#majorprojectideas

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK_RsT35YsA)

Project Specification

Style. techniques and content  

Length – 12-15mins

Format – HD Widescreen

Platform – Online

The central thread of the documentary will be the informal interviews with the artist skateboarders. In my mock up I have selected some clips from YouTube that demonstrate the sort of informal environments and style I will deploy. Skateboarders react better in these less forced situations and therefore I think I will get a more genuine response.

Sound

The choice of sounds that I would like to use are both diegetic and non-diegetic. it is vital to me that I get a sense of natural background ambience (especially in the skate parks/street when people are skating). This adds to the aesthetic and representation of “truth”.  To record sound, I will use a directional RODE mic so that I am able to predominantly pick up the dialogue but will also pick up some background noise. In particularly noisy places, I may also use lapel mic’s to ensure I isolate the voices of those being interviewed.

In regards to Music anything I use must be either copyright free or under Creative Commons Licence (e.g. Youtube - for which I must credit the owner). In films that have influenced me, such as Gummo (1997) and Kids Might Fly (2009) a recurring audio theme is children singing or old fashion songs. I have deployed this technique in my mock up and I like the way it sounds. I need to find some further examples of children singing rap music (or record my own) as it matches the style of film that I am trying to achieve.

Effects and layering

I like using layering and Old TV fuzz for two reasons. Firstly, it creates a nostalgic, imperfect feel. I appreciate the work of William Strobeck and his homage to old VHS skate videos. The layering and fuzz reminds me of the effect you get when you have rewound the video tape too often! Secondly, the layering gives me narrative opportunities; I can tell the audience about the work that the artist/skater produces at the same time as informing them verbally (through audio) about this and their skating techniques (and credibility as a skater).

I would like to film the artist/ skateboarder featured doing their work and layer this with their interview/ skating. I would also like to get copies of their work to use within my edit. Especially if it is animated or animatable. I have used an example of a short animation in my Mock up to represent this. I think that like Brett Morgan’s animation sections in Montage of Heck (2015), animation has an unusual effect as it is clearly not a representation of the truth but because it will belong to my subjects it will represent “a Truth”.

 Lenses

 In order to truly represent the genre and make my documentary conventional in that sense, I will deploy a range of Lenses in filming. I will use a fisheye lens to create the formulaic aesthetic but also deploy a 24mm lens to be able to shoot my informal

interviews and/ or the artist at work within an enclosed/ small space (such as a studio). I like the aesthetic of a 50mm lens to capture depth of field and close ups and hope to be able to use this too.

 Video Sources 

Sage and Sean:  interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3zwnmGDX_k [accessed 21-8-16]

Dan Murphy Free lunch interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmxwBLjJ4XA [accessed 21-8-16]

Kids Singing Young, Wild and Free" -Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmxwBLjJ4XA [accessed 21-8-16]

Zase v Dekor “Turtle Race” - Graffiti Time Lapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvMZu9uf2jAm[accessed 21-8-16]

‪Shyheim On & On A.K.A The rugged child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZbNO2lJ2s

[accessed 21-8-16]

Fuzzy TV with noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt49sa0YFXQ [accessed 21-8-16]

Old TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt49sa0YFXQ [accessed 21-8-16]

D*Face - Don’t Panic Artist Profile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSGOtWbYO80 [accessed 21-8-16]

Yung $ketchy Mother Fuckers by James Shergold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNPIhTR65q8 [accessed 21-8-16]