Planning

20/02/2024 - Establishing the topic and theme of the short documentary

Description

This task is to settle down a topic for my short documentary. The selection of the topic would be done at an availability rate, so I can determine which one would be the most flexible and easy to record for me to have enough time to improve and make it the best quality.

MODES

• Observational
• Poetic

THEMES

• SPORTS: boxing, basketball or Gym (x)
• Religion: Christianity
• Photography

SUBJECTS

• In depth in the THEME (walkthrough, general experience, history/culture, deeper meaning.
• Covering a problem in the THEME
• theory/reality (knowledge and expectation from non-practitioners versus knowledge and experience of the partitioners)

21/02/2024 - Pre-research planning

For my pre-research planning, I am looking for methods in order how to determine the pillars(Genre/modes, Theme and Subject) of the type of content and message that I want to cover in my short documentary, this is very important to settle as its a fundamental to have a solid concept before I start to plan out the production process such as story writing, narrative, script, storyboard and call sheets.

To solve this problem of decision, I would like to take each theme and subject and run it as a prompt to research and short evaluation of resources need it to carry out the production of the material, then I will rate them in such a that I find which one is the easiest to sharpen it to max quality.

Unfortunately, due to my past work, I have been recommended by my teacher that to show a successful piece of work for my FMP, I would have to change my topic from my common and speciality for the purpose of presenting my creative skills and diversity in topics.

The theme of sports is not been cancelled, as I have planned a lot of projects. 

26/02/2024 - Project 1 - Street Camera

MODE - Expository/poetic 
THEME - Photography
SUBJECT - In-depth exploration of Street Photography

Street Camera, is a project where I document people's history, culture, walkthrough, and general experience while engulfed in this genre of photography.

I have chosen this topic because photography is a big part of me, due to being my obsessive hobby that I picked up when I started looking into photography. When I started looking into it, I began with street photography to practice my camera skills and gain confidence in photography. However, along this journey, I have discovered the beauty and culture of this genre of photography, especially comparing how time has shifted the meaning of it and its style.

The resource for composing such documentary would be very easy to reach as I have a insight personally in every branch that is required therefore I would rank this project idea number 1 reserve.

5/03/2024 - Time-line narrative, equipment's and Creative Ideas 

For today I have finished the time-line for the documentary, putting this in a illustration would really help me out to plan out the documentaries story, narrative, time segmentation to have everything nice and order, also the time-line gives me ideas for shots and dialogue to add into the documentary.

The making of the chapters on a time line helped me a lot to come up on the spot with a solid narrative because visualising it, made me realise that to complete and make my narrative smooth and clear, I came up with the idea of labelling each chapter based on all the types of questions, this helps to clarify the purpose and make it pleasant to observe and fallow.

Equipment 

Canon 70D

Canon 70D is a DSLR Camera in my arsenal which has a CMOS sensor with 20.2 MP with 9-AF points with very accurate consecutive automatic focus, and as a lense I will go with the 15-55MM 3.5-5.6 EFS.

The reason I would like to use this camera to film my documentary is due to the big sensor technology which gives me a sharp and high quality image, also the format and size of the imagines which would come out from this camera would be very huge as they pack a lot of detail which really helps me out in the editing stage as I can recover and manipulate the exposure and contrast.

Samsung S23 ULTRA

For the recording of this documentary I have chosen to use my manual mode on the S23 Ultra phone because although it sounds amateurish, the phones specs have earned the label of being more powerful then a regular DSLR.

Some of the specs that I want to use it for is the, 50MP camera that can record at FHD at 25 fps with impressive high dynamic range which allows me the power to make the video more cinematic in post, also a good reason that I want to record my reflective documentary is because of housekeeping the clips would be much easier which creates a more progressive workflow.

Creative Ideas

what ( introduction) - I thought of a urban landscape B-Roll shot of me walking in the centre of the shot and acting as if I took a photo of something then have some urban scenery B-roll as I explain the definition of Street Photography. ( or me as a talking head into a wide shot where there is a urban scenery)

where (chapter 1) - For I would like to write short text explanation for each segment of history accompanied with animated pieces of evidences like photos from that era, behind I want to add a out of focus background that constantly changes.

Why (chapter 2) - A self reflective testimonial of me telling the personal side of why I started photography and what is my bond with it, b-roll accompanied and soft light. 

how (chapter 3) - A showing off the routine of a street photographer, from waking up, dressing up, camera equipment, select the location then the journey and editing, with annotation dubbed over and red editorial text.

Part 2 of this chapter is wide portrait of me in urban scenery taking photos with the photos animated beside me in the shot that is taken on the location.

Final message (chapter 4) - A scene where I get in closer and I say my final message and what they should do and what I recommend them.

26/03/2024 - Script/storyboard and pre-production 

Screen play - foundation

EXT. MONTROSE PARK (DAY) WIDE SHOT OF PARK AND CITY

I walk into the middle of the composition to look around then I take a photo to walk away (when I take the photo the title appears behind me)

D1 - Oh street photography

JUMP CUT TO:

A MONTAGE OF STREET PHOTOS (1 PHOTO PER 2 SECONDS)

D2 - What are you? well...

FILM BUNR TRANSITION

EXT. BUSY AND ACTIVE STREET B-ROLLS (9 X 10 SECS) BLURED OUT

voice over over text on the screen about the history chapters of History of photography/street photography accompanied by accompanied pop up artworks/evidences

FILM BURN TRANSITION

INT. STUDIO (WIDE SHOT STILL) PONIT A(ENTRANCE)5 SECONDS

I walk toward the back drop and where the cameras and lights are set up to sit down

CUT TO:

INT. STUDIO PONIT B(CURTAINS) (MID SHOT) 5 SECONDS

I walk towards the seat to get ready for an interview

CUT TO:

INT. STUDIO ( MID SHOT)

every 8 seconds there is a change in angle or a b-roll

D3 - Answers to the interview

FILM BURN TRANSITION

INT. MY ROOM (DESK)

The shot is a mid- closeup of smart clock which shows the alarm and time I get up.

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. BATHROOM

brushing my teeth

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. MY ROOM

(medium shot of putting my hoodie) (close up and tilt-up of getting ready of the equipment)

JUMP CUT TO:

EXT. QUEENSBURY STATION

(mid-shot walking to the gates),(close of of the oyster scanned),(tracking mid-shot of me getting into the tube caravan)

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. TUBE

(mid shot of me sitting down) (match shot of me exiting the tube right outside the station

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. WESTMISTER

creative shots of me walking around and taking photos, which are shown on the screen with photos taken.

This Script above it is a foundational screen play script of the how the documentary is going be arrange and the content inside it. The purpose of this script although its simple, it's to help me to note down my ideas so that I have something to look upon for further ideas to add to the documentary and a solid concept which I can really on for my documentary, also the use of this script makes me vision the flow and the narrative of the chapters and ideas which I planned originally to use, therefore being significant as it helps me identify any errors in the narrative and also modify the time line in the documentary.

Before I record any material, I want to make sure that the idea of this documentary is good and attractive, therefore I am planning to carry out feedback from 3 people of different age groups if they like it, what is wrong in the idea and how will they improve it.

In my further research on filmmaking and editing, I have come about a website which has a powerful tool that allows me to professionally plan out the production of the documentary, the name of the website is Studio Binder a website and YouTube channel in which gives you tools to plan out the logistics and pre-production plan and in-depth explanation on making a film, video or documentary and also skills in which you will need to provide in your production such as lighting, cinematography basics and cinematic composures.

Call sheet (A)

Call sheet (A) is a list of all the shots, time, location and personal, in which I planned to use for a full-day session and trip to location to location for gathering  the primary footage.

I have chosen to prioritise call sheet (A) first, as the session planned would be the back-bone of my project, this is because the aim of this session is to get all the primary footage needed to start building up the rough cut, also essential that I get the primary footage first as I can physically look back on the timeline and look for the polishing details and shots to add in the timeline to enforce the visual narrative and complete it.

Also another reason why this session is essential is because it opens my door to the next layers I am planning to add to my project, an example could be my voice over which has an estimate of 80% audio time in the project, therefore in order to work on making the narrative from foundation to my best is by looking back at the footage I will gather and plan my voice over.

Another reason why this current planned session is very important, is due to the perfect forecast in this week's weather, this makes it significant because this season is very unreliable on the forecast which really impacts the productivity of my workflow as it would delay my project's beginning, therefore without rushing this project, this week on Thursday is the best for my for my productivity as the weather is set well for my primary footage.

Location Update in the script 

Unfortunately due to a logistical problem, I had to change location to a more local area. The problem of filming in the original location (Westminster) was that due to being a popular area I had to really work outside of rush hours so that I have more in clearance and  successful shots therefore I have found a more local, quitter and in the same time captivating as the original one.

The location is at Stanmore church where an abandon church rises as a cool monument, therefore I am planning to go there as it's also clearer and fits with my mellow and peaceful narrative.