Planning First Filming Day!

 Planning First Day Filming!

So.... we have officially begun planning for filming!

Ideas/ Initial Planning. Pt. 1

 Inspiration has Struck. 

So. Do you remember last blog post when I said that I would think about what I liked from all the doc examples I recently watched and see what to incorporate in my sister's and I's..

No? Well, that was said! and Now I am doing it! (part 1)

When watching the documentaries and this last blog post, I took some notes in my journal discussing what aspects of some of the docs I did want to incorporate:

For this post, I am mainly focusing on the structure of the documentary episode, and all the little things I want to do that I've gotten inspired by from these recently mentioned documentaries!

1. Ugly Delicious:

- After discussing with my sister, we got a lot of help from this documentary, specifically revolving the balance between sit-down interviewing scenes, and casual B-roll dialogue scenes. 

David Chong does an amazing job at keeping the guests entertained and engaged with all the b-roll and insightful conversation, as well as provide sit-down interviews when needed. What Vic and I (my sister, I am too lazy to write out " my sister" all these times) decided is that we do want a mix of these, but they will both serve different purposes. 

We envision that when we have the "sit-down" interviews, the questions will all be surrounding personal statements (like "Why did you choose to start this XXX (hobby)?", or "How do you feel about this XXX/ What has this brought for you?"). During the B-roll, we do want to ask some questions, but more in a conversation, so just hitting a few points. These will be revolving the actual technicalities of the activity the episode is covering, "How do you make these airplanes?" etc.

VS.

(convo, standing/sitting/moving)

In addition, using montage-type sequences to introduce one of our selected people's locations/hobbies is inspired from Ugly Delicious, specifically the beginning for the Season 1 episode called Pizza. 

The beginning of this episode uses music in the background and slow-mo shots of the setting of the pizza place to introduce the tone, topic, and context of the newly developing episode. My sister and I wish to do this but with the locations where the communal hobbies/tasks take place. In addition, this montage gives space for the episode's specific tone to develop.

2. Bowling for Columbine:

- After watching Michael's dedicated presence in this documentary, it further supported the feeling that Vic and I had about us wanting to be more involved in the doc. As Michael was there standing next to most of the people he interviewed/talked to in B-roll dialogue, my sister and I want to do that. My sister and I kind of wanted to make it feel, for the audience, that they were "in it with us", that they were along this journey with us trying to discover if the community is being built in one's daily lives around us. In  my opinion, whenever I would see the director or "narrator" of the documentary (with David Chang too) on the screen getting involved, it made me feel like the myself and the narrator were on a team, and the person being interviewed was an outsider to this journey (to some extent they don't get the journey we are going on). Its just a small addition to why I think it is a good idea to get somewhat involved in the B-roll with the interviewee.

Overall:

This is just part one, as me and my sister are continuing to test other INSPIRING options :)) so far we will just continue to research, but most importantly, start shot listing soon and renting out equipment 😁😥

Real Documentaries & Research

Documentary Research:

Hey guys! To whoever reading this, how are you? I hope you are doing good. Just felt like we all needed a quick check up there. But I am doing and feeling really good about this project. 😝

After discussing with my teacher and sister the approach we wanted to take with this documentary, my sister and I have a clearer vision of what I am making. But, to fully see this vision, I am going to check out a couple fo documentaries (some suggested by Mrs. Stoklosa) that could inspire some choices in our documentary.

Ugly Delicious:

- Director: David Chang

- biographical

- explores how dish is made/ where originates from, travel, and how culture and community infuse together

- Netflix

WHAT I LIKED:

1.  Incorporation of B-roll (dialogue)

The B-roll was able to be used as a way to "interview" the interviewees without making it an actual interview. I feel like the B-roll served as a "show don't tell" method, in the sense that the dialogue was used to convey a necessary description and contextual information without it being in your face.

I also really liked how the B-roll was not too serious in tone, it played with playful and friendly tones, which matched the genre and style David is going for. it also matches David's " branding " for himself, in his earnest and comical interactions with most people in the show. In addition, David's integration of himself and his persona really contribute to the film's entertainment characteristics and in making the documentary seem more inviting and comforting.

Bowling for Columbine

- Director: Michael Moore

-Biographical

-Covers events that led to 1999 Columbine High Massacre, gun control, high homicide in America

1. Michael's incorporation of himself:

The way Michael (director, writer, and interviewer) integrates himself into the interviews and narration structure of the story is very interesting. Because in a way, this does seem like a documentary, but it also seems like a short film or told-out story. When it goes from B-roll (with Michael) to a third person POV VO of Michael describing what he had done in the B-roll, the storyline steers off a bit from an average documentary, which I had found to be interesting. Basically, the way he inserts himself into the present-time story (interviewing people in B-roll, etc) to the way he later creates different structures in his "omniscient" role as narrator makes this documentary extremely engaging and easy to follow.

  Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things

- Director: Matt D' Avella

- Sociological

Focuses on minimalist movement (embracing simplicity and intentional living even if it's not what society thinks they need)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8DGjUv-Vjc 

WHAT I LIKED:

1. Approach to addressing sociological information

I really enjoyed the way this documentary integrated its topic in a not completely "scientific way" while still utilizing statistics and outside experts to get its point across. The use of the psychologist interview was perfect in reinforcing the main message throughout this whole piece, concept of minimalism or the absence of it from today's general society. I thought the balance of "scientific data" to "average B-roll" was great, with it still informing the audience but not including too much statistics where it would "take over" the piece (bore audience).

In addition, I also liked the chosen topic for this documentary. It resonates to my chosen topic for the doc, because since this is a sociological documentary, the topic is a relevant social concept that most people wouldn't care to notice. But making a film about something society won't notice but is so present in t heir daily lives is so important and I find it to match perfectly with the message of my sister's and I's documentary.

REVIEWWWWW:

Overall, all watching these documentaries was extremely enlightening, in topic, but most of all when observing it for its technical elements and genre conventions, will prove to be extremely useful when arranging my sister's and I's details in structure for the documentary. I will continue to brainstorm more specific shots/things that I liked from these examples to put in my documentary!😜

Social Media Doc

Social Media Research

- I am back and ready. With my switch from short film to documentary and the earlier research, I am ready to start focusing on my social media marketing!!

With documentary social media pages, I don't have too much prior knowledge, as compared to my familiarity with short film pages. So...... today I will be looking at a couple of examples and analyzing key features😄

Prior knowledge:

Because of my classes earlier notetaking on different approaches to social media, I had a backbone of knowledge on what I needed to include on my social media page representing a documentary:

New Knowledge:

INSPO:

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR DOC INSTA PAGE EXAMPLES:

1. Abstract (Netflix Documentary):

• QUOTES WITH INTENDED MESSAGE:
• 
  
  
  
• These quotes are something I love because not only do they help further reinforce the documentary's themes/ repeated messages/ whole PURPOSE, but they also serve as a way to keep establishing the brand. As seen here, the very bold yellow background against the black thick, bulky letters helps further create Abstract's brand of creativity, innovativeness, and daring with no apology. For example, when thinking about my own social media page, I think it is useful 
• to post these quotes because the documentary would be about community and a universal relatable concept, which would gravitate toward many people who read it.
• 
  
• KEY POSTERS/VISUALS:

I grew really attracted to the way Abstract created their logo and infused it into their other key visuals on their social media. There are always secret motifs almost that serve as symbols, for example, measuring tools or some tool of innovation and creativity. This goes with the whole brand andthe content that they post. In addition, the rainbow font against the white makes the color stand out and reinforces several themes being displayed. 

When thinking about my own logo and key visuals, I know I want my logo to my the profile picture and for it to be posted, but I am taking inspiration from this and think it would be really cool to keep the logo in all my poster/visual posts, but to infuse it differently in each, to contribute some parts of the logo to some visuals, like little easter eggs and a brand-developing technique.

• PUBLICIZE PROMO EVENT:
• 
  
  "Want a unique opportunity to learn more from two of the brilliant designers featured on @abstractdesign? Join us at San Francisco Design Week’s virtual festival (@sfdesignweek) this Friday"

This post, not only serves as an interaction with the audience, but it also serves as online publicity for a virtual "meet and greet". I am very fond of this idea, as I would still need to decide what the promo even is, but I think publicizing it in correspondence to the two designers is a cool idea to connect the show to the audience. This isn't just audience interaction, it makes the audience feel so much more connected and in the "story" than they would feel without this one event. 

This cool approach to promo events is prompting me to think what innovative and original idea my sister and I could come up with, in our own genre and documentary context.

     

EXTRA FEATURES I liked about ABSTRACT:

-  The extra focus on each participant from the episodes is a cool idea. For example, when Abstract would cover someone in the documentary, they would usually get posted in their own individual post. This introduces each interviewee as almost a "character" the audience could identify with and become really interested in, leading them to watch the episode. 

Documentary

Documentary Genre Conventions

 Doc Series Genre Conventions/ Tips:

Because of my earlier documentary project, I already have a lot of notes on genre conventions and the basic necessities in a documentary, some of which include:

• demonstrate "slice of life" (what do story or focused, life representation do you want to tell)
• subgenres to choose from (probably will be biographical or making of)
• hand held camera (realism)
• interviews
• archived footage
• established POV/ Bias
• B-roll
• Direct/indirect interview

But, for this research post, I want to investigate ways to attract audiences in documentaries, so I have different approaches/tools to use when making this FIVE MINUTE documentary excerpt. 

HOW TO ATTRACT AUDIENCE QUICKLY?

 used this video.

Beginning DOC

Something to hook audience in first 30- 60 sec, reveal a bit of story & include hook (make relevant

 to subject chosen and your audience)

• have the interviewee in a familiar place of there's/ new setting for audience
• do cool staged b-roll under narration (interview sound, NARRATION VOICE IS RELATABLE TO AUDIENCE, creatives make what they will resonate with)

MIDDLE DOC:

Pacing is important, reveal interviewee information, or on subject matter (history, learn about them) AND (bring in conflict)

END DOC:

Resolution of doc/film (but don't make too structured/strictly formatted, play with doc questions and let answers somewhat guide you)

Overview:

Overall, this helped me get ideas of what to include in the first 5 mns of documentary and is helping me decide if I should make the doc in the middle of doc or the beginning. I also want to watch these two videos regarding cinematography, which I will cover in my next blog!

(Luc Forsyth and Studio Binder)

AICE Cambridge Doc Info

 Basis Documentary Project Info

So, hello! I am a renewed person that is trying to figure out if they are ready to make a documentary! (Mrs. Stoklosa please don't have a heart attack because I am completely changing my genre.. we got this!!😃😬)

So, because of this genre change, I have to familiarize myself with all the documentary "rules" or guidelines one must follow for the portfolio project. Lucky for me I am an extremely excessive notetaker and jotted down notes for documentary requirements:

Summary of important notes:

- 5 mns long (can make of any part of a hypothetical hour long episode)

- have plan of what doc series is about

-choose which doc this would be of series

MARKETING:

• allude to all episodes in social media, show all

PRINT:

• create magazine article for documentary (can be used as marketing for doc, interview with documentarians, etc. )

OVERVIEW:

- Overall, this "to-do list" is a good way for me to keep track of what I need to accomplish with the documentary package. For now, I am going to be focusing on the actual documentary and beginning to organize the marketing.

New Genre.

 SO......

There's been a change of plans.

I am currently doing a production of Sweeney Todd at the theater company called Inside Out. I was in the dressing room and our director Robin was talking to one of the leads (Bella who played Ms.Lovett). I was watching her in the conversation and I just remember seeing her face of awe. Then a bright idea just "popped into me head" (reference from Sweeney Todd 😏): what if we make a documentary on theatre?

Seeing my enthused director talk to one of her cast members and just feel so attentive and elevated by her made me appreciate that moment and director so much. Theatre and music are two things I love to death, they are ideals that run my life and ignite deep passion. Also, the fact that my sister and I had been trying to come up with a short film storyline but couldn't decide on one also promoted this quick solution. But its more than a solution, it would be a dream project my sister and I would feel honored to document.

So.... its official. My sister and I are making a documentary. (Now, do I know what it will exactly revolve around and have I asked if I can even do this.... NO! But I have backup options and a documentary is something I know we can do).

Overview:

- This has definitely taught me to take all options into consideration. You never know when a change of idea will come, so it is important to keep an open mind and be able to collaborate with and accept change, not build your life around it.

Change and spontaneity are exciting, and even if it seems scary, going with it when it feels right is my personal right course of action.

Genre research

 Genre Research:

Hello fellow blog readers. I am back and READY to research genre conventions 😁 

Today I wanted to start by picking the main genres my sister and I were thinking for our short film and listing the main conventions that go with each so we can then narrow down our idea for a plot. But even before I do that, I want to do some research into what a SHORT FILM even is, and get some pointers on what is needed to make one, since I don't truly know the characteristics of a short film vs. regular film.

Short Film:

7 Things to Know About Making Short Films! : FRIDAY 101 - YouTube 

•  running time 40 mns less, with credits (preferred 10/15 mns)
•  explain important stuff quick! (say things visually (without words) don't have to explain everything with dialogue!)
• experiment techniques, try focusing on one thing (develop a character or scenario, one aspect)

Now onto short film genres...

1) Drama:

• focus on one or few character's internal journey, emotional development 
• dialogue reveals character motivations but is also real-life, authentic
• clear central conflict (AROUND one conflict, turning point)
• thought-provoking/impactful ending

Technicalities: frequent close-ups (emotional purposes), setting is familiar/relatable, clear progression of events

Examples: relationships/love, grief, personal growth, dynamics in fam relationships

(good to see how one can develop story in one setting)

2) Comedy

• specific characters (comedic)
• specific Plot beats/narrative turns
• represented tropes
• themes: irony, familiarity (in content shown)
• EXTRA:  based in places with lots of people where can interact, put in awk situations
• many locations LOTS INTERACTIONS
• Props (ex: joke revolves around cheese "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"

Website with more information on comedy in film specifically: Film Genres and their Conventions | freyas film 

(good for visually developing story, and diff locations)

3) Coming Of Age

• characters: growth in psychology, sociology, physiology
• setting is realistic, relatable to audience
• Usage of visuals/music to convey meaning (not relying on dialogue)
• THEMES:    identity, friendship, love, self-disocovery

Examples: identity transformation teen to adulthood

REFLECTION:

Overall, seeing all the genre conventions helps me see what genres we are already aligned with (idea wise what I am already picturing), but also helps initiate ideas of newer approaches to take in this short film. Soon with this help, we will be deciding our plot!!

Project Schedule!

 Schedule!

Hey guys! And I am back!

This is officially the SECOND blog post back. I am feeling good and ready. 

Today during my AICE Media class my sister and I were deciding our project schedule, and it made me realize how little time I have to do this project.. It was definitely a 

WAKE UP

call. The lack of time is mostly due to theatre shows in/outside of school that my sister and I are involved in that do end up taking up a lot of time. So having a digestible schedule of certain benchmarks to hit will keep me in check of how well we are doing with time.

Here is the schedule written out (the one we made during class):

Week 1: (2/10--2/16)

- Choose genre/story

- Start thinking logistically of locations, who we would cast (mainly brainstorming)

Week 2: (2/17--2/23)

- Start writing script/try to finish by end of week

- See social media plan

Week 3: (2/24--3/2)

- Learn more about editing, finish brainstorming

- Check out equipment

-Get actors

Week 4-Week 6: (3/3--3/23)

- Get all equipment

- Finding time/days to FILM!!!

Week 7-9: (3/24--4/9)

- Edit

-Post/finish social media pages

-Finish postcard

-Finish CCR

The reason why we gave ourselves so many weeks to film is because during those weeks, we have theatre shows/trips, so technically we scheduled that we would only have 3/8-9, 3/15-16-17 to film (March 8/9/15-17). We want to give ourselves as many days to shoot as possible just in case an actor can't follow a certain schedule or in case something goes wrong ( which either way nothing will go wrong .. pls🙏🙏🙏). 

In addition, we are going to be traveling the last few weeks, so having all the footage obtained gives us more time to play around with editing and finish developing other components of the project, like social media marketing, postcard, and the CCR.

Reflection:

Overall, I am very happy with the schedule. I am not going to lie, I am a bit overwhelmed and scared of not achieving what I want due to how busy I am out of school, but I know if I follow this guideline I will give myself time to not be stressed out and to make this project be what I want it to be. See you next bloggggg

A Level Project...

It has begun.

The A- Level Project.

I was about to type "This doesn't feel real", but if I am being honest... it does! No yeah I definitely feel it feeling real 😬😬 No but in all seriousness, the idea of my senior-year Aice Media project is one that I have been thinking about for quite some time. And I think its the fact that I have been thinking about this for so long that makes it feel "not real" that it is finally happening. BUT, I am as ready as I will ever be! 

I am genuinely SO HYPE AND EXCITED for this because not only am I going to create art with my sister (which is our literally our innate-soul fulfilling destiny) but I am really excited to get outside my comfort zone with things like using new equipment and try new editing techniques! This isn't just a school project, its an opportunity to extend my capabilities and learn and fail and keep learning :)

 

So without further ado..

(Wow how I've missed these transition headings)

MY PROJECT CHOICE:

SO. (WOW okay this feels really weird being back, I just really need to share this, okay I am done, apologies to AICE/Mrs. Stocklosa/any student stalking my blogger account- yeah I can see you😉)

For the project type, my sister and I had already been brainstorming what we wanted to create, with the short film idea in mind. So when we came into class on Monday when we were formally introduced all the project options, we already had a preconceived notion of what we would choose, but seeing all the options was important in case we needed to reconsider.

Here are the notes I took of all the project options:

Even after seeing these, yes there was some interest in doing a documentary covering this wildlife sanctuary Flamingo Gardens (shoutout Animal Care team) I volunteered at, but working with my sister I knew a short film would be more fun and allow for exploration fo something we both wanted.

So its official, we are doing a short film.

Doc: CCR

 Creative Critical Reflection

• How did research inform your product and the way it uses or challenges conventions?
• How does your product engage with audiences?
• How does your product represent social groups/issues?

    The documentary Impact focuses on sparking hope and initiative for positive change in its audience through the use of various technical elements. Honing in on the process of initiating an environmental school project, this documentary highlights the negative effects of plastic pollution and shows a team combating this issue with perseverance.

    When commencing this documentary, researching the central role of a documentary played a vital part in deciding what the documentary would focus. Initial research consisted of class notetaking on the definition of a documentary: "a slice of life". Familiarization with the key aspects of a documentary started the conversation about creating a documentary on environmental awareness. There was a final conversation about creating a documentary on the initiation of the Recycle Beyond the Bag project at Cypress Bay High School by Interact Club, which the initial research helped come to. (Notes on "slice of life" realization to right )

Attaining the topic of the documentary led to researching the genre conventions of a documentary. Class notetaking brought more knowledge in learning about indirect/direct interviews, B-roll, usage of archived footage, etc.. Much of this research is anecdoted in the Doc: Research blog post (https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1230255472652070084/3199987192783195247) Extra research was done to get more comfortable with the conventions, such as interview styles and steps to conduct one. A repeatedly used source was: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-conduct-a-documentary-interview-top-interview-techniques-and-tips-for-documentary-films-and-tv 

Choosing which conventions to include and utilize came after researching specific documentary examples and attaining a visual image of how the documentary would look like. Viewing examples of documentaries helped in seeing what conventions to include and which to abandon. The documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop was deemed helpful in showing how documentaries can be sequentially led through the use of interviews. In American Promise indirect and direct interviews show how personal interviews can contribute to a documentary's tone shift, and how B-roll can be integrated to form a story. Lastly, a documentary series on Netflix called Abstract: The Art of Design provides several examples of how staged B-roll can provide authentic exemplification of certain tasks getting done. Viewing examples assured which conventions would be used in Impact. Overall this documentary used the genre's conventions such as indirect and direct interviews, VO of interviews over cutaways of B-roll, staged B-roll, and music. Using traditional conventions in the documentary helped in progressing the story and making content reflective of as much as the truth as possible (with the staged B-roll). Research on what each genre convention does assist in its usage, for example, hand-held shots of B-roll creating realism and VO narration that helped progress the story of the process of the environmental project. This documentary doesn't challenge conventions due to the necessity of focusing on the information given. This film is supported by the understanding of logos given by certain interviewees and is meant to replicate reality in every aspect. If this film became too unconventional or surreal, then the message of environmentalism and plastic pollution would get lost within the piece.

While research was important to making Impact so was establishing a target audience to connect to. Impact's target audience is any person from 12-30 years old, who is interested in the environment and/or making a positive difference in their community. This documentary uses specific technical elements like music, B-roll, and indirect/direct interviews to facilitate connection and engagement to the target audience. Because this is a younger audience, different measures need to be taken to engage if targeting older audiences because of the narrower attention span of 12-30 year-olds. So, including music in the background of longer interview segments is something that not only creates a specific tone but adds something new to what is being watched, which helps engage individuals for longer. For example, when providing silence from a previously long clip with background music, a certain auditory continuity is broken which can reignite the audience's attention (shown in this video clip)

In addition, the addition of varying types of B-rolls worked to engage this audience and to resonate with environmental lovers/ project lovers. The B-roll shown varies from videos of plants and nature landscapes to videos of multiple people contributing to the project. These changing videos over the VO of the interviewees keep audiences engaged and allow for the individuals to actually SEE, not just hear, about the steps being taken to make this environmental project happen:

 

Lastly, indirect and direct interviews played a key part in engaging with audiences. Indirect interviews are utilized to make information more "bite-size" and easy to grasp because using just answers allows for the content to flow nicer and not be as dragged out. This is useful, especially for this younger audience. While most interviewee segments are indirect interviews, a critical interview towards the end is direct on purpose. From the above video clip shown (with the absence of music in one portion), the use of asking this question and inserting it to the documentary was to grasp as much attention as possible on this area of the documentary. As this is the "resolution" or "final thoughts" on the interviewees's views on the global plastic problem and the benefit of this project, there needed to be a big focus and understanding on this part. Also, the idea of vulnerability and emotive responses attracts audiences, especially younger audiences, as they can resonate more deeply with the documentary and become more attentive to the purpose. 

    The main social issues represented in this documentary are plastic pollution (explicit) and global health (more implicit). The main topic of discussion of this documentary is the creation of a recycling project to help combat plastic pollution and its effects. Plastic pollution is represented through two different POVs and facets that assist in showing the different scales in which it can be seen: day-to-day encounters with plastic pollution, and how it is created on a global scale. With Boswell and Margarita, examples of how plastic pollution is created on a bigger-scale are explained through interviews of both of them explaining how plastic spreads so easily, and with Margarita showing the different types of plastics that end up in landfills or spreading. On the other hand, the B-roll of plastic in the grass and in school surroundings shows what to many are the unnoticeable homes of plastic pollution. This was represented to give audiences a clear view that even if one doesn't see it, this pollution is all around at all scales. To add on, the other social issue represented was global health. This issue was mainly represented through logos given by Margarita in her interview, where she explained that plastic pollution isn't only an environmental issue, it is a big human health issue that effects everyone. This conversation also bleeds into the health effects this has on poorer communities who are more affected by this issue, alluding to social inequality.

Overall, Impact works towards engaging audiences through visual and auditory elements to inspire them to strive and work towards positive change in caring for the environment and overall health. By showing the initial process of starting a club's own project, this documentary shows how others can do the same.

Doc: Post-production

 Post-Production!!

And finally the day had come... TIME TO EDIT!

This process of editing was one that wasn't as smooth as the other processes like planning, research, or filming, but we managed to pull through...😁

To be frank, the reason this process didn't run as smoothly was because we started it late. Julia and I gave ourselves about 2 days after school to edit, but speaking for my part, I got caught up on homework and wasn't able to start editing until the day it was due (which made things more stressful). Also, one issue we ran into was that all the clips were on my phone (because I transported them from my camera) and I had to send them to her so we could both edit.

EDITING SOFTWARE:

To edit, we decided to use CapCut. We were thinking about using Adobe Premiere but we both are more familiar with CapCut and it would slow our process down immensely if we used Adobe (I would've preferred to use it if I had as much experience as Adobe but I didn't). We did want both of us to edit this to get the job done faster, but this did cause some problems to arise in other areas. In CapCut only one person can edit even if you share the document between 2 people. What we ended up doing was Julia was assigned to edit the first half of the documentary and I edited the second half. I was nervous this could cause some discontinuity in the editing style, so I waited for her to send me what she did, so I could continue editing the rest of what she gave me. This would allow me to see some specific things she did and keep them going.

Throughout the editing process, we focused on several key things that would heavily contribute to the grasping of the doc's purpose and that would help move our doc cohesively. 

TITLE CARD:

When making this doc, Julia and I decided that we would hypothetically want this doc to be part of a doc series (like Abstract: The Art of Design) that would be titled Impact. Our series would have several examples of individuals working towards making an impact, which in our hope would encourage others to do the same. So when making the title card, we put IMPACT and Julia decided to use this bold, ALL CAPS, seriff-like font. I thought it fit so well because I liked that it wasn't extremely aggressive, but that it got one's attention immediately; the black backdrop with the white font contributed to emphasizing and centering attention on this title. This title and way it was composed was meant to instantly start this doc and get your attention and intrigue you.

To transition this title to the first actual shot of the doc, we faded in some environmental noise at the end of this title card portion to assist in a smooth transition.

 Structure:

As seen in the clip below, Julia and I really wanted to use my interview especially to be the "path" for all the B-roll we would include. We took heavy inspiration from the documentary "Exit Through The Gift Shop" in how they would mention something in the interview and then show it through B-roll. Through this, a lot of  VO of the interviewee commentary over cutaways were used (B-roll as cutaways). Here below is one example to how we fused the interview portion to the B-roll:

 

 Online videos:

When making this doc, we really wanted to include an array types of different environmental shots. We did get to take a handful, but shot like drone shots or shots of the beach, etc.. aren't something we were able to do because of the locations and equipment. So, during the editing process, we searched for some copyright-free B-roll shots that would add more context to what was being said. One that Julia found was a drone shot of a landfill with heavy amounts of plastic. This specific shot would heighten the effect of what the interviewee was saying because it would show the real-life effect of plastic pollution:

MUSIC:

Music was an important aspect of this piece in helping set the tone and engage the audience. When editing, we had to think about where to place the music and what type of music to include. In the half portion that Julia edited, she introduced our first type of music as soon as I started speaking about the process. I really liked this idea because, before this, it was Margarita's interview where she discussed plastic and even showed us examples of plastic. I think that including the music in Margarita's interview portion would've slightly distracted the audience and maybe even minimized the importance of what was being said (it just wasn't necessary). The type of music wasn't distracting but was complementary, and it felt very "expedition, we are going on a journey" which goes with the idea that I am walking you through a process in my interview segment. 

In my half of the doc, I continued this music with my portion of the interviews and when explaining the process of initiation for the Recycle Beyond the Bag project. Towards the end of my interview and when the "resolution" of the doc was approaching, I decided to fade this music out and leave there to be no music on one specific question Julia (interviewer) had asked me. Previously when filming we decided that we wanted this one question to be somewhere at the end, as a final say on how I felt about the project. I really wanted this to be the place of shift in tone of more hopeful and inspiring (and slightly sentimental pathos to appeal to the audience). So, the silence of the interviewer asking me that question offered as a transition showing "hey this is different to what you have been seeing!" and gave the next music bigger attention. The next type of music I used was "inspirational, reflective" type music that when paired with segments of the other's interviews, gave a strong, purposeful message that we wanted for the ending:

Credits:

For the credits, I thought it would be really cool to include one "environmental shot we took" so it ended off with a vibrant, natural image. I remembered that we took this video of a dandelion flower from the Cypress Bay back area. I thought this was a perfect symbol to end our documentary with; not only does a dandelion represent hope, healing, and resilience, but when blowing a dandelion you send 50-120 seeds into the air. This symbolizes to me that this was our wish to the world, for people to see this doc and feel impacted to contribute to this project or make any positive impact, so by making this doc hopefully we allow for this idea to be planted and to be a catalyst for the birth of change in other's lives. 

I knew I wanted the lettering to be scrolling down, but for the font, I also knew I wanted something more delicate but noticeable because of the way we ended the doc off. So, I decided to use this still seriff, but not as bolded white lettering:

OVERVIEW:

OveralI definitely think this process could've run smoother if Julia and I started this process beforehand. Also, I do wish that maybe we would've chosen one person to edit instead of both of us because it would've made the transferring of content process much easier. I do think that the actual editing of the content went well, but the whole process leading up to it could've been handled more considerably. I will definitely take this lesson with me in the future!

Doc: Production

 Production!

We finally made it to the FILMING! This process of filming was a tedious but fulfilling one that taught me about myself and contributed to our documentary. 

So..... for this process of filming we had various different days and people that filming separately to get this footage finalized. 

INITIAL FILMING:

The first filming we did was actually accidental. It was during our planning time when we were going to go to Mr.Boswell's class to ask him to be interviewed and we saw pieces of plastic on the ground. I remember me and Julia looking at each other and going THIS IS PERFECT, because it was a real-life, in real-time example of plastic being all around us even if we aren't consciously aware of it. We didn't have our equipment with us yet, but we used "cinematic mode" recording on our phones and it worked well!! We also got some B-roll clips of trash cans and nature scenery that we would have just in case we needed more b-roll (OVERSHOT!!)

Some clips we got were:

Later that day, I got on Zoom with Mr. Boswell because I needed to discuss and establish some final ideas about the project. I then realized that getting a screen recording of him and me working on details about the project would be useful B-roll, so I asked him respectfully if that would be a possibility and he was up to it!

(Here is part of the hour-long Zoom meeting):

 B-ROLL FILMING:

Throughout this whole process, the Interact Club members had been filming themselves getting certain tasks done that were helping start up the project. With this filming Julia and I didn't have any part in the actual technicality of filming it because they were filming it themselves, but for some parts, I also filmed myself getting certain tasks done with my phone (some examples):

Emma filmed the cardboard boxes she bought where we collect plastic

Sarah filmed herself at Home Depot buying some of these boxes

I filmed my printer printing out the posters we made to publicize the project

The only B-roll filming where Julia and I filmed had planned to film it with the camera and tripod was filming ourselves hanging up the posters around school and us building/playing around with some of the cardboard boxes:

Final Filming:

This part of the filming was the more intricate and complex one. Because this was something that was newer to us (filming interviews) we made sure to refer back to our notes taken in class to remember to prioritize certain things:

- We wanted to have one person asking the questions right next to the camera (to where the interviewee could look at) and one person at the camera filming, attentive to adapting the shot at any second.

- We tried to have everything set up before the interviewee arrived. We did accomplish this with one of the interviewees but not the second one, because we didn't set a specific location to meet inside the school so we had to find them and then set up.

- We made sure to listen. This was the most important part of filming the interviews for me because it allowed for me to hear their response and see if they gave us the necessary info, and if they didn't I would add one extra question for additional commentary.

- Also to BRING OUR QUESTIONS!

Here are part of the interviews:

Mr. Boswell ^

Margarita (Rotarian) ^

OVERVIEW:

This filming process was long and tedious, Julia and I having to organize filming our own things and also getting Interact members to film theirs, but in the end it worked out! Some things looking back now I would change would be filming our own B-roll earlier, and trying to schedule the interviews to not be two days before the project was due. Doing this would've given us more time in post-production.In addition, I do think we should've made the location more clear for interviewing Margarita so we could have everything set up and ready to go to film.