We started by uploading the footage that we had filmed onto the computer and capturing it into the software we were going to use to make the documentary.
This happened over a couple of weeks as we were filming different things on different days.
My individual role in editing was mostly giving ideas ad I didn't know how to use Premier to its full extent so i edited the elderly interviews but I mostly put in ideas and giving ideas about to tweak certain bits.
I spent some free lessons with the rest of the my group in the media room editing but I do admit I didn't do as much as I could have done.
I could have contributed more to the editing process but i felt that because I didn't know how to use Premier I would slow them down as they both knew ho to use it and what they were doing on it but I do regret that now.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Filming
We first interviewed Mr. Swindel and asked him how he celebrated Christmas as he is a vicar and celebrates Christmas for God. This went well but we didn't use a microphone as we filmed this really early on and didn't know we had to and also our Mise On Scene was rubbish as it was rushed but we did use this interview in our coursework.
Other people we interviewed were the Manager of B&M and asked him about the sales around Christmas time and how much their profits went up. We also asked him how he celebrates Christmas. This interview didn't go as planned as we originally wanted to film it in front of all of the Christmas lights and everything but the manager wouldn't have it as he said that it would interfere with the customers so he then said that he wouldn't do it at all. He then said that he would do it in his office out of the way. Due to this, the Mise En Scene is non existent.We still used this interview but only a few seconds of the film then we just used the voice while we used cut aways instead or using the image of the interview.
We filmed some cut aways of the Christmas decorations and food etc in B&M using panning shots. The first time e did it, we didn't use a tripod so it was all wobbly so we went to re film using a tripod and it was a lot better. We didn't use the first attempt but we used the second attempt.
We then interviewed the woman working in the card shop in the Cherry Tree center and asked her the same questions.
We also interviewed one of the staff members in the Card Factory and we filmed one of the other workers serving a customer but she was chewing gum so it didn't look very good so we only used a few seconds were she wasn't chewing.
We went into Wilkinson's and got some more cut aways. We used a tripod for these so they were nice and steady. We filmed the sweets isle.
We interviewed someone who didn't believe in God but celebrates Christmas which we had to do numerous takes of as she kept on laughing. The Mise En Scene we used was tinsel, lights and a Father Christmas. We also interviewed two people from a different religion and and asked how they celebrate Christmas. We interviewed them in Sarah's living room as there was a neutral background so it didn't take away from the two girls talking. We interviewed two of the residents of Primrose Courts, a residential home. We asked them about how they celebrate Christmas now and how Christmas has changed over their years their lives. There wasn't any Mise En Scene as we thought that they would put some up or there would have already been Christmas decorations up but the lighting wasn't very good and the phone in the reception went off half way through so we couldn't use that section of the film but we used the answers to the same questions from both of the women.
Other people we interviewed were the Manager of B&M and asked him about the sales around Christmas time and how much their profits went up. We also asked him how he celebrates Christmas. This interview didn't go as planned as we originally wanted to film it in front of all of the Christmas lights and everything but the manager wouldn't have it as he said that it would interfere with the customers so he then said that he wouldn't do it at all. He then said that he would do it in his office out of the way. Due to this, the Mise En Scene is non existent.We still used this interview but only a few seconds of the film then we just used the voice while we used cut aways instead or using the image of the interview.
We filmed some cut aways of the Christmas decorations and food etc in B&M using panning shots. The first time e did it, we didn't use a tripod so it was all wobbly so we went to re film using a tripod and it was a lot better. We didn't use the first attempt but we used the second attempt.
We then interviewed the woman working in the card shop in the Cherry Tree center and asked her the same questions.
We also interviewed one of the staff members in the Card Factory and we filmed one of the other workers serving a customer but she was chewing gum so it didn't look very good so we only used a few seconds were she wasn't chewing.
We went into Wilkinson's and got some more cut aways. We used a tripod for these so they were nice and steady. We filmed the sweets isle.
We interviewed someone who didn't believe in God but celebrates Christmas which we had to do numerous takes of as she kept on laughing. The Mise En Scene we used was tinsel, lights and a Father Christmas. We also interviewed two people from a different religion and and asked how they celebrate Christmas. We interviewed them in Sarah's living room as there was a neutral background so it didn't take away from the two girls talking. We interviewed two of the residents of Primrose Courts, a residential home. We asked them about how they celebrate Christmas now and how Christmas has changed over their years their lives. There wasn't any Mise En Scene as we thought that they would put some up or there would have already been Christmas decorations up but the lighting wasn't very good and the phone in the reception went off half way through so we couldn't use that section of the film but we used the answers to the same questions from both of the women.
Secondary Research
T'was the Night Before Christmas - 1974
We used quite a lot of achieve footage in our documentary for example, White Christmas, The Snowman Irn Bru advert and Wham-Last Christmas.
Nightmare Before Christmas - 1993
The Grinch - 2000
White Christmas - 1976
Holiday Inn - 1942
Elf - 2003
Miracle on 34th Street - 1947
A Christmas Carol - 2009
I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus - 2002
The Polar Express - 2004
Scrooge - 1988
We used quite a lot of achieve footage in our documentary for example, White Christmas, The Snowman Irn Bru advert and Wham-Last Christmas.
Who is Father Christmas/St. Nicholas?
Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.
How did Christmas Start?
Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus - and 'Mass' was a religious festival.
In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.
But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. If you have no Bible, you can read these chapters online. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many connections.
In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.
But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. If you have no Bible, you can read these chapters online. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many connections.
Primary Research
Interview with Liscard B & M Store Manager
Interview with card shop worker
Filming in various shops in Liscard such as B &M, Wilkinson’s, Card Factory
Interviews with someone who does not believe in God but celebrates Christmas, people who don’t celebrate Christmas, someone who celebrates Christmas for God, elderly people and how Christmas has changed over the years they have been alive.
Interview with card shop worker
Filming in various shops in Liscard such as B &M, Wilkinson’s, Card Factory
Interviews with someone who does not believe in God but celebrates Christmas, people who don’t celebrate Christmas, someone who celebrates Christmas for God, elderly people and how Christmas has changed over the years they have been alive.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Final Brainstorm and ideas for the programme
Christmas:God Vs Gifts
- Clips of TV shows that represent Christmas (The Snowman, Its a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Holiday Inn.)
- Coke adverts and others
- Children's and parents opinions on Christmas
- Recycling presents
- Catalogues
- Books
- Old people-how has Christmas changed?
- Christmas dinner
- Nativity play
- Christmas abroad
- People who work over Christmas- service station, chefs, fire brigade, police etc.
- People from Shelter
- Christmas TV - national events, Morecambe and Wise
- Filming a family at Christmas
- Interview with the Pope, Cardinal, Chief Rabbi
- Queens speech. What significance does it hold?
Interview Questions
VoxPops Questions
- Do you celebrate Christmas?
- Do you believe in God?
- Do you think that the commercialisation of Christmas is an important issue?
- If yes, why?
- How do you celebrate Christmas?
- What does Christmas mean to you?
- Which songs do you associate with Christmas?
- Do you get stressed out by Christmas?
Questions for Mr. Swindel
- Do you think that the commercialisation of Christmas is an important issue?
- Do you think it has changed over the years?
- What does Christmas mean to you?
- How do you celebrate Christmas?
- What does Christmas mean to your congregation?
- Do you think that religion is left out at Christmas?
- If you think that this is true, why do you think people celebrate Christmas?
- Do you think that more people should help the less fortunate at Christmas?
- Do you buy presents?
Questions for interviews
- Do you believe in God?
- Do you celebrate Christmas?
- If yes, how do you celebrate it?
- What is the most important thing to you about Christmas?
- Do you think that Christmas is a time to spend with your family?
- Do you buy presents?
- Where do you buy your presents from?
- Do you prefer buying online or not?
- Why?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Summary of Codes and Conventions of Documentaries
Mise-En-Scene
- Location
- Pictures in the background
- Talking heads
- Original Footage
- Staged events
- Reconstructions
- Props related to subject
- Simple background
- Code of attire- reveals the position of the interviewee
Editing
- Cutaways
- Fade in-Fade out
- Juxtaposition
- Non continuity
- Dissolves
Lighting
- Natural Lighting
- Studio lighting
- Reconstruction
- Related to genre
Sound
- Voice over
- Music
- Talking
- Diagetic/Non Diagetic
- Voice of interviews
- Clip Sounds
Camera shots
- Point of view
- Close up
- Establishing shot- Location
- Hand held for authenticity
- Slow motion
- Pans
- Zooms
- Tracking shots
- Long shots
- Reaction shots
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