Friday, 10 March 2017

documentary - morning lecture

3 lessons you have learnt so far about setting up your film in terms of:

  • Casting - ask long time before the shoot, meeting face to face before shoot, get a contract
  • Locations - make this one of your first factors, be clear about what your filming, phone call
  • Scheduling - establish clear shot list, establish secured dates for filming, establish shoot times
  • Organisation - make sure all actors know where and when, make sure travel is covered, 
  • Paperwork - child actor permissions, public insurance



Research
  • Begin researching online and relevant journals, publications and newspapers.
  • Acquaint yourself with the broader picture and background to your story 
  • Establish key contacts
  • Never make a call to any of these contacts until you understand the basis of the story you wish to tell and have an appreciation of the remit 

Relevant background info
  • Legislation/ regulations
  • Organisations and experts
  • Existing research - up to date as possible, if unpublished, better - exclusive
  • Case studies
  • Previous coverage on TV/ archive as appropriate 

Factual Films require a "journalists nose"
  • What makes your story interesting
  • What is your angle

Research prior to pitching
  • Enough to answer the basic questions about the story and to form your proposal
  • Who/what/where/when/how
  • Find your USP (Unique serving point)

Pitch
  • Email Helen with summery of my pitch idea (working title, topline, and one paragraph synopsis) by 3 pm 21st of march

Ethics and representation
It is not just a topic for a project, consider how it will affect people with disabilities etc.
Disability
Income/ class
Values/ culture
Ethnicity 
Race
Sexuality
Issues e.g. crime
Tokenism
Youth, middle aged, old aged


Representation
  • A fair representation of the wider context
  • Fairly treated and represented honestly
  • Avoid stereotypes and reinforcing prejudice
  • Avoid lazy journalism
  • Treat people with respect

Finding characters/ case studies

  • people who best illustrate your story and who are the best talkers/ characters
  • Via relevant organisations - usually the press office
  • Via experts - e.g doctors, police etc


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