Dissertation Approaches

Module 150 is not only research it is also the start of preparation for my dissertation. The dissertation is closely linked to your working practise within the final major projects which at first I was very unhappy with as I felt this was just a critical review.
I wanted to focus my dissertation on natural history programming, specifically the dumbing down of narration and content over the last decade. This isn't possible because of the link to your current working practises on the final major projects and the course doesn't cater for natural history within its briefs.

Filming in Borneo with Dale (DSLR)

With this in mind I developed new ideas with my dissertation tutor and have slowly etched out a plan to still be able to use the dissertation to speak to industry professionals within natural history filmmaking.
My dissertation is focusing on new technology within the industry, specifically the introduction of digital SLR cameras that shot high definition footage. Are they a fad or a serious contender for the next generation of cameraman?

This has allowed me to draw on my background of filming with my own digital SLR and to approach directors, cameramen and production houses to help me research my dissertation.
Overall Iam much more positive about this dissertation and looking forward to contacting professionals in the coming weeks.

We are in

Today I had an email form Tobias Fredrich at the UCI Union Cycliste Internationale giving us filming rights for two cameras at the BMX world championships!
This is a massive step forward for the documentary because it gives us the access to the biggest competition in the BMX calendar.

http://www.bmxworldchamps.co.uk/

BMX Doc

The BMX Documentary is proving to be a very challenge piece to bring together.
We have a great initial contributor, Robert Reed, who has given us a massive list of ideas and contributors but the story is to broad for a 10 minute piece.
The list of contacts is from all areas of cycling so firstly we have focused on just BMX riding and then developed the story from there. At the moment we are trying to get the top athletes in this sport to contribute as this will give a great element to the story.

Rob Reed ©timhuntphotography

So far we are looking to make the story about how much BMX riding has changed from its early grass routes in the wastelands of inner cities right through to its inclusion in the Olympics.
As director on this piece I am trying to get us access to the UCI World Championships at the end of May in Birmingham. This is the top competition for BMX riders and showcases the talent from all over the world, over 200 riders will compete for four days for the ultimate prize to be the world number one!

We are also contacting young riders as well to showcase the up and coming future of the sport and look at who the next generation of Olympic and world champions might be.

I will update soon on how we get on and the contributors we have.

http://www.bmxworldchamps.co.uk/

Pitching time again!

This week we started Unit 140, two productions to make this semester so its all go!
On the back of good feedback from the last module it was all to play for as we had either dramas or documentaries to make...

My aim was to gain some more camera experience and hopefully direct a piece. the competition for camera roles was high again but as luck would have it, I have been able to work on documentaries and get a sound, camera and director role! Although these roles are not going to be easy.
The first documentary is 'young and pissed'.
     Yep you guessed it, sounds of people being loud and obnoxious and of course SICK! Guess what my role is? Sound, so this will be challenging capturing the atmos of evenings out whilst being able to react to people around us.

Keep an eye out for following posts about sound recording techniques and images of set ups!

My camera role is on Kernow Curfew which was an idea I pitched, this will have great challenges with low light shooting and young contributors.
I will research the role and experiment with different cameras to see which copes best in low light and learn techniques of on camera lighting.

My last role is Director, this is the one I'm most excited about, the documentary is about stripping in the U.K! This will be the most challenging Doc yet and will take all the skills from the director and producer to make it happen and find the contributors.

Watch this space.....