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:-

Ideas are coming

Ideas are starting to flow, already crewed up on one. People are very quick to crew and have back up plans because we are all feeling a bit in the dark. Probably how people feel in the industry when they first pitch an idea, not knowing if it will get commissioned or not.

The camera man on the project I'm working on knows a guy called Rob who competes in BMX races and has links in. I'm producing on this one, in the same crew as the strip doc. I joined this group because the team was so strong last time and I like the idea. The director is starting to develop the idea looking at the story of Shanaze Reade, who was topped to win the BMX Olympics last time but crashed right near the end. Contrasting her story with young up and coming riders showing how this sport has grown from a back yard hobbie to a Olympic sport. Second time in the Olympics we want to tie these stories in with the Olympics being held in London this year. However, whether we can get an Olympic athlete may not be so easy..we got into a strip club so let's see.

Here's Shanaze's story:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/17527040

Learning from past problems, picking who to work with is important to me. As having a dedicated team is a must. It's our final projects and comparing how far I've come along from the footage I filmed in the beginning to know what I shoot. I want to show something I'm proud of.

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

Welcome to London..

For the last couple of days everything's been a tad hectic! Over night uncomfortable coaches and long walks from place to place but it was all worth it with the opportunities we were given.

I missed the first day of the three day London trip. Instead, I headed down on the wednesday evening to stay for a couple of days.

Thursday was really interesting because we met Morgan Matthews, who is directing Britain in a Day. Whilst visiting him in his office we were lucky enough to be shown the rough cut of the programme and give him constructive criticism. I must admit, this wasn't easy at first when your picking apart a Bafta winning directors work but he was really open and wanted as much feedback as possible.

Friday was probably my best day out of the two, even though both events were brilliant opportunities that I didn't want to miss. We got to work with the development team in the TwoFour office in London. They split us into two groups and worked with us to pitch an idea for a certain slot. It helped to contextualise a certain type of audience to a certain type of show. From the beginning, coming up with an imaginary character called Jane felt odd, but by the end of the brainstorm it helped as you started to think what Jane would like to watch. Her hobbies we had created helped to pick the genre of the show. Overall, an amazing couple of days!!!

Here's our group pitching at TwoFour