And the year comes to an end!

Final screening now has arrived and our last practical work handed in.

With the last stages of tweaking it was not as easy as I had thought. I had to do post sound due to us not having anyone taking on this role and as director you soon learn, you have to be a jack of all trades. It was stressful but after getting the hang of it I managed to improve the sound...probably only slightly but I learnt a new skill.

The final screening was enjoyable as we just got to watch the documentary in full with the support from the editor to finalise the last bits of the doc and the cameraman who was teaching me Pro tools it became a finished piece.

With the BMX doc I enjoyed working on that project, my footage wasn't obvious to the audience who had shot what. This to me was really good feedback as I wanted to make sure I could match Tim's footage as his experience with cameras is much better than mine. Overall a positive experience and a nice end to a long and hard year!!

Crit screening

The final crit screening of the course. This time I was more nervous because it relied on me to whether our course leader thought we had delivered what we had pitched. Watching it through, I tried to gauge what people thought but you can never tell.

When the lights came back on, I was glad to hear the feedback. The feedback was positive and the documentary was at a stage where the feedback was very specific on what needed to be done. The relief on my face must have shown. For my first time directing I was nervous but am happy that it's finally paid off. Working alongside the editor to get the last phase of this work complete has been hard but to hear what needed to be done I knew it was going to be a day just tweaking the last pieces.

BMX filming done and dusty!!

First day was the Olympic development programme, again a long drive to film at Manchester. Gaining access in though felt slightly overwhelming but the riders were nice and we just let them continue on whilst working with them. I struggled this day the most, the tripod was stiff and the handle didn't work so any movement caused big jolts in the footage. As well as that using the 70-200mm lens made it harder for my depth of field and I am always wanting to push myself but had focusing issues at the start and didn't know about the image stabiliser button which is normally on. After a day of defeat I felt very deflated as my work has been consistent. But with the support of the director without mistakes I wouldn't have learnt more about the equipment.

Saturday we spent the day at Peckham BMX track and then off to visit Flo our young rider. Peckham initially was something I was worried about, after the dilemmas of the other production company filming their riders I felt nervous. The production company was there, well students working for them were. To start off with I felt I was stepping on peoples toes but out of all the time filming I had the best time there. I filmed actuality of Quillan coaching and the riders practising whilst the other cameraman filmed interviews. I knew what the director wanted so used my initiative and got on with it. The riders made me feel welcome and you could tell the coach and them were one big family trying to make the best out of an area known for being rough. Spending time with Flo was enjoyable, she was much shyer and often when I filmed her she went the other way. To relax her as well as testing out other shots I got into a tunnel to film, which made her laugh but got her use to being told where to ride her bike and the camera being on. Whilst the cameraman was interviewing her dad, I spent time with her recording her playing on the swings, showing her as a normal 12 year old girl. By the end she was more relaxed and I even joined in with her doing cartwheels.

Final day was with Rob which was a short day filming. All we needed was some nice visuals for an opening montage and an interview. That day I felt a bit like a spare cog as this didn't require two camera operators and felt this day a 2 camera set up was too much. But on the one hand having 2 meant capturing him on the track meant we spent less time filming. All in all a busy couple of days.

Here's me filming Flo:-

It's a wrap!!

I must say after the first two days being pretty straight forward I found the last two stressful. But then the pressure starts to build because you're trying to concentrate on what to film? have I missed any shots? and keeping an eye on the story.

Tuesday was the night shoot which made me uneasy before I had even got there which didn't help. On the way there me and the editor/sound sat in with Phil and his son whilst driving to try and record them just chatting casually as Phil always sticks to talking about his work when the camera is on and I wanted him to relax more. The more we filmed the more I got to see the real Phil. The journey took much longer than he had told us so before we started filming the light was disappearing. We did an interview with Matt sanders, which started off really well but after my questions I was ready to pick up the pace and get the actuality of them setting up before it was too dark. The producer and me disagreed on this situation, she wanted to continue the interview but I knew I needed this scene and we didn't have the time before it got too dark to film. In an ideal world we would have done the interview again or gone back to do it but we didn't have time on our side. The night shoot was tiring and we didn't get back until quite late, I have noticed more so than on other shoots, that being on location is tiring.

Wednesday was our last day, after feeling very tense from the night before I wasn't at first looking forward to filming. We had a break in the day where I could work out what was left to shoot before we met up with Phil  in the early evening to finish the shoot. I got the producer to ask some final questions we wanted to get out of Phil and then headed off for our final interview with a guy who used to work in the military. This felt all secretive as we have to blur out his face and distort his voice to keep him from being identified. I was thrown  off by his answers of "no comment" and "can we move on to another question" as what I had prepared were going to get the same response. I had to re think and got the producer to help as he had thrown me off track.

I have definitely found this role very difficult and can now understand why when I worked on the strip doc the director was panicking and I couldn't see why. Even when things are going well there is always in the back of your mind the pressure is on the director to deliver. At times I found it hard but have felt I have been given a great opportunity to try a new role, which at first I was surprised I convinced myself to do it but if you don't push yourself now, then going into the industry you will just sink!

First couple of days of my first time directing!

Sunday was arrival day more than anything else and to meet Phil's son for the first time who I didn't even notice was in the house on the recce. I didn't really know what to expect before we met him but was prepared for the interview with him. He was not what I had expected, I didn't expect him to have the same beliefs in as much because from the research I had done, I had been ready for a football lover rather than a young lad interested in UFOs but he was a really nice guy and was confident on camera.

Structure was something I found didn't really work, as pin pointing with Phil when to film was often changing and after meeting him again I realised we had to just go with the flow and think on our feet. Monday arrangements had already changed, even after discussing with Phil on Sunday. Firstly we met with a witness who had seen a UFO which was hard to interview as the quiet road where he saw this sight was all so quiet until we hit record. Patience was a virtue, but looking at the time was a habit I seemed to have. Afterwards, Phil decided he wanted to find a farmer which was previously arranged for later on to give me and the producer time to find one. Instead we followed Phil down many lanes in order to find one and yes we hit the jackpot.

These last two days have ran quite smoothly, a few changes but I feel confident. Directing is a new role for me as I'm normally filming. So far, I have learnt that you have to think on your toes and it isn't always easy when people are asking you for the answers but I'm learning a lot and it's completely different to filming, even though you work with the cameraman to pick the visuals the pressure is on YOU to deliver.

Here is a photo of most of the crew (minus the cameraman taking the pic) after a non stressful two days let's see how I cope after the night shoot, which is the one shoot I'm nervous about.

Run down after 2 weeks inter semester

Here's a run down of the last few weeks which has been busy with organising filming dates and working on scripts and shooting lists. After filming the BMX I've been researching more into the UFO doc over the inter semester break. Got the shooting wish list done, contributor research and have got a script. However, because this documentary is an ob doc, there is only so much structure I want. I want to allow the audience to get to know him and even though there are key scenes I want, I want to make sure we let the rest unfold. I've also looked into crowdfunding and although it's not been a huge success it has got us some extra cash. The producer has been on work experience for 2 weeks so has missed some of our conversations as I've spent a lot of time mainly bouncing ideas back with the cameraman and the editor to help with the visuals and the editorial style. Still not quite on the same pathway with the producer but slowly getting there. Filming starts tomorrow, which is exciting as Phil Hoyle has been a really big help in also looking for accommodation, organising the other contributors to meet within the same time frame to make our lives easier and cheaper, as well as looking into finding us a farmer to be on camera. He's like my assistant producer as well as a strong contributor.

As for the BMX doc, filming is due to happen the week after. I'm excited to do some more filming and am excited to say that we get to film inside the Olympic development programme in Manchester which allows us to film academy level riders. This filming is taking place a week later than expected but it's allowed the director time to get his way into the development programme aswell as the peckham BMX track to film Quillan and Tre. This will give us the contrast of the grass roots track to the World championships track.
Here is a picture of the peckham track:-

The green light!

Today was the final pitching stage, I felt the pressure more this time and I was nervous last time but there were more questions because there needed to be no holes, or at least less holes in the pitch. With the UFO doc, we pitched as the whole team we wanted it strong as it's something I'm quite attached to. Me and the producer though seem to be on separate pages, so need to get on the same page so this doc is as strong as it can be.

James pitched the bionic man, which is the one I'm camera on. The pitch was clear but again our lecturers were looking for holes in the pitches to pick out the strongest ones from the rest.

I'm technically, on 4 productions at the moment, which is the UFO doc, Bionic man, BMX and the cusp of madness. Cusp of madness is a new one that was brought to the table, about artists trying to reach the goal of fame, looking at ryan keen and also using the access of gaining an interview with the drummer from madness. So, I shouldn't be worried about what gets made but I still felt the pressure incase they all got made.

The UFO doc and the BMX got greenlit, which at first I was a little bit disappointed about because I wanted to do a camera role and those were the roles on the other documentaries. In the end I backed down as producer on the BMX and took on the role as 2nd camera in order to get a camera role. Not as fortunate this time to get a main camera role but I see any experience as being important and I will continue this out of  my studies as well. Now the making begins!!

Recce

Yesterday was the first of two recces before the final pitch. We drove to shropshire to meet Phil Hoyle who is the co founder of the APFU, which is one of the contributors for the UFO doc that I'm directing. He was very inviting and a perfect host. Very well spoken normal guy, who off camera was much more relaxed but was still very good on camera. The information he was saying was interesting but at times a bit too much for me to understand but I definitely felt he was a really good contributor when we left his. This is my first time directing so at first I was nervous but my team is strong and I had the support I needed and I started to picture what we would film next time so directors hat is on.

Yesterday, I realised how important it is to have a good team, driving 10 hours with the sound man and camera man (to shropshire and then to Taunton) means your stuck in a car, with the heater stuck on hot air (my faulty car) on a sunny day trying to find the place. Definitely need to get along and the team was brilliant.

Today, we met David Follett for the extraordinary me brief, this time I was camera so less pressure was felt. He was lovely, and this was harder than yesterday because we didn't know how open he'd be about his accident. He was really co operative and helpful and had such an interesting story. So overall, a positive couple of days.

Now back to cornwall, after what felt like a long couple of days but definitely worth it..lets see what get's green lit.

Here's some stills from the recces.

Pitching begins!

First pitch was today, which made me feel nervous and none the wiser. It was nice to hear about the other projects that we're being made and what everyone was getting up to. However, feedback helped us know what they felt but whether it fits the brief or is possible to get made I haven't got a clue. All we know is we need access and recces by the next pitching session, but if we have the access and it misses the brief then it still won't get green lit. Fingers crossed!!! Only dilemma is if all the projects I'm working on get green lit I have decisions to make on which I feel is stronger.

Recces are now booked so will get to meet the contributors in person next week, let's hope they are as good in reality than on paper.

The hunt for the unexplained...

I have recently been developing ideas with the director of the BMX doc because we both need second roles and need more ideas rather than less. This will help us have plan a, b and even c. He came across an organisation called the APFU, they look at animal mutilations due to UFOs. I personally found this amazing to read about, and very unusual at the same time, being a sceptic I wanted to find out more about how they connected these dots.

After starting to research this idea in more depth, I became very attached to this idea and realised if I took the role as camera on this project I probably would want more input so have decided to have my first go at directing. It may seem slightly crazy for a final major project but I believe my team is strong, with a strong camera man who is the guy who introduced me to this project and has been having phone calls with the founder who is on board, and with also having a strong producer at my side. I look at things visually and from the skills I have learnt from doing camera on most projects I feel I can carve a story out of this extraordinary and unusual topic.

Final time round

Our last two modules have now approached and the time again to develop ideas has come. This time round we have 5 weeks to develop our ideas, which sounds like a long time but speaking from what happened last time we were researching most of our production time. The hardest thing this time round is that no one knows what will get green lit until the final pitch, so ideas need to be stronger and the contributors need to be televisual and the best that we can find with all our experience from this course.

I want to develop a documentary idea so our briefs are:-

• Ch 4 First cut- Documentary strand featuring bold and provocative work by up and coming directors
• BBC3 Extraordinary Me- extraordinary young people with extraordinary stories

Both of these briefs will want extraordinary stories, and requires my creative thinking cap on, here are some links to the briefs:-

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/themes/first-cut-all

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/pages/extraordinaryme

Camera practice= camera change

From practising on the Canon 1d I realised that the footage you get out of them and how well they work in low light is exceptionally good. At first I was put off by using them but since playing around and testing them out, I want to push myself and use it for the majority of filming for the documentary Young and Pissed.


The main pitfall is the follow focus on big movements, which is why I shall use the Panasonic P2 for anything that will need to cope with drastic movements. I have noticed that the Canon 5d is being used more often in programmes, and since watching Bouncers Ch4 I noticed that they used this camera on some of the master interviews and actuality. In order to keep up with the trends in TV, I want to able to use this camera for the documentary.

This evening we did our first interview with Kevin from 5 degrees who had an interesting story about how due to excessive drinking has seisures now so he can't drink, this interview would have goten the best out of the story if the director hadn't used the Recce questions for this interview as he didn't explore the story and we only captured a glimpse which is a shame. Got some more interviews scheduled soon so hopefully hearing from someone who owns a bar will give another perspective and the questions will be developed to help this.

New module, new projects!

New module started with a great result back from our previous documentary, looking forward to starting the next projects!

This time round we are asked to work on two productions, working on one was hard enough, trying to organise ourselves and work in difficult situations. But this time we're stepping it up, always ready for a new challenge.

In continuation with improving my camera skills, I've taken on the role of camera operator for a project called 'Young and Pissed' , yes I will be filming drunk people! This again will push my boundaries as you see on programmes like 'Party Paramedics' CH 4 and 'Sun, Sex and Suspicious parents' BBC3, filming people that are drunk isn't easy. This will require me to use hand held techniques and on camera lighting for night filming as well as avoiding violence and vomit.

The hardest role I've taken, which is new to me, is to be the producer on a project called 'Stripping for the kids'. This was influenced by the programme 'Table dancing diaries' BBC3 by TwoFour. This is the most challenging subject matter to tackle so we shall see if we can find some contributors!! wish me good luck!

Work experience credited

Over the summer I was fortunate to gain some work experience with TwoFour for a week. Off the back of that whilst I was there, they offered me a couple of days on shoot. I learnt a lot about how shows are recorded behind the scenes and got to help out in different areas.

Recently the show was broadcasted and it was enjoyable to watch and look for the bits that I was there for. I was excited when I saw my name on the credits, and for once actually took notice of who did what role. This is something that my course has encouraged me to start doing as these are the people you may one day work with.