30th Jan

This week I have carried on editing my footage, trying to create continuity in my montages which has been quite difficult as I have found I haven't included as much shot variation as I need when filming so it's quite difficult to create a visually interesting shot sequence - weaving them together to communicate a large amount of information in a short time. A montage can create a whole new meaning out of the two original meanings of adjacent shots just by coupling them together in a flowing, musical way. This week I am falling quite rapidly behind shecdule as by now I am supposed to be weel on the way with editing, however it is harder than I thought it would be and is taking me extra long. It has also been slightly difficult to get some good fooatge because of the bad weather, most skaters don't come out. Something I should have thought about at the beginning of the project was that I will be filming in Januayr so I could have got more footage before christmas and used it now. For homework I am going to try and get a lot more footage and also watch some other professional documnetaries for inspiration and guidance on how to piece it all together.

9th jan Production Monitoring

This week I have kept on schedule, as I have filled out the contributor release forms and call sheets and have discussed my documentary with people who will be in it and have their permission to use thier footage. I have asked them to be at Billingham 23rd Jan, with all the necessary equipment, where we will film until 7pm. This week I have also completed my shot list, which was slightly difficult as it is a documentary, in a fly-on-the-wall, observational stlye, which means I don't know exactly what will happen in every shot, as I will be filming spontaneous reality. So I have created a basic guide of what I need when filming however, when it comes to editing I will probably change it according to the footage I get. I created my shot list in excel and created columns stating what scene this shot will be in, the shot name, location, type of shot and camera movement, and also a short description of the shot and what knid of effect I want it to achieve and how it should make the audience feel and think, such as; 'The pair of skaters in performance, wide enough to show black-box, theatrical setting, thereby establishing the types of places where they were working "in the early days" - this and next 5 or so shots show some variation in locations and shot scale...change costumes on the pair to create sense of different performances. 3 to 15 secs each clip, total about 30. Continue as abovefor the next 3-6 shots, (fast montage of skaters)' As this took me quite a while to complete, this is all the work I have done this week, homework includes handing out more call sheets and finishing any unfinished planning documents.

20th feb Production Monitoring blog

This week, according to my schedule, I should be completely finished my editing my documentary, however due to logistical problems I have been unable to do this, as I am nearly finished, I will carry on editing next week and hopefully will be finished by the end of next week.

Shot list

Shot List

13th February Production monitoring blog

This week , according to my schedule, I am supposed to be nearly finished however I am quite behind as I have not been able to film as much as I would have liked to and also have not had as much editing time as I needed. Also when I have been editing my documentary, it has taken a lot longer than I thought it would as I am not very good when it comes to using final cut express as I have not had that much experience using it so I have been watching some tutorials on youtube which have helped a little. This week I have been experimenting with different editing techniques such as trying different filters and transistions however it is didfficult to use these and make my documentary look professional, as some of the transitions appear very unskilled and unprofessional, such as the 'page peel' and 'slide'. However I have been successful in creating a gery filter over some of the more emotive shots where I want to convey a certain emotion. It also ttok me a while to import some music into my documentary, as I found it hard to choose and then had problems actually importing it, I also found that error messages that appear in final cut are very confusing and not helpful, however, I eventually did it by going to File > import > file and locate the file.
Dragging the audio file from the browser to the timeline and creating a new track so I didn't lay it on top of existing audio, I then adjusted its length to match the title and used some audio transitions to fade in and fade out.

<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_11814033"><strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/imogen1/skateboard-documentary" title="Skateboard documentary">Skateboard documentary</a></strong><object id="__sse11814033" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=skateboarddocumentary-120301054511-phpapp02&stripped_title=skateboard-documentary&userName=imogen1" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><embed name="__sse11814033" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=skateboarddocumentary-120301054511-phpapp02&stripped_title=skateboard-documentary&userName=imogen1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="padding:5px 0 12px">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/imogen1">imogen1</a>.</div></div>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxTV2Vb86Z0

6th feb

This week I have been editing my footage, I began by editing together the footage I have already filmed so it doesn't look as raw and unfinished. I have created two montages of skating clips, as my documentary is going to be very fast paced, this meant I had to cut quite a lot of the footage, which means I need a lot more than expected.  I have done this by combining a number of small shots and weaving them together to communicate a large amount of information in a short time. The shots are usually not strictly continuous in nature and I don't thinkn they need they be compiled according to subject. A montage can create a whole new meaning out of the two original meanings of adjacent shots just by coupling them together in a flowing, musical way. I will use this visual technique to portray emotion.

30th January

This week, I have started to edit some of my footage, I have created a montage of skating clips to go into my documentary to make it more fast-paced and create a more up-beat, energetic feel as this type of documentary has proved more popular with my target audience. I also feel it just fits better with the subject I have chosen, the skating clips I have chosen are all very busy and visually interesting, I feel this also creates a more raw, realistic feel to my documentary. This also caused some problems when editing however, as I had filmed abouy 20 mins worth of

Timeline

Interview Questions

How did they first get into skateboarding? Their first memory of it,

Why do they put themselves in danger when performing new stunts and tricks – adrenaline rush? 

Pressure to compete, be respected by friends, to get away from home?

Do they enjoy it?

Have they had any serious injuries from skateboarding?

Do they compete – when? Where? What happens there? Can a career be made out of it?

Are there enough skate-parks provided for them – if there were more, would this help to prevent anti-social behaviour?

Would they like skateboarding to be more recognised an actual sport, or an art form, lifestyle? – What do they think it is? Instead of hobby, gangs

Do they agree with the typical negative stereotype of skateboarders? – They are associated with drugs, dirty, graffiti, annoying, vandalism, do they think that this is fair?

Would they like to be more respected as ‘athletes’ or artists?

How do they think skateboarding has survived since 1940’s?  Has the media helped keep it going this 

long and the companies involved in making clothes and skating equipment have influenced new skaters to get involved?

What other topics effect the skateboard scene in the UK? Music, art etc

Outdoor risk assessment

Mock Up

23rd jan

This week I completed all of the outdoor risk assessment and found that the locations I have chosen to film my documentary in are quite suitable, however they some problems which I have worked out ways around these, such as choosing to film in skate parks during quiter periods, checking the weather beforehand and filming in an organised way to avoid accidents. This week I also started to film some parts of my documentary at Hartlepool skate park, this went well as I achieved some interesting shots. However I didn't have very long to film as it soon began to rain and the skate park was quite busy at the time, and so it was rather difficult to achieve good shots with only the people cast in my documentary in it. I also started to edit some of these shots, however they are mainly short sequences that I can use as cross overs between interviews and longer sequences or in a collage to make my documentary more fast-paced and visually interesting to the target audience. I also filmed an interview with one of the skaters from Legacy skatestore in Darlington called Danny Calow, he is a professional skater and very experienced, so I got a good interview with him and he said that if I go back he will do a more in-depth interview as well. I haven't got very far with editing this however, as it takes quite a long time and I haven't been able to have much time on the macs.

Target Audience Profile

call sheet camera personnel

Production Schedule: Call Sheet

 

Title: Half-Pipe Dreams; tales from the streets

Client: Darlington TV

 

Staff: Camera personnel

Location/Venue: Hartlepool Skate Park

CALL DATE: 23/01/2012

CALL TIME:  3:00pm

Transport: car

INSTRUCTIONS:

Please be ready to be picked up at 3:00pm on the 23^rd of January from Billingham town centre, with all equipment to be taken to the skate park where we will film skaters for four hours. We will leave at 7:00pm.

Consent form

Media Production Consent Form for Off-site Activities

Student Name:            Imogen Hay                                     Tutor Group: 2.45

1.            To be signed by parent/carer

I consent to my son/daughter carrying out off-site activities both during and outside of Ordinary College Hours as part of his/her Media Production Coursework.  I understand my son/daughter will be unsupervised during these activities and has selected an appropriate site for the activities based on his/her own risk assessment.  I accept that any harm to my son/daughter or his/her property during these activities is not the responsibility of the College.

Name of Parent/Carer:

Signature:

Date:                       

2.            To be signed by the student

I consent to carrying out off-site activities both during and outside of Ordinary College Hours as part of my Media Production Coursework.  I understand that I will be unsupervised during these activities and that I have personally selected an appropriate site for the activities based on my own risk assessment.  I accept that any harm to my person or my property during these activities is not the responsibility of the College.

Name of Student: Imogen Hay

Signature:

Date:                       

‘College’ being Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.

‘Ordinary College Hours’ being Monday to Friday 9am until 4.10pm (term time only, excluding public holidays)

Outdoor risk assessment

Shooting/Recording Schedule

Production Name:                                    Schedule sheet Number:

Shooting/recording Deadline:

Material/shots to record*	Date of proposed recording	Location	Personnel and equipment needed (lighting, microphones, cameras and props)
Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	11th February	Hartlepool skate park	Filming equipment, director, backup skateboards,
Interviews, Legacy skate shop	13th feb	Darlington skate shop Legacy	Filming equipment – camera, director, transport.
Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	15th feb	Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	Cameras and equipment, director, backup skateboards
In-depth interviews Haze skate shop	16th feb	Haze Skate shop Hartlepool	camera, tripod, other equipment camera personnel
Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	17th feb	Hartlepool skate park	Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.
Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	18th feb	Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.	Skateboarding footage, interviews on location.

Contingency Plan

My Contingency Plans

My Top Ten Project Killers

What could go wrong during production	How are you going to avoid this issue? What’s your back up plan?
Bad weather – wet, icy, slippery condition, means people can’t skate, outdoor skate parks will be closed and are dangerous	To avoid this issue I will check the weather forecast before arranging shoots. My backup plan will be to use sheltered areas or indoor skate parks.
Skateboards breaking	I will make sure people in my documentary have back up skateboards in case they break
People injured	Skateboarding is s dangerous activity and people often get hurt, to reduce the risk of people injuring themselves, I will carry out a detailed location recce and only choose to film in places which are as safe as possible.
Transport to location	Problems may occur when travelling to locations such as cars breaking down etc, as a back up plan I will make sure there is always a way we can get to the filming location.
Skaters not turning up	some skaters can be slightly unreliable, to avoid this issue, I will make sure they have clear understanding of where to be at the right time and if they can't make it I will find some other skaters to take part at the skate park.
Hazardous substances	some skaters consume hazardous substances, although I want my documentary to give a realistic insight in to the world of skaters, I will make sure that all of the skaters know the rules and do not do this on set
Underage skaters	As skate parks are public places and usually it gets crowded with younger people too, this could mean that they appear on film in the background by accident, without their own or their parents consent. To avoid this issue I will chose to film in the skate park at much quieter times when there are less people there, and be careful when filming.

Recce

Recce

A Recce is a pre-filming or pre-photography visit to a location. The purpose of the visit is to decide upon the suitability of the location for shooting. You will need to comment upon the access to necessary facilities, assessment of potential lighting and or any potential issues with sound.

·     Note: It is vital that you pay attention to health and safety problems when constructing your Recce

·         Is the location suitable for your purposes?  (Link to product objectives)

·         When are others using the location, how and for what?

·         How does this affect your shooting? (Link to shooting schedule)

·         Do you need permission to shoot? Whose permission? (If needed, obtain permission, link to bookings and shooting schedule)

·         LIGHTING: is natural lighting sufficient or is extra light needed? (If so arrange/book and link to shooting schedule)

·         If using natural lighting, investigate difference during the day. At which times of the day is the lighting suitable/at its best for your purposes? From which direction does sunlight enter and when/where are shadows cast?  Does this matter? (Link to shooting schedule and bookings/permission where applicable)

·         Which areas/angles will you include in your shots?

·         Which areas/angles will you avoid?

·         Do you need extra props? (Link to schedule)

·         Do you need to remove/add/change anything? (Link to schedule)

·         Are power points needed for any equipment? Where are they? Any safety implications?

·         What about ACOUSTICS? Test if unsure.

·         Background sounds? What are they? When do they occur? Do they matter?

·         Any hazards/risks which might affect any personnel or equipment involved in your production in this location? (Link to risk assessment)

You should devise and complete a table similar to the one shown, ensuring that you include appropriate detail.

Potential Locations - Description	Photograph of where you will shoot.	Is it suitable – how? Why? (Access, Lighting, Sound )	Additional  Comments / Observations
Hartlepool Skate park – This location is outdoors and so is subject to bad weather. This location can be quite dangerous as there are a lot of concrete ramps and it can get rather crowded.		This location is suitable as there are usually a lot of skilled skaters there so this will allow me to gather some good footage as it is a well equipped skate park. The skate park is well lit for safety reasons, so this will not be a problem. As the skate park is surrounded by a bust road, the traffic can get quite loud, which means I will have to do some extra editing during post-production. Also, as the skate park can get very over-crowded, this makes it extra dangerous, especially with people doing tricks on BMX’s, this will make it more difficult to get interesting footage. The skate park is not that visually interesting so I would	loud traffic noise in background. Can get very crowded - dangerous. Outdoor - bad weather means I will be unable to to film.
The Works - an indoor skatepark in Leeds, as it is indoor, this is more useful as it means when there is bad weather, there will be more skaters there than usual. This location can be quite dangerous as there are a lot of concrete ramps and it can get very crowded		This skatepark is indoor which means we can film there in bad weather. however it is usually very crowded and there are usually more people on bikes and scooters rather than skateboards, this can make it very difficult to get good footage. There are also a lot of younger people there, from the age of 11. The skatepark is very visually interesting which will contrast well to the one in Hartlepool	As the monthly membership of this skatepark is quite expensive, it may not give me a realistic insight into the skateboard sub-culture in the North-East. Also as it is in Leeds, this can make it very difficult to get transport there

call sheets

16h January

This week, I am running behind schedule, as I was supposed to finish my personal evaluation, I was also supposed to begin filming my documentary, however this was not possible due to bad weather, the skatepark that I arranged to film at is outdoor and is closed when it ranis or is icy as these are very dangerous conditions. In my contingency I did plan around this as my documentary is very dependent on good weather, however due to logistical problems, we could not get to Leeds indoor skatepark. Accoding to the weather forecast we are can now start the filming process next week, however just incase something goes wrong I have also arranged back up transport to Leeds. I have also arranged interviews at Legacy skateshop so that I have something to edit. This week I have been planning the questions I will ask in the interview, such as; 'Why do they put themselves in danger when performing new stunts and tricks – adrenaline rush? Pressure to compete, be respected by friends, to get away from home?', 'Do they agree with the typical negative stereotype of skateboarders? – They are associated with drugs, dirty, graffiti, annoying, vandalism, do they think that this is fair?'.

2 January Production Monitoring

According to my schedule, this week I planned to complete my, outdoor risk assessments and contingency plans so that I would be ready to start filming. This week I was partly successful as I have completed my most of the outdoor risk assessment, - for Hartlepool skate park and Leeds skatepark, in this, I discussed how things could go wrong, such as accidents and collisions, as skateparks can get quite busy and there are a lot people doing very dangerous tricks. I may have to go back and fill out the Leeds risk assessment in more detail. I have not been able to visit all of the locations to see if they are suitable, and if they fit health and safety regulations so I will finish this next week, such as places on the street, which may be especially dangerous. I have also completed my contingency plan as there are a lot of things likely to go wrong when filming my documentary, such as not being able to film at all due to bad weather and people being injured as skateboarding is such a dangerous sport, skateboards breaking, skaters not turning up and transport to locations breaking down, when planning contingencies, I had to think of everything that could possibly go wrong, another problem might be that some skaters consume hazardous substances, my documentary will not condone this type of behaviour, however one of my aims is to give a realistic insight into the lifestyle habits of a skater.