Week 7 Session Notes: Producing and Editing Documentaries

In this week's session we had a very useful group discussion on the problems that we have encountered during our documentary filming so far, in particular with interviews.

We have had a couple of problems regarding framing which we discussed and Chrissie gave us some good advice about overcoming the problems, such as using objects as reflectors to combat some of the lighting issues that we have encountered.

Chrissie also gave some good pointers about 'shooting for editing' and how the camera operator can use their initiative to reframe shots during the filming.  One example I particularly like, and which applies to our film, is the idea of setting the interview up as a medium shot for the generic questions and going for a close up on the personal questions.  I think we should use that.

We have already been shooting cutaways to go with interviews (which was another tip).  For example, in Tango's den he talks about the friends he's made with fans of other clubs and overseas clubs and he showed us many momentos that he has collected and presents he has received.  This fleshes Tango out as a person but it will be more visually exciting to show cut aways of the objects rather than just watch him talk about them or follow him around the room pointing things out  So Hannah and Jacob filmed close ups of the objects for exactly that purpose.

I don't really agree with the idea that cross dissolves and quick fade down & ups work all the time.  Sometimes it can look very low budget and amateurish.  It can also look like they are only there to cover a bad cut, or worse still (in my eyes) to censor out something, which if I'm watching a documentary is the one thing that annoys me because, I watch a documentary presuming that I am being fed the truth.  If bits of footage appear to have been cut then I automatically that someone is manipulating the truth and only feeding me what they want me to know.  Sometimes fades and dissolves can work, but I think they have to be considered carefully.

In the session we also talked about Producing and Production Management.

*The difference between the two areas is that Production Management concentrates more on the administration and scheduling side of the project while Producing is more concerned with 'making it happen' = identifying audience, researching market, pitching, raising money and getting the film seen.

We also discussed the legal and ethical responsibilities and the importance of knowing the 'legals and rules' and the code of conduct.

I have been very careful in all my projects to get permissions for locations, contributors, music and found footage. I make sure that I get written permission and keep a copy in my Project Production Toolkit.