Production Diary

In order to match the script and use the techniques learned within my existing products I need to use footage from online. As learnt within my existing products and demonstrated within my script, change is one of the best ways to give an audience a sense of scale and make them feel empathy. As I cannot record the past (as much as that would be cool) I have had to use youtube videos in order to show what  the docks looked like and how residents of sunderland felt about the change. On Top of this, as my Tik Tok research shows, using screenshots of websites as evidence are a good way to keep their eyes engaged on the video as they are reading and listening at the same time. 

Within my existing products I was able to see how using personal experiences can make an audience seem more empathetic towards characters. Therefore, by showing my own work, shown here, I will be able to show my talent and make the audience believe that the north does in fact have people that are interested in this sector of work. Throughout my documentary I hope to make the audience feel sorry for sunderland and hope that something will be done to make it a nice place again. After the audience find out that Sunderland is having investment, the audience will feel a sense of relief that there is hope for Sunderland. Then, by showing that it is actually going to improve my life, the audience will see and believe that the change is going to help people. After finding out that it is helping people's lives, it may inspire others to look into moving to Sunderland for work within the film sector. This would therefore comply with the brief perfectly as it will increase the amount of young talent and inspire others to pick up a camera and get them to stay home for work.

Youtube Clips Used:

Drone Footage of newcastle - https://youtu.be/mrf2kDHlfV8

Nissan production - https://youtu.be/Zp6RzyP5o1s

Interview of Residents of sunderland - https://youtu.be/7tCxlBo9-As

Sunderland Dock footage  - https://youtu.be/7RVu-hHiVVY

Links:

Worst Place to live - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sunderland-named-worst-uk-places-22659213

Fullwell 73 - https://www.fulwell73.com/single-post/major-sunderland-film-studio-plans-revealed

Music and sound effects - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/featured/

When it came to recording my own footage, I knew I had to be smart with my time as I only had 2 batteries and a small SD card size. Therefore before starting my recording I looked into how to make sure my footage is as smooth as possible. After a quick search, the best video I found was this one. In this video, Pete talks about different camera movements that can be done smoothly by adjusting posture. This helped me and made me more conscious about my shots and allowed me to record the smoothest footage possible. 

As well as seeing what I can do in order to create smoother handheld footage, the video has shown me what I could use in future work for guaranteed smooth footage. For example, by using a gimbal, with the same handheld techniques I would give the best footage possible for footage. If i was to make another investment with my equipment, I believe a gimbal would be the most important piece of equipment. 

When it comes to good footage however, it is not all about what is in frame or what you are actually recording... It is about your angles, music, color grading, smoothness, flow and storytelling. All of theses components must be as thought out and chosen with care with the highest standard. Therefore, by having all of these parts being to the best I can create, I have the best possible chance to create what I have envisioned in my head.

Within the last two years I have researched into storytelling, Cinematography, editing techniques and created short form content. This has assisted me within this project as I can take mistakes from old projects and make sure they don't arise again. With all of this knowledge and pre-planning, I was happy to start recording.

Day 1 - 31st Feb - Alnwick:

It took 44 minutes to drive to alnwick and the castle was easy to find. Using my Canon M50 and its 15-45mm Kit lens I went around alnwick taking videos of the castle and Garden. I went to the castle first and made sure to use my risk assessments. For example, I made sure to keep my distance and try not to record certain people. For example, when recording my footage, I was panning. When panning, you run the risk of someone thinking your recording them. Therefore before recording I made sure to check if anyone was about to come past, or I stood away from the big crowds.

When it came to recording people for the part where I talk about taking the family to alnwick, I had to be discreet and make it not so that I am recording just one person. Therefore, I kept my distance and zoomed in to get the footage I needed. 

The process of recording footage within the gardens was very similar with the process of recording the castle. Keeping with the same panning movements and body postures. 

Day 2 - 2nd March - Bamburgh:

 It took me only 45 minutes to arrive to bamburgh even though it was predicted   to be an hour.  After arriving to Bamburgh I decided to work in a big circle       when recording my footage. Therefore I was able to reduce the amount of   physical fatigue explained in the risk assessments and was able to work fast   and efficiently. I started by the front of Bamburgh castle, walked round to the   right hand side of the castle, onto the beach and then back to the left hand side   of the Castle, then the village. 

When recording I was respectful as possible when recording my footage. Using paths that are not used as often and letting people pass was a main thing I had to do while there due to the fact it was very busy. When I was there I had to take shots of the signs so people could see the opening times as well as the costs. This was hard as people were constantly looking at it but I was patient and eventually got the shots I needed. 
Linking back again to the video I watched, I used the same techniques in order to insure the most stable footage possible as well as the footage going the same direction for continuity. 

     

Day 3 - 8th March - Newcastle:

When planning on going to Newcastle, I knew that since it was close to home I could take the metro... An hour or two before the sun sets there is something called golden hour. Golden hour is where the sun appears to be more golden and soft. Therefore, in order to make Newcastle look as chill and beautiful as possible, I decided to shoot Newcastle at golden hour. This gives Newcastle a timeless and warm appeal and makes the image look that more beautiful. Even though Newcastle is a beautiful and stunning place, going at golden hour will also allow me to get some lens flares which are very common within the film industry for being cinematic and "the cherry on top" for making a scene look that more spectacular. 

Also using golden hour to my advantage, I used it to also tie the story together and make the bridges look shiny. Normally the Tyne bridge looks quite dull, however by using the lens flare of the sun, I was able to make the bridge look shiny(left) and it also gave a nice underglow to the street below(right).

      

I wanted to make Newcastle look bigger than it looks from head highet. Therefore I used online drone footage in order for people to see the scale and amount of the older buildings.

Day 4 - 9th March - Sunderland:

When it came to recording in Sunderland, as seen within my script, there was only a couple of clips needed. Therefore I went after college. Since the building has not begun yet, there is not much to record within Sunderland. Most of the information from this point on will be of me, my work and what the investment is going to do for me and others. Due to this I only needed simple shots of the streets of Sunderland, some scaffolding and the old shipyards and the University. 

    

Day 5 - 10th March - Durham:

For my Durham shoot I started on the river and walked along towards the cobble bridge. As expected and referenced within my risk assessments, the ground was quite wet and cold. This resulted in the ground being slippy and hard to walk over due to it being mud and many people walking on it. As witten, I wore walking shoes in  order to ensure that I would not slip and break camera equipment or hurt myself.

When I was recording the footage itself, it was quite easy to get footage along the river due to it being at a quiet time (10 o'clock). Unlike my other shoots, this meant I was able to record footage quicker, without the worry of recording people unnecessarily. 

Once I was within the city again and next to the cathedral, It was very busy and was hard to get footage. Therefore I had to zoom in on some of the cathedral and record that way, so people are out of frame. In conjunction with this, I stood far back and tried to record the cathedral whenever I could and was only able to get two good shots. 

      

All of the footage I have recorded myself was done on the 15-45mm lens. I decided to use this lens as all of the places I am recording are landscapes/ places. Therefore, I am more able to show perspective and the full scale of places. In connection to this, the 45mm aspect of the lens gives me the option to stand further away from subjects and zoom in. This provides me with the confidence of not making people feel like I am recording just them. This will therefore result and conform with the ideas in the risk assessments that were made.
When it came to angles within my filming, I decided to not use and quirky or unique angles in order to portray a different place or over excite it. In my personal opinion, using a combination of angles was not needed within this filmwork, due to the fact I am not trying to portray an image of places, rather just display them raw and true. When recording I decided to include what I would call, boring shots and boring details. These are facts about the places that need explanation but yet I dont give them. This creates an enigma code within my documentary. For example, in my script, I talk about how there are activities in alnwick, there are restaurants in Newcastle etc, yet I don't go any further with the details. By not showing the best shots of places and not including all the facts, people are intrigued to find out more and will start researching into the places themselves. The human brain always wants an answer, therefore by not giving them the answers, they will be wanting to find out things for themselves. In return, this results in the audience wanting to go to places themselves in order to make their own opinion omn places. However, when it comes to my color grading, I will be trying to make the places look as warm and inviting as possible.