)
![20240217_215504839_iOS[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f0088_db0df223413e40e08760dd2e51ddbd29~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_151,y_0,w_532,h_626/fill/w_164,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20240217_215504839_iOS%5B1%5D.jpg)
![20240217_215504839_iOS[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f0088_db0df223413e40e08760dd2e51ddbd29~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_104,y_0,w_626,h_626/fill/w_119,h_119,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20240217_215504839_iOS%5B1%5D.jpg)
happy
food
sad
anger
excited
animals
achievement
failure
people
attacked
loss
stress
changes
plans
future
love
suprised
amusement
disgust
films
video games
entertainment
food
illness
relief
animals
presents
shock
learning
exams
time
boredom
confusion
nostalgia
breaks
changes
drugs
shock
no plans
low energy
low energy
nervous
love
fear
pleasure
smells
sounds
keepsakes
intimacy
passion
commitment
danger
sounds
animals
love
excercise
sleep
future
confusion
stress
opposite emotions can provoke
the same feelings.
nervous
future
stress
confusion
excited
plans
future
love
happy
food
achievement
animals
disgust
illness
animals
food
nostalgia
smells
sounds
keepsakes
fear
danger
sounds
animals
what are emotions and why are
they important?
my attempt at a definition
Emotions are the feelings you get from certain stimulants. For example happiness is a result of an increase in dopamine such as meeting friends or eating good food.
kendra cherry's definition (psychosocial rehabilitation specialist)
Emotions are reactions that human beings experience in response to events or situations. The type of emotion a person experiences is determined by the circumstance that triggers the emotion. For instance, a person experiences joy when they receive good news and fear when they are threatened.1
Emotions have a strong influence on our daily lives. We make decisions based on whether we are happy, angry, sad, bored, or frustrated. We also choose activities and hobbies based on the emotions they incite. Understanding emotions can help us navigate life with greater ease and stability.
theories
Robert Plutchik created a new conception of emotions in 1980. He called it the “wheel of emotions” because it demonstrated how different emotions can blend into one another and create new emotions. Plutchik first suggested 8 primary bipolar emotions: joy versus sadness; anger versus fear; trust versus disgust; and surprise versus anticipation. From there Plutchik identified more advanced emotions based on their differences in intensities. If you look at the diagram below you can see how each emotion relates to the other.
advantages
improves emotional intelligence, helps to identify root causes of emotions, shows how different emotions connect and helps to find new ways to cope with emotions
disadvantages
​Conversely charitable and campaigning organizations may try to tap into shame to encourage action. It is also often felt that the model is too simplistic and that there are greater emotional nuances not captured within it.
The James-Lange theory of emotion suggests that physical changes in the body happen first, which then leads to the experience of emotion. Essentially, emotions stem from your interpretation of your physical sensations. For example, your heart beating wildly would lead you to realize that you are afraid.
stimulus
physiological
response
emotion
emotion case studies
FEAR.
an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
-primal
Innate fears which arprogrammed into our brains... thought to be part of human evolution and the survival instinct.
death, failure, pain, the unknown
-rational
Fears linked to an
imminent threat.
having a weapon pointed at you, getting swept out to sea
-irrational
These don’t make logical
sense and vary from
person to person.
clowns, sharks, dolls, bugs
how is fear shown
in horror films?
sound
The use of low, ominous sounds to create a sinister tone.
A leitmotif is a recurring theme (in this case music) which is associated with a certain idea. A leitmotif is usually an aural clue - i.e. if you hear it the ‘villain’ is about to appear or something bad is about to happen.
darkness, shadow or off screen space
(things are hidden from us and we are denied the ability to properly see what is going on). All of these tie into the primal fear the dark/unknown. Keeping things from the audience creates tension Limited information or a disjuncture between the
senses (we can hear something happening but cannot
see it.) Also ties in to the use of masks/disguises to hide the
‘true’ identity of the villain.
​gore and explicit imagery
Rather than creating tension through keeping things form
the audience this approach shows graphic and gory scenes
to directly shock the audience and play into primal fears of
death and mutilation.
'otherness'
Actual monsters/ghosts (supernatural horror etc.). The use of masks/disguises to hide the ‘true’ identity of the villain. The uncanny - human/familiar but not.
why are horror films attractive to
an audience?
1
fear triggers the ‘fight or flight response, which in turn leads to a release of adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine.
biological
reactions
3
those who enjoy horror films do so through the process of catharsis. This is the act of processing and purging intense emotions (such as fear) in a safe environment. Therefore for an audience to enjoy horror movies, and the associated emotions, they must know they are in a ‘safe’ environment (cinema, home or otherfamiliar environment).
catharsis
2
approximately 10% of the population deeply enjoy the biological reactions associated with fear and these people also experience greater joy when threats are resolved.
excitation
transfer
4
it is argued that people who are less empathetic enjoy horror films more (those with too much empathy struggle more with seeing others suffer - including those onscreen).
personality
ANGER.
a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
how is anger shown
in films?
anger is mostly shown in crime, western and action films and least shown in animation, music and family films.
destruction
In many movies breaking, destroying or misplacing stuff conveys anger, the destruction is the human bodies reaction to try and act on thoughts and anger. The act of destroying objects can help to release pent-up emotions and give us a sense of power and control.
shouting
For some people, yelling may be a coping mechanism for responding to stress, anger, or other intense emotions. For people who struggle to manage their emotions, yelling may be a way of trying to get their point across. For those who are under extreme pressure, yelling may be the result of built-up stress. It's used often in films to show anger and frustration usually in relationships.
facial expression (build up)
Often in film anger is gradually built up until it gets to a breaking point. It acts in a similar way to how jump scares are used in horrors, there's the down time then the built up then the scare, other films use a similar pattern when brewing up anger in a character.
1
Often in film anger is gradually built up until it gets to a breaking point. It acts in a similar way to how jump scares are used in horrors, there's the down time then the built up then the scare, other films use a similar pattern when brewing up anger in a character.
suspense
3
Anger is heavily linked to sadness and depression. Plus, internalized feelings of helplessness and worthlessness, which can stem from childhood abuse or any traumatic experience, can lead you to redirect anger toward yourself. These feelings can fuel shame, harsh self-criticism, and self-punishment — all of which often happen with depression.
sadness
2
Anger can be a vital part of the plot of a film. It can often show the divide from the 'angry and the normal', similar to the way movies with portray people as 'unhuman' like, for example in Joker.
plot
4
Anger can be a focal point of a character's personality. Many films use character who struggle to control anger. For some people, yelling may be a coping mechanism for responding to stress, anger, or other intense emotions. For people who struggle to manage their emotions, yelling may be a way of trying to get their point across.
personality
why is anger used in films?
NOSTALGIA.
a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.
how is nostalgia shown
in films?
The effects of nostalgia are inherently bittersweet, which is why the capitalization and over-production of films and other works of art utilizing this emotion are being met with such backlash.
happy/sad ending
Nostalgia is the way many films end when trying to end with a happy/sad ending. It can signify hope, for example a man returning back to his family or can signify lack of hope for example the end of Spider-Man No Way Home.
return
Nostalgia is often used in a 'returning home' context, positively and negatively. In many films, return is shown to be positive and happy but in certain contexts it can be negative and sad. For example, The Lucky One where Logan has PTSD.
1
a sense of having already seen something you're currently seeing or experiencing—coupled with knowing you haven't actually seen it, which is why it catches many people so off guard. It is thought to be the equivalent of a small brain “glitch,” with two streams of thought colliding.
deja vu
3
It is now believed that nostalgia serves as a coping mechanism that allows us to navigate periods of stress, loneliness, or transition. By taking a mental trip down memory lane, we can foster a sense of personal continuity, easing feelings of discontinuity or disconnection that we might be experiencing in the present.
memory
2
There is a lot of joy and power in nostalgia. It makes the audience think about their own lives, allowing them to reflect on how the film makes them feel; leaving a lasting impression on them and growing the film's popularity.
audience
4
In marketing, tapping into nostalgia means associating a product, service or brand with memories from the past to establish an emotional bond. The marketer uses symbols from the past to associate the modern product with the audience's fond memories.
advertising
why is nostalgia used in films?
ideas
1)
emotions:
anger
nostalgia
confusion
synopsis:
documenting the life of a war veteran who is struggling to pay their bills amidst the cost of living living crisis in the uk.
research:
(instagram poll)
1-10
10-20
20-50
50-100
16%
37%
47%
what age range do you sympathise most towards?
the cost of living crisis affects who the most?
1-10
10-20
20-50
50-100
5%
27%
45%
23%
do you like the feeling of nostalgia?
yes
no
unsure
70%
20%
10%
50-100
47%
what age range do you sympathise most towards?
-
do you like the feeling of nostalgia?
yes
-
70%
this shows that the majority of people from a 12-31 age range sympathise most towards the older generation which this idea would be focused on.
this also shows that if i want my audience to sympathise towards the person i could focus on this age range.
this shows that the majority of people from a 12-31 age range enjoy the feeling of nostalgia which this idea would be focused on.
furthermore, online i've found John Tierney says “nostalgia has been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety".
verdict
i'm NOT going to go ahead with this idea as i think it could be too difficult to find someone to fit the role.
i have also talked to various friends and family who don't really understand the concept of the documentary or don't have a particular interest in it.
i want the documentary to have positive elements and happy emotions too.
2)
emotions:
relief
love
sadness
![9434451[1].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f0088_1e2f01dcc46a434f96a95226a7430e60~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_600,h_400,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/9434451%5B1%5D.png)
synopsis:
showing the struggles and daily challenges of being a full-time busker and understanding why they do it.
research:
(instagram questions)
what makes you feel relief?
relaxing sounds
listening to music
music
weekend
live music
9/12 mentioned music or sound
how do you feel about buskers?
30%
40%
30%
postive
negative
unsure
9/12
music
what makes you feel relief?
-
this shows that the majority of people from a 12-31 age range feel the emotion of relief through music.
this means my topic (buskers) would fit in the theme/emotion of relief.
how do you feel about buskers?
30%
-
unsure
this shows that many people from a 12-31 age range don't have a positive or negative feeling towards buskers.
this indicates that many people are uneducated or don't understand buskers enough to have an opinion, my documentary could be a way to show how buskers really are.
types of research
primary
secondary
Primary and secondary research are key methods for gathering information, each with its own unique process and advantages.
Primary research involves collecting new data directly from sources. This can be done through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observations. The main benefit of primary research is that it provides data specific to your needs, offering fresh insights and allowing you to ask tailored questions. However, it can be time-consuming and expensive, requiring a significant investment of resources and expertise in designing research tools and analyzing results.
On the other hand, secondary research involves using data that has already been collected by others. This includes information from academic journals, government reports, market research studies, and online databases. The big advantage here is efficiency—it's faster and cheaper than primary research because the data is already available. It can also provide a broad context and help identify trends over time. The downside is that it may not be as relevant to your specific research questions since the data was gathered for other purposes. Additionally, you have less control over the quality and depth of the data, which can limit its usefulness.
The key differences between the two methods lie in their data sources and costs. Primary research gathers new data directly, while secondary research relies on existing information. Primary research is typically more expensive and time-consuming but offers tailored and specific data. Secondary research is quicker and more cost-effective but may not be as closely aligned with your particular needs.
Despite these differences, both methods aim to gather information to answer research questions and can use qualitative or quantitative methods. Understanding the pros and cons of each approach allows you to choose the best method for your specific research needs.
qualitative
quantitative
Quantitative and qualitative research are two main ways to gather and analyze data.
Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics. It collects data that can be measured, like through surveys with yes/no questions or experiments. The goal is to find patterns and make predictions. This method is good for getting clear, reliable results that apply to large groups of people. But it might miss out on the deeper meaning behind the numbers.
Qualitative research, on the other hand, focuses on understanding ideas and experiences. It uses methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations, often asking open-ended questions. The aim is to get a detailed view of people's thoughts and feelings. This approach helps to understand complex issues in depth, but it can be seen as more subjective and is harder to generalize to larger groups because it usually involves smaller samples.
In short, quantitative research is about numbers and wide-ranging results, while qualitative research is about words and deep understanding. Both methods are useful, and many researchers use both to get a full picture of their topic.
qualitative
quantitative
verdict
i'm going to go ahead with this idea as i think it gives me an opportunity to create a great documentary.
it gives the buskers a chance to express and promote themselves while talking about the struggles and downsides of being a full-time busker.
i wanted my documentary to be something i'm passionate about, in this case music.
pitching the idea
evaluation:
i think my pitch went well overall. i was clear, confident and well-spoken. comparing this pitch to previous ones i have certainly improved hugely, at the end of the first year i set my biggest goal to be improving my confidence and i think my improvement was definitely demonstrated during this pitch and throughout all my recent work. i dressed 'smart-casual' (kind of) as i didn't want to be too professional as i was talking about a topic that was more 'street-hip' so i didn't feel like a suit was appropriate for this pitch. i was punctual and arrived an hour early meaning i had time to prepare and make sure i would be ready. my punctuality has been a huge improvement, last year i had an attendance of 91.5%, this year i've only missed 2 days. one struggle i had during the creation of my pitch was working alone instead of working in a group, this meant i had to do everything alone and all slides were done by me, this means that it took more time to create, plan and practice the pitch.
pre-production
the a/v script was especially important for my production, as i needed a way to 'script' certain parts to get an idea on the structure without any of the film actually being scripted. the capability to represent the audio and visual at the same is also a useful tool for editing at it allows you to plan how the two will flow together. i also used colour to categorise parts such as blue for SFX.
before shooting i evaluated every possible risk that could occur during the production this included risks such as fires and tripping on wires. risk assessments are important for all productions as they can help limit accidents, though they can still occur, they're just prevented. risk assessments also have to consider members of the public, especially public places as you can be sued if they hurt them self. my production includes filming in public so i made sure to give the crew and cast consent forms to say they agree and understood the risks of the production, this is also important if a production is especially dangerous as you can be sued if minor or major injury occurs. one problem I had was the unpredictability of the public, trying to identify what may happen can be difficult. to try to prevent this I made sure my crew and cast knew of the risk and we stayed aware.
a production schedule is important for everyone involved in the production to have a full understanding on what is happening and when it is happening, it's also important to note this document will be sent to the college and the cast, so they knew when and where we were/where they need to be. i faced difficulties with planning times for the shoot days my cast/crew are only available on certain days due to work and their own shoots, to overcome this I asked when they were available first before creating the schedule. the equipment required was important as it allowed me to plan and remember what equipment we needed especially as i'm travelling via train to get to my shoots and it is important that i don't forget any kit.
creating a kit list before a production is essential for project management. firstly, it helps to identify and organise all the necessary resources, such as what camera and which batteries will be needed. it ensures that nothing crucial to the production is forgotten and minimizes the risk of delays or disruptions during the production process.
light diagrams are important as they can save valuable time during a shoot. they allow you to plan and easily display how lighting will be setup. however, sometimes certain things may effect the lighting out of your control, for example the sun. in my production many of the b-roll shots are outside meaning i had to come up with ways to manipulate the lighting from the sun.
the storyboard outlines the visual components of the video, however, it actually shows pictures/sketches of what happens in chronological order, similar to a comic format. it allows you to create sections for each part of the production. a challenge i faced creating it was I'm not particularly good at drawing, so to overcome this I had to use pictures from google instead of trying to do something I can't.
consent forms are important as they contain permission for you to publish the content and the potential risks during the production, in bigger productions this can also include fees/payouts owed to the person. without consent from the person they can take legal action even if the agreed in person, written evidence is crucial.
reflection
We attended a workshop about soft vs hard lighting and low-key and high-key lighting. We walked around the building and identified spots where the lighting was 'good' and where the lighting was 'bad'. We learned that shooting towards windows isn't effective and instead use it as a light source, the sun is very big but extremely far away so it acts as a great way to achieve soft light if positioned correctly. In addition, we used a reflector to bounce the light back onto my face giving a soft, yet full lighting look.
rule
of
thirds
in premier pro i increased the scale and changed the position to fit the framing of the rule of thirds.
we created the lighting by placing the interviewee by a large window, this allowed the sun's natural light to pass through creating a soft light, we then placed a reflector opposite the window towards the interviewee's face to fill the darkness on the other side of the face.
ranking projects
3
1
2
promotional material
edit process
final video
evaluation
This year has been filled with joy, optimism and journey. But it's also been filled with pain, tiredness and worry. This year I wanted to ramp up my work to a new level, and I think I showed that with my test documentary. This documentary was one of the most ambitious things I've ever done, I pushed myself to new heights that I never even thought I could reach, although the documentary didn't turn out as well I would've liked, it set a standard for what I wanted to make. In my personal life I struggled massively, I tried to push this to one side and focus on my work and what I love to do but it was challenging. This led to me even considering leaving college around December/January time as it was seriously affecting me, hence why my short film and music were not up to the standard I know I'm at. However, I eventually had breakthroughs, I was invited to be apart of the BFI Film Academy course which was one of the best weeks of my life and set me up and put me in a position of ambition again, and I had many other opportunities such as paid film work etc.
​
I wanted my final project to represent me in some way. I thought everyday about what I wanted to do, I landed on the idea of creating something around music. Busking was a topic which I felt was misrepresented so I reached out.
I got in contact with a great guy called Dee Calderon who was great to work with and made the process so easy! This along with a great team made the whole project so fun and easy (at parts). Overall, this year has been hard but I think I finished on a high and hope to push on and build on my ambition throughout my life.
thank you. x