ciarans-workbook

Week 5

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:26:38 +0100

This was our first proper group meeting together, and one member was still not that. However, it was in his absence that our idea developed. Somehow, we settled upon the idea of staging a suicide, notifying people about it in order to see who would turn up/tune in. It started of as a focus on the human obsession with death. Then, we decided to stage another suicide by employing an actor, and keep the absent member of the group out of the loop about it. Therefore, we wouldn’t just be focusing on the human obsession with death, have someone in particular to focus on. It was agreed between us that it would also be useful to have on member of the group to remain detached form everything in contrast too Sam (the absent group member) who would inevitably become sympathetic towards the suicide subject as we get to know him better.

We set up a meeting with Karin, and after not having the first meeting on film where we could have captured our initial reaction to that one great idea, we decided to have a camera with us as all times so we don’t miss anything. We were told to dismiss our initial idea of not letting Sam in entirely as we would not get it past the ethics committee. We also considered the idea that we would not be able to find someone who has suicidal tendencies to appear in our documentary. Which gave us the option of making it a mockumentary without telling the audience, therefore forever leaving it as a mystery as too whether it happened or not.

I also had the idea to visit different suicide hotstops such as Bridgend, Wales, where 18 teenagers have committed suicide within the past year. Beachy head, the UK’s suicide hotspot was on the list along with our initial idea of ‘The Tube’. We were originally going to not tell the audience what they were about to view, having a secret site and the main site. However, it was agreed that we should not complicate matters. But our initial idea of life on the tube was took apart, and we could focus on the people that commit suicide on the tube.

Week 4

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:26:59 +0100

We finally agreed upon our group and also a group name The Sound of Silence though hadn’t initially settled upon an idea. We spent the seminar processing our RAW images, adjusting HSL and the greyscale. Using Photoshop also to filter/sharpen/mask, much the same as we learned last year however applying it to premier pro in a film sequence.

The concept of the documentary was still not set upon, and we still needed to meet up again.

Week 3

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:27:22 +0100

After spending the seminar discussing the different styles of photography, I spent a lot of time trying out different adjustments on my own 400D, shooting in different lights and trying to memorise the effects each adjustment does. I wanted to build upon my ability to approach the focus in an alternative way presenting it in an previously unseen way. We also began shooting in RAW, which takes up a lot of battery and memory, resulting in me having to stop more often that before.

It was interesting the contrast in the resulting effects from adjusting the white balance/aperture/shutter speed on an inanimate object than that on a moving person. I think becoming familiar with the cameras effects is something that develops over time, where hopefully my skills as a photojournalist improves greatly.

Week 2

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:26:03 +0100

This week was spent reflecting on what style of documentary we wished to do more than anything else. It helped identify what documentary styles I was more familiar with (i.e. Wife Swap=juxtaposed documentary) and what styles I wanted to avoid. I was still on the side of remaining detached from the subject so my personal feelings wouldn’t get in the way of the truth. After watching ‘Biggie Vs Tupac’ Nock Broomfield’s interview with Tupacs father proved you could still be investigative without letting your emotions get in the way. I think this is the only way to be if we want to catch the decisive moment, where we may not be in the position to if were sympathetic and attached to our subject. Focusing more on the Documentary Photojournalism, I loved Martin Parr’s style of photography, criticising society and confronting a social stereotype.

Week 1

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:23:11 +0100

After our first seminar, we agreed that our documentaries unique selling point would have to be something very distinct, pushing all of us outside of our comfort zone. Having not initially agreed upon groups, I draughted up a few names with possible leads onto good plots.

Kate Sheedy - Levi Belfield victim.

Mum - Grew up in N.Belfast & attacked by I.R.A

Sheila - Losing downsyndrome child.

James - Divorce

However, a documentary on any of these would be post-event and would merely be a reflection on what had already happened. Whereas, I knew I wanted a subject where the content would unravel further into production, possibly leading us to somewhere we never expected. There was also a question in my mind about the audiences ability to relate to some of these subjects.

It was also evident that we needed to create signatures individual to us, and I’m not sure how far you could introduce them with subject such as those. I don’t think such subjects would allow for much creativity.

My initial desire to stay cold and detached in my documentary would not be possible if it were to document a story of a personal friend. I want my documentary to be something that confronts a social stigma of some sort, and to explore a hidden back-story, which none of these had.