Commissions Unit- Help

Now that I have this interview to plan for I needed help off my tutor, Helen, thankfully she provided me with some advice that I can write questions on and helping me understand what kind of questions I can ask without seeming like I am intrusive.  

"Roxanne,

I think you need to ask questions which establish a bit more about this person's situation - a bit of background about them (this can be done without identifying them - e.g. I have two children and lost my job 3 years ago could apply to anyone!!) - and how they ended up needing help, also about how bad things got before got help. 

Also try to get them to talk about the wider situation - i.e. is it not astonishing that this is a problem in our country and what do they think has caused this sort of situation to be more widespread - more people and more centres like this appearing all the time. Try to ask questions which give us more about the emotional side of the story it is a bit factual and at present. We need to CARE about them and their situation.

Get them through your questions to tell their story.

Hope this helps,

Helen"

Commission Unit- Interview

This is the most recent email I received off Ian for the interview. 

"Ok,
I have just spoken to the lady. She is called…. and she is ok with it as you describe. Her number is …... and you can ring her tonight, tomorrow or Friday between 4pm and 9pm.
PLEASE NOTE - She has had a rough ride with the benefit system. Please try not to include too many details of her case…..Can I also add that I will need to see the film when it is complete and before anyone else sees it to be sure that we are happy to go 'public with it. (Just a precaution, I am sure that it will be wonderful)
I hope this helps
With Regards & BlessingsIan Childs
project manager, Medway food bank"

I called the interviewee straight away and set up and interview for this week, I hope to get all I need from her but keep her feeling comfortable at the same time.

Commissions Unit- Interview questions

After finding out the possibility of having an interview with someone that can give me information about their experience with the Food Banks system, I came up with a few questions before I go see my tutor tomorrow to ask for advice on producing a few more questions. 

Interview of Anonymous

Commissions Unit- Contact

This is the most recent contact I have had with the project manager; 

"Hi Roxanne
Welcome back! Time flies.
I totally agree with you and we have been trying to secure someone for the national media also for weeks. I do have a lady that I think we can include BUT the interview would need to be a 'from the back' anonomised view.
Let me know if you want to set this up as I need to make some calls.
With Regards & BlessingsIan Childs
project manager, Medway food bank"

My reply is;
"Hello,
I would love to have someone to talk to, we could use her interview over some other clips "re-enactments", so she would be on film but we can make sure she can not be seen. I would need to interview her this week, I also think I need to come to the wears house this week to get some more shots of the wear house. Aimee is seeing our tutor tomorrow to clarify what we need to get as we feel like we are missing some thing.
Thank you
Roxanne Meats" 

Commissions Unit- Update

As of the 28th April the group is now only Aimee and myself, we are now assuming the titles we have been for most of the project; 

Aimee being the Camera Operator and Editor.

Myself being Producer/Director. 

After talking about the edit so far we decided that we need more cut away and actuality footage as our film is sync heavy. We need to find people to help with the re-anactments and we need to go out and get more general footage so that we can have a 'show me' film not a 'tell me' film. We may have a narrator as they will be the guiding voice for the audience to make sense of all the footage. 

Commissions Unit- Workshop

This was the second attempt at making the video but this time with cutaways.

Commissions Unit- Workshop

This is my first attempt at a sync edit.
There are a few things still wrong with the audio and since I have not got the cutaways in the footage looks jumpy, some improvements to be made. I have learnt about fine cutting and the importance of spending the time to listen. Not all the time does a paper edit work with people's voices there for as a producer I need to give my editor Aimee.

Commissions Unit- News

While thinking about having to set up other interviews with people who have used the Food Banks I am trying to keep on top of news stories that can add information for me to be able to talk about. I need to make sure that I am well informed about the Food Banks in the news.

Kent Online

The Kent Online article includes a interview with Ian Childs the project manager who we also have an interview with, after reading what Ian has said we can see that we have more information in our interview by him. 

Commissions Unit- Update

After spending some time talking with Aimee about editing we decided to try and ask the project manager (Ian) and someone from the Salvation Army (Iris) to try and reach out to people who may be able to help us add a personal touch to our work. 

"Hello Ian and Iris, 

I'm hoping either of you have some good news for me about a case study, I am coming back to Medway on the 27th April, I will be with the editor of the project looking into the 'real story' factor and if we can have a human touch to the story without another interview. I think this may be very hard to make the project feel personal without a personal view from someone who has received help, I can understand if we can not get any one but I would still like to try my best to get someone as soon as I can. Thank you for you help. 

Roxanne Meats"

Commissions Unit- News

During the documentary period I have kept an eye on news reports about the Food Banks and Trussell Trust.
A news article posted online by The Guardian, explaining that Religious Leaders think that there is a 'national crisis', of rising food and hunger poverty.  
The Guardian (16.04.14)

A news article posted online posted by The Daily Mail, tells of the rise in the need for Food Banks and how the government is to blame.
Daily Mail (19.04.14)

The Trussell Trust have set up their own area on their website for people to find "our latest news".

Commissions Unit- Transcript

Interview Transcripts- Project Manager

Commissions Unit- Transcript interview

Interview Transcripts- Warehourse Manager

Commissions Unit- Transcript interview

Interview Transcripts- Salvation Army

Commissions Unit- Food bank script 2

Script- Food Bank 2

Commissions Unit- Contact with food bank

After my last email Ian (project manager of the Food Banks) he emailed me back, the spammed email address did explain the lack of communication between the two of us but due to the amount of times I went to the food banks this is the first it became as issue. 

"Hi Roxanne (and Iris by Copy)

I just discovered you in the 'spam'. Don't worry though. Now un-spammed!

I am trying hard to source some folk for a 'real story'. A real person who uses our foodbank and will talk to you on film.

This is an area that we really struggle with and I rely on the centres encouraging people to give us their consent.

Am going to make some calls NOW.Then back on the case on Thursday afternoon.

I am on holiday next week so not sure what to suggest if I fail? Perhaps you could work more closely with Iris at the Salvation Army and see if she can get someone who will 'go public'

Iris, there is no harm in encouraging people to speak to us, we just have to respect the 'no'

Incidentally I have a need for the same for a person to appear on ITV Daybreak next week so could really do with some help! Can we find someone?

With Regards & Blessings

Ian Childs"

Commissions Unit- Forms

These are the forms that had to be produced for the filming of the documentary they are for both days of filming on the 3.4.14 and 4.4.14

Commissions Unit- Interview Questions

Interview Food Banks

Commissions Unit- Feedback

After having a meeting for a project update with Helen we decided that we were missing a personal touch to our documentary.  We have a few ideas on how to solve this such as waiting for a willing case study to come up. We are also looking at matching the images to the interviews.
I decided to email the project manager of the Medway Food Banks;
"Hello, 

All the footage we have looks amazing but I would like to know if there is any chance that you could keep looking in to a case study for me, I think at the moment the film is lacking an element of a personal touch, such as a personal story. I have another two weeks until I need to be filming so if you would not mind keeping an eye out for someone in that period of time it would help me a great deal. 

Thank you 

Roxanne Meats"

Commissions Unit- Test shot

This is the camera as we set it up before we went on shoot, we were testing the clip mic and how well Aimee got on with the cameras buttons. She was use to the camera before we went out on shoot.

Commissions Unit- Music

After looking at a few different music artist that replied to my add I decided on three that I would send this message to;
"Hello,
The documentary theme is now Food Banks that help people who are in need I would like you to make a ten min piece that has no very much base and is mainly strings. This piece should have highs and lows but mainly highs as we are highlighting the help Food Banks provide, this hopefully is a good specification for you.
Thank you
Roxanne Meats"

I will hopefully hear off each of them soon, I chose to contact; James Best, Alice English and Leonard Cosensen. I liked each of their works the same therefore could not pick between them, if they decide that they do not want the task then I have decided on a few back ups.

Commissions Unit- Further Research

From each of these videos I learnt more about the food banks and how they work. I also learnt about the opposition to the food banks and why they are against them. Each video has something new information for me to learn about.

Commissions Unit- Food Banks questions

After writing a few questions with my tutor we came up with  a few more questions and how I needed to word them. This is the email I sent to the project manager as he wanted to know some of the questions that may be asked.

"Hello, 
I have written a few questions but these are just things to get all the information I need they may be slightly different on the day; 
Project manager:
Tell me about your role? 
Tell me about Trussell Trust organisation? 
How does a food bank work? 
Where do you operate from? How can people find you? 
What other service do you provide but the supply of food? 
Why would you say we need them?
What is the reaction from others on the food banks?
How do yo see the next few years? 

Warehouse manager:
What is your role in the food bank system?
How does the donation system work? 
Tell me about your team?
What do the volunteers do?

Thank you 
Roxanne Meats"

Commissions Unit- Salvation Army

After not being in contact with the Salvation Army I decided to send an email to the Food Banks project manager;

"Hello, 
I called both numbers for the Salvation Army and I have emailed them with no response although I would like to go there to meet them before Friday at the moment that is not looking possible I was wondering if you had any other way to get hold of them just to warn them that we may be coming on Friday for interviews with volunteers. They may think we are another group from the university as there are three girls going there Friday to talk about the program mummy and me. 
Thank you
Roxanne Meats" 

This was their reply; 
"Good morning Roxanne,

The Foodbank will be open tomorrow between 10.30 and 1.30 and when you arrive you should ask for me (Murray Smith). Naturally we have to respect the dignity and identity of our clients so it is important that you speak with me personally. Our church leaders, Majors Alec and Andrea Still may also be present depending on their respective diaries.
Please could you email me by return to confirm what time you will arrive.
Regards
Murray Smith"

Commissions Unit- Food Bank

Today I had a meeting with Ian the project manager of the Medway Food Bank, we talked about interviews and case studies that could be done and we also had a discussion on filming dates for the interviews and footage such as cut aways. I took the following notes most are things that he mentioned for me to follow up on after the meeting;

• Questions for interviews
• Script work
• Trussell Trust- history 411 food banks 
• Lots of volunteers 
• Christians
• Project Manager- interview
• Warehouse Manager-interview 
• Volunteers-interview
• Panorama (food bank)
• All is connected by a database 
• 7th food bank to open after Easter
• Reports- information shared- "December 12-13 served 3 1/2 thousand, 1/3 children"
• 50% are using food banks due to benefits, change or delay
• Look Trussell Trust numbers
• Very clear procedures "boundaries" 
• Crisi unit 
• 3x sixth month period, 3 days worth of food 
• Areas of agencies, help to contact the right people for further help 
• Respectful help 
• Denominations of Christians, different churches united 

Commissions Unit- Food Bank Leaflet

When we visited the food bank we received a leaflet with information about the food bank;

Commissions Unit- Salvation Army

After talking to Ian from the Food Banks we decided that we would like to film in the salvation army but after calling they suggested I sent an email; 

"Dear Sir or Madam, 

I am contacting you after a meeting with Ian the food bank project manager, he has talked to Iris about this project that I am doing. I would like to come the Salvation Army in Chatham on Friday 4th April to do some filming and to talk to some people at the salvation army about the work they do and what they think of the Food Banks and the service they provide. 

If you could please get in contact as soon as possible so that I may arrange a time to come to the salvation army and whom I would be able to talk to that would be wonderful. This is a documentary project for my university, the UCA, I would love to have footage from another part of the food bank but the warehouse. 

Kind Regards 

Roxanne Meats "

The salvation army are one of the places that hand out food from the food banks that are not a church and I would like to talk to people there and get footage. 

Commissions Unit- Locations

After looking around the warehouse and taking photos we decided we will be filming there and the salvation army, we are now able to do risk assessment forms more quickly.