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.

Shooting Pilot Interview 2

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.