Fiction Adaptation- David

After filming with David he asked me what the best way to advertise him self though the university would be, this lead me to have a conversation with Laura Taylor, Laura is able to advertise David though the course for him.

I had given Laura Davids email and he soon told me that she would help. 

This is what Laura was able to do for David; 

This was posted though out my course and all students can see this and therefore he can get more work within the UCA. 

Fiction Adaptation- Test Shots

This short piece is of the shots that went wrong and some test shots of inside the house. The first few shots that went wrong are those that were when the camera was not configured correctly. They are very pixilated but after we realised Andrei fixed it.

Fiction Adaptation- Shorts

As part of our Workshop with Alex Boorman we need to make a few basic shorts, Happy, sad and Angry. I was in a group of three with Sophie and Aimee. We all came up with ideas and then shot them. Angry was of road rage in which Aimee was acting and Sophie was on camera. Happy was the one I was director and camera man, Sophie was my actor. Aimee did the shots for sad. Aimee edited the pieces together.

I think if we had worked together on the edit it would have been smoother and the over-all working together was a good experience as we all added something to the ideas.

Fiction Adaptation- Essay Feedback

We recently received feedback from the essay draft that we have produced. After receiving the feed back I decided to improve my work by trying to look into more research and improve all the points that Kath has given me.

Digital News- Final Script

As the filming is now finished and we are in the editing stage of the project I have decided to update the final script. 

Script for Digital News

Fiction Adaptation- Script Feedback

After handing in the script last week today we received our feedback today in which we were able to see what we can improve in the script.
The feedback goes along the lines that;

• A well presented and carefully thought out script with some nice shot and action description. 
• Character is well established at the top and the memorial service is nicely paced. 
• My only issue is that the ending feels a bit of an anti-climax - the narrative of the old man's story doesn't seem to go anywhere - this is a shame.
• Would like to see some sort of development and arc to his story - otherwise he is not really adding anything - go back to basics - what does he represent? Make sure this comes through in his story and character. 
•  Otherwise it is tightly scripted piece with a lot of potential - simple but effective. 

My character in the film represents some one who is morning through the years but is not doing so in an open and dramatic way he is playing it down as he is a military man and has been trained for this. I feel like his story is going somewhere but is better seen in the film in the way he changes his clothes in respect and puts the poppy on proudly. 

Fiction Adaptation- Call Sheet House

For the scenes at the house I had toy dress the living room and kitchen, so I had to be there to set up before Mike and David. I had Mike turn up before David as to discuss location, shots and what I needed in the day, Mike was able to provide ideas on how to light and what shots would work. David arrived with a selection of costumes making it easy to change and to make the story. 

Call Sheet 17.11.14

Fiction Adaptation- Shoot 2

The house shoot was in my own house that is rented with three other people. I had asked Andrei Allen to be camera operator but the day before he informed me he was not able to help, this lead me to contact Mike Hoad who was more then happy to help.

The shoot time was 12:00, but as I live there I decided to dress the set and have some test shots before Mike and the actor (David) arrived. I was able to do a few test shots that were able to establish that I needed much light in the living room as well as a cover for the window. With the extra time I gave myself I was able to set up the first room, the kitchen and have a test shot. Mike arrived at 12 in which I went through the script and the shot list of what we needed, Mike was able to give me the shots I needed as he was easily directed and was able to help me if he did not think the shot would work. David arrived at 12:30, soon after he arrived we were able to start filming, most shots were more then one take but I believe the coverage was good. Filming finished around 2:30 but all shots were achieved.

Coverage could have been better in the living room but I did not realise this until I came to the edit but a good idea off Lex helped me to make it look natural.

Fiction Adaptation- Workshop

In this workshop we were allowed to experiment with the cameras (Canon 5D), we were looking at slow motion. I worked with Mike, Lex and Sophie.

Fiction Adaptation- Set

For the final shoot I decided to make the set look like my idea as much as possible, I added books, letters, tablets, vases and a light to the living room to make it into my characters living room. 

In the kitchen I removed all personal items and only left the appliances that I thought my character would use. I cleaned the kitchen to make it seem unused and empty. 

I left the television in the living room but removed the Wii and dvd's from around it. 

I also grabbed some junk mail and put it next to the chair of our main character. I put a letter addressed to him on the top, this is in hand writing as it was a letter from his brother for his birthday which was the 10.11.14. 

I believe that I have made some really good decisions in the way of my set, it portrays an older persons home, including the isolation of Robert.

Fiction Adaptation- Actor

While recording the voice over for my fiction adaptation film, the actor that is being in the film and being the voice over wanted to read the poem and make notes. He made many notes on my poem that I had a look after and it made me think that he was definitely the right person as he was very passionate about the work and about the subject matter.

I should have copied the work on to the blank document so that he would have more room to make notes and so that during filming he would not need to turn the page. 

Fiction Adaptation- Final Script

This is the final script that I used for the filming. 

The Cenotaph

Digital News- Theory Workshop

During the workshop on Thursday 13th November we were asked to look at news stories that were pre-recorded and see the news values and news worthiness.
I was in a group with Sophie and Tim, we looked at ITV and Channel 5 on the 11.11.14.

ITV-22:30- 30 mins

• Remembrance Day- News worthy due to the audience want to see about the day (current). Ideologies of remembering people that are lost. Pictures from across Britain and France. 100 year anniversary of the start of WW1 and the poppies at tower bridge. Veteran interview (Iraq)
• David Cameron on Benefit claimers- Following Folk Devils, putting a cap on those who can access benefits, EU court case. Rochester by-election. 
• Home Office- Investigation into suspicions. Cover up? People are interested to see if the government are part of the issue in sex offenders. 
• Banks investigation- Banks to receive fine. They are trusted with most of the publics money therefore have a close proximity and effect on the audience. 
• Mass Sterilisation- India paying women to be sterilised causing deaths. Controlling the population. Going against norms and conventions in English society therefore is shocking by interesting for an audience. 
• Science- Landing on a comet. touch and go mission. 
• Papers- Tomorrows headlines 
• Remembrance- Money that has been raised through poppies (money that the public raised), Poem reading and Art exhibit. 

Channel 5-17:00- 24 mins 

• Remembrance- Poppies, trying to make it global, Canada, Belgium and France included. Veterans interviewed, from recent wars (Afghanistan). Interview with the person who designed the poppies at Tower Hill.
• Home Office- Investigation. No evidence for it to go further. Interview with David Cameron. 
• Pay Day Loans- Relevant to an audience that may be in debt. Explaining the changes in simple terms. Interview with some effected. 
• Terrorist Trial- Jury Dismissed. Ploy to kill Tony Blair and wife.
• Age- Second part of series. Talking about age. Reaching to an older audience. 
• Remembrance- 'bring people together'. Poem lines read by the public. 

ITV and channel 5 had different news programs but some of the same news. From this comparison it looks like ITV are more looking towards Hard news and Channel 5 soft news. They are owned by different companies making their news values different and can mean they are looking at different audiences. ITV can be compared to The Guardian and Channel 5 The Mirror, in the styles of reporting. 

Due to there being a range of choices in the media in what someone can watch and where they can get there information it has made news programs have to try harder to reach their audiences and made it more of a competition but they have to keep the same type of news telling. "The people who run the news stations know that, and they, as much as a new comer to the newsroom, need to know that person and what he expects, what he needs and what he wants", this quote by Boyd, Stewart and Alexander, gives the reasoning that the audience want to put on the news and see what they expect to see. Therefore the stories run are those that the audience want to know and hopefully what they need to know. Sometimes it does not always work that way as some news may put across a certain story without all the information but the audience is seen as a entity that will not go out and seek the truth for them selves therefore sometimes news broadcasters can get away with not portraying all the information. 

Fiction Adaptation- Script

While trying to do my script I needed to remind myself of certain formatting as I need pauses in my scripts to help with the flow, I feel I may be adding to many pauses, but I would like it to be slow and carefully said.

These pauses will help me get a feel of when I would like the pause to come, but without having a reading I feel like I can not know what they will sound like. I have added description to the script but they are not flowing, therefore they lack something. The  other issue is that I have made the script but not added (V/O) in the correct places which is all  of the poem except the title. 

I had many issues writing the script as I had forgotten the basic lay out of the script and even after handing it in did I realise I didn't put if it was an INT. or a EXT. I left it all under the same INT.Home even though the script goes outside many times. 

The Cenotaph 0.3

Fiction Adaptation- Call Sheet Voice Over

For the voice over I decided to do it at Maidstone Studios as to make sure that I was able to get all the sound equipment I needed. After a few room changed the Voice Over was recorded with David Watson.

Call Sheet 10.11.14

Fiction Adaptation- Editing

Today I recorded the voice over, for my project and added into my time line along with the images I recorded on Sunday 9th November, I have created gaps in the audio on the natural pauses. I have tried to get the images in the correct order but will not be able to be prefect until I get the next images from the next shoot. 

Fiction Adaptation- Casting

After meeting the applicant for my film I decided I would like him to be in the film as well as do the voice over for my work. He is happy to do both and we will now be keeping in contact through email instead of on StarNow.

David has a good strong voice that would make a good atmosphere for my film, he also is able to put emotion into the piece that will help me with making the film into a story. 

Fiction Adaptation- Call Sheet Rochester

On the shoot for the parade in Rochester I had Andrei Allen on Camera and Mark Cooper as a runner/sound. They helped with getting all the shots and sound needed on the day. 

Call Sheet Parade

Fiction Adaptation- Remembrance Parade Rochester

Sunday 9th November 2014- Remembrance Sunday, I did a shoot today in Rochester filming the parade, my contact in the British Legion (Tony) found me at the end of the parade and we had a small chat in which I stated that I would put some clips together and send it to him, I have created a 3 min version of the parade with what I deme the best shots, I have exported them from final cut and will upload on YouTube to then send the link to Tony. I shortened the overall day as I wanted most of the best shots to be involved.

I received a reply from Tony, about the video in which he said; "that is really quite emotional. Thank you." I have replied to him that if he would like I will also send him the final piece. Although this edit is rough I still find there are small improvements that I could have spotted in the edit.

Fiction Adaptation- Shoot 1

I had a remembrance parade shoot in Rochester, 9.11.14, I was able to be there due to the permission given by the British Legion. At the shoot I had Andrei Allen present as Camera operator and Mark Cooper there for general support. Andrei was a good choice for camera as he was able to take direction easily and after looking at the footage it is easy to see that he was well involved in running around the location giving a range of shots.

We arrived at the location at 9:45 to set up and take a series of short shots for testing. The crowds starting arriving after 10:30 giving some time for people shots just before the parade began. We were able to get a good location behind a barrier after have a small chat with an organiser, this gave us uninttriupted  views of the Cathedral and all that was happening in the street as well as in front of the Cathedral. We left the location around 12:30, but with stopping to get more crowd shots and shots of the poppies being admired.

I believe that I chose the correct location as well as the correct camera operator. I do think however that I should have entered the Cathedral, even though the film does not need a shot of inside during the service I think the option would have been helpful.

Fiction Adaptation- Music Video

In todays workshop we were looking at music videos and adapting them into something of an original idea. Mine is the song Zombie by the Cranberries with YouTube footage of military action.

Digital News- Channel 5

My comparison to BBC news will be Channel 5 news, it was a bit harder to navigate their website to find the information I needed.

Channel 5 have a few different channels and each is different. 

   

Channel 5's branding is, a network bought by Viacom with franchises such as neighbours being shown daily. 

The website has a link to the ownership section to talk about the owners, in which Viacom are a international media network. They own many brands of networks such as MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. 

"Our audience"- they provide figures to explain how they are accessed buy the country through different television mediums. 

ITN provide Channel 5 news, 'covering the key events of the day with a boldness often lead on different stories to other news programs and put people at the heart its news reports"

Digital News- BBC News

While working on the research for the upcoming essay I decided it may be a good idea to look into the BBC and how they work and why. I need to be able to have as much information about them as possible. 

History of the BBC- The Logo Story, "Branding and identity has almost become a science. It was not always this way, and for broadcasters in the UK, building a brand around a TV channel was almost unknown until the early 1980s with the arrival of Channel 4. The BBC Television Service started thinking about on screen identity a few years before its monopoly was threatened, with the arrival of the first ITV company in 1955. From this moment on, the BBC started to understand the power of its on-air look, and by the 1990s it was successfully associating its TV channels with the wider BBC brand. In the months to come we will be adding to these pages with more insights and previously unseen material" This is the wording from the website in which I am looking at the history. 

The BBC has a BBC Trust in which it can be seen to be the BBC providing information for everyone that pays towards the television licence. They are showing what they are doing to help the public get the best out of the BBC. 

BBC Trust- talking about their audience and how they can understand them, including how they listen to their audience to know what the public want to get out out of the BBC. 

This is part of the News room of BBC and where they get their news from. It is sources mainly Reuters, most of their stories come from the main BBC news room. 

BBC have their own set of values and their 'mission'. Mission "To enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. 

Fiction Adaptation- Character development

While going through peoples work on Tuesday 4th November I realised I did not have a character profile for my main character in the fiction adaptation film.
I decided I needed to create a character that would hopefully reflect the ideas of the Cenotaph as remembrance.
I needed to do research on the age range I am thinking of and what wars they would have been involved in and when. The age of my character is 65 there fore I needed to think of the theory of what age he would have been when he joined and when he would of joined why.

Robert Smith
10.11.1959
Family; The family home was located in Bedford
Martha Smith-Mother- House wife
Arthur Smith- Father- Writer (unsuccessful)
Alfred Smith-Brother- Royal Marines- died at 24- Battle of Goose Green
Harry Smith- Brother- Teacher (Maths)-67- retirement home

Robert Smith had a string of unsuccessful career attempts he turned 22 and decided he needed to something with his life so he joined the Royal Air Force. After a family christmas he saw his older brother Alfred talking about his training and all the people he had met, Robert had seen these stories as glamorous and decided to join in January 1981 he was 21, he went into the military as a Junior Technician. As a junior technician when his time came to be deployed in May 1982 into the Falklands   he was to stay with the base, he was only there as a technician. His brother how ever as part of the Royal Marines was involved in the battle of Goose Green. Many lives were lost in the battle but the war was over within a month of British troops arriving. Alfred Smith was one of those lives that were lost in the battle and upon coming home Robert learnt that his brother had perished. He soon became guilty that he was not on the ground with his brother. He developed survivors guilt, this lead him to lead on lonely life that ended up with him retiring at 60 from the Royal Air Force at the rank of Chief Technician in 2009. Robert lived in Aylesbury in the RAF Halton quarters until he retired in that time he then moved into his own house in Aylesbury.

This is a time line that could be relevant in case of when and where Robert Smith may have served.

Fiction adaptation- Shot list

This is a short rough shot list that I will be going over with my camera man Andrei Allen, on the day we will also be on the look out for images that could be in support of the project that may not be written down on here.

Fiction Adaptation- Actor

While looking into the applications on Star Now I found a man named David Watson had applied, I have asked him for an interview on the 10th November, in which if I find I like his voice and the way he reads to poem I may ask him to be the actor and get him to film the voice over when he comes in for the interview. I have heard a clip he posted on StarNow and found his voice and accent clear. Hopefully I will be able to interview him and have him film the voice over on the day I will also have a second chance later on as I would have a separate filming day for a house location.

While looking back at sending out applications I wish I had put it on more then just the one site as I would have had more of a variety. But I did put it on there within a good time period.

Fiction adaptation-Story board

This are the story board created for the current script, they are a rough idea for the shoot on Sunday 9th November.

Fiction Adaptation- Remembrance Day

The idea that I got from my poem was based around remembrance and the parade. This lead to having to research the parade and how it works, there is a parade in Maidstone and Rochester. I have decided after contact with the British Legion that I would film the parade on the 9.11.14.