Planning: Focus Group

I have chosen three people I know to be my 'Focus Group'
I will refer back to these people for some audience feedback after completing my three products.

Name: Ellie
Age: 18
Studying: Business, Textiles and Sociology
Interests: Music, Fashion and Socialising
Dislikes: Maths, Alcohol and Cats

Name: Scarlett
Age: 17
Studying: Media, Sociology and Politics
Interests: Music, friends and animals
Dislikes: Working, the radio and running

Name: Patrick
Age: 26
Works: for a large transport company
Interests: People, Music and Current Affairs
Dislikes: Arguments, Cats and Meat

Planning: Flat Plans

I have drawn two flatplans for my ancillary products shown below, click to enlarge.

Planning: Filming and Interviews

I have made a word document containing the questions I plan to ask at the interviews I am filming. I will be  interviewing a Volunteer Services Manager for a local charity, Havens Hospices as well as a volunteer for this organisation.

Planning: Mood Board

I have created a mood board on Photoshop, presenting different images associated with the Third Sector, Volunteering and Community. This will enable me to decide on which specific ideas I wish to focus in on for my documentary.

Planning: For Filming

For my documentary I wish to film a variety of footage so that when it comes to editing I have a wide range of choice. I am planning to compose 4 interviews; one with a Volunteers Manager and three with different volunteers. I also plan to film an introduction/narration as well as other footage to capture the working office of a charity. I am also planning to compose short interviews with members of the public to present different opinions and raise different questions in the piece, as this will help me with the creative process of deciding upon a final direction for my documentary.

I am planning to film at Havens Hospices, shown here:

Planning: '3-minute-wonder'

I recently researched into the Channel 4 '3 Minute Wonder' series' and I was really interested by the format and their purpose. I have decided that I wish for my documentary extract to be from the an episode of a series. Here is the link to the series;

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/3-minute-wonder/4od#series-1

As there are five priorities of 'The Big Society' and the second is about volunteerism (I am planning to focus on volunteering), my documentary extract will be from the second episode of a series.

Planning: 'The Big Society'

For my short documentary I plan to focus on volunteering in the community. I have carried out research into 'The Big Society' to help me clarify my ideas. 'The Big Society' was the flagship policy for the UK Conservative Party 2010 general election manifesto. The aim of 'The Big Society' is to 'create a climate that empowers local communities and building a big society that will take power away from politicians and give it to people'. For my documentary I wish to analyze how this concept is put into action in society and whether or not it has been successful.

Research: Questionnaire Results

Here are my questionnaire results:

Research: Audience Questionnaire

I have used an online tool called 'Survey Monkey' to create a questionnaire which I have shared on Twitter and Facebook to get a reliable result.

Click here to take survey

Research: Camera Angles

I have created a Prezi zoom presentation showing research I have carried out into different camera angles to help me plan which will be most suitable for my documentary extract.

Research & Planning: Camera Shots on Prezi

Research: Havens Hospices Article

As part of the research for my documentary and advanced portfolio I am thinking about local charities and their importance in society. I have read some articles and here is the link to one I have found particularly interesting. Havens Hospices are struggling to get planning permission due to some local residents who dislike the prospect.

Havens Hospices Article
Havens Hospices are petitioning in support of a new Havens in Leigh.
Among the signatories is Les Sawyer, Chairman of the West Leigh Residents Association.

“From my perspective having taken time out to study the detailed plans, I feel that Havens Hospices will be responsible custodians of this small piece of Leigh, enhancing it to benefit patients and families, as well as local residents and wildlife."

Research: Reviews

As part of my research and planning I have been watching different short films and documentaries to help me choose a subject area for my own documentary. For instance, here is the link to a promotional video for Volunteering. I have reviewed this video and although it is not a documentary I think it is still a very effective video.

'The Power of Volunteering'

'The Power of Volunteering' 

thevoluntercenter.net

•  A short promotional video promoting volunteering within the community. This video describes and promotes the benefits of volunteering for individuals and society as a whole. 

• The chosen narrative is effective for the purpose of the video as it shows a diverse section of society describing the variety of ways in which volunteering is possible and helpful.

'Beautiful Lives: Stories from a Children's Hospice'

I have also reviewed this documentary which was broadcast on the BBC. 

'Documentary series about the only Children's hospice in South Wales, featuring a brave teenager and a family touched by warmth and kindness in their darkest hour.'

This is one episode from a series, following the families and patients at the only children's hospice in Wales. The interviews in this documentary are very effective because they are successful in portraying the everyday struggles and feelings which the patients and their families face. Cutaway shots are often used along with voiceover throughout one interview with a teenage patient. This mise-en-scene used throughout this has the effect of representing the hospice to be a place of safety and warmth, validating how she feels about the hospice and those who work there.

Research: Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

I have created a Prezi zoom presentation to present my research into six different types of documentary and their individual codes and conventions, which can be viewed below.

Defining a Documentary on Prezi