Task 2: ResearchGuide

Task 2:

Research GuideDirector/ Production manager

Also consider what the weather might be like on other days if you have shoot days that are not in the Peak District as these will have to be organ-ised and arranged as well.

Product design: Gather together images or short clips that reflect what you imagine the piece to look like, this could be in terms of colour, editing, pacing etc. (Remember that this is a col-laborative process so the look of the film will be negotiated with your cinematographer).

Existing films and distribution: Look at existing products that are similar in content to yours and consider where they have been distributed, produce a brief distribution plan backed up by your research.

How to direct: If your piece has actors, research how to direct them. There are books in the library, articles online or you could arrange to talk to some of the performing arts students about what they expect when receiving direction.

As director you will be the driving force behind complet-ing your adventure film. As you won the pitch you have a strong handle on what the film is and whom the target audience is. Your next steps should be looking at how to successfully shoot your product. You may look into:

Possible locationsGoogle maps, Peak District tourist guides, physical visit to potential locations, pro-duce location recce’s consid-ering aesthetic qualities. The location guide on Moodle may also be a good resource to begin looking at locations with.

Weather forecastsConsider what weather con-

ditions are likely to be like on the

shooting days.

Even if your piece is documen-tary look up how documentary makers direct their crew and subjects.

How to write a documentary: Look up documentary script writing techniques and existing examples. You have already written an A/V script in your time on the course but perhaps their are some tips or better techniques to consider before doing so again.

Primary Research: As director/ Production Manager you are ultimate-ly responsible for the shoot so if there are any technical problems that you envisage on your shoot you can work collaboratively with the appro-priate member of your crew to test out and experiment with equipment to achieve the look/ sound/ edit that you want. You can work together and collaborate on this type of research.

Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.

Remember these questions: • What did you want to research and why? • What sources have you used? • What did those sources say? • How will you test your findings? How will this inform your production? Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.

Task 2:

Research GuideCINEMATOGRAPHER/COLOURIST

audience that your film is tar-geting. You should research what your target audiences’ tastes are in terms of shots, editing, colour, graphics etc. You could produce a ques-tionnaire, survey or organise a focus group but these should be targeted at the already identified audience.

Practical cinematographyFrom your textual analyses you should have identified common techniques or tech-niques that you would like to use. Research how these techniques are achieved and what makes them effective. You should engage in some practical experimentation, take out some camera equipment and practice your techniques, this could be shot sizes, shooting the subject, using grip equipment (sliders etc), remember to document this in your research blog with imag-es.

Colour technique:Research colour correction workflow and how to get the best out of the Canon 550d in terms of colour grading.

As cinematographer you are in charge of the look of your film. You need to get a han-dle on what the product that you’re making is and how to shoot it in a way that com-municates to your audience. You may look into:

Further Textual Analyses Watch a wide range of films that are similar to yours, they might be similar in terms of content or similar in terms of primary target audience. Comment on the shot types, colour, graphics and visuals used in the films. Can you identify a common style or theme? Are these things that you will engage with or reject?

Further Target Audience identification

Your director has already

researched the

Product designGather together images or short clips that reflect what you imagine the piece to look like, this could be in terms of colour, editing, pacing etc. (re-member that this is a collab-orative process so the look of the film will be negotiated with your director).

Professional help: Consider contacting professionals in documentary for advice, look up who shot the films that you liked the most and see if you can contact them, document this in your research blog.

Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.

Remember these questions: • What did you want to re-

search and why? • What sources have you

used? • What did those sources

say? • How will you test your

findings? • How will this inform your

production?

Task 2:

Research GuideSound Designer

Practical sound design: From your textual analyses you should have identified common techniques or tech-niques that you would like to use. Research how these techniques are achieved and what makes them effective, you could look up microphone choices, suggested mix levels, compression and EQ use. You should engage in some prac-tical experimentation, take out some audio equipment and practice your techniques, this could be recording interviews outside, choosing music or practicing mixing. Remem-ber to document this in your research blog with images.

Further Target Audience identification:Your director has already researched the audience that your film is targeting. You should research what your target audiences’ tastes are in terms of music, interviews and audio. You could pro-duce a questionnaire, survey or organise a focus group but these should be targeted at the already identified audience.

As sound designer you will be responsible for the audio and mood of your film. You need to get a handle on what the product that you’re mak-ing is and how to shoot it in a way that communicates to your audience. You may look into:

Further Textual Analyses Watch a wide range of films that are similar to yours, they might be similar in terms of content or similar in terms of primary target audience.Comment on the music used, the quality of the record-ed audio, whether they are mixed in stereo or mono, the use of voice over or narra-tion.

Can you identify a common style or theme? ? Are

these things that you will

engage with or reject?

MusicFinding music that fits your project takes a long time. Have a conversation with your director about the kind of music that they envisage and scour some royalty free music libraries to find something ap-propriate before feeding back to your director.

Professional helpConsider contacting profes-sionals in documentary for advice, look up who shot the films that you liked the most and see if you can contact them, document this in your research blog.

Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.

Remember these questions: • What did you want to re-

search and why? • What sources have you

used? • What did those sources

say? • How will you test your

findings? • How will this inform your

production?

Task 2:

Research GuideEditor

Practical Editing From your textual analyses you should have identified common techniques or tech-niques that you would like to use. Research how these techniques are achieved and what makes them effective, you could look up workflow and file ordering, logging tech-niques for keeping footage organised, how to do popular transitions, how to achieve particular title design. You should engage in some prac-tical experimentation, shoot or gather some footage and practice your techniques, this could be trying out title ide-as, cutting footage to music, trying different paces of cut to establish a feel. Remem-ber to document this in your research blog with images.

Further Target Audience identificationYour director has already researched the audience that your film is targeting. You should research what your target audiences’ tastes are in terms of editing. You could produce a questionnaire, sur-vey or organise a focus group but these should be targeted at the already identified

As editor you will be respon-sible for the construction of the story of your piece. You need to get a handle on what the product that you’re mak-ing is and how ensure that you have all the shots you’ll need to communicate to your audience. You may look into:

Further Textual AnalysesWatch a wide range of films that are similar to yours, they might be similar in terms of content or similar in terms of primary target audience. Comment on the editing used, the pacing and speed of cuts, comment on any transitions that are used and what they could signify or why they’ve been used. Also analyse the type of text and titles that the film has used.

Are these techniques similar to what you

intend to do?

audience.

Product design: Gather together examples from existing products that reflect what you imagine your piece to be edited like, this could be in terms narrative, order of shots, pacing of the piece, use of narration. (Re-member that this is a collab-orative process so the editing style of the film will be negoti-ated with your director).

Professional help: Consider contacting profes-sionals in documentary for advice, look up who shot the films that you liked the most and see if you can contact them, document this in your research blog.

Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.

Remember these questions: • What did you want to research and why? • What sources have you used? • What did those sources say? • How will you test your findings? How will this inform your production? Remember document everything that you look up, write it up and show how it links to your production.