Lincoln... Documantary tutorial week 1, with Nick Grey

Ive just come back from a class Tutorial with directer and producer Nick Grey.

He is well know for his factual documentary films such as Escape From Tibet, a documentary about people fleeing Tibet to India for safety.


He was also part of the team that created the Docusoap Genre when working on a television program called Jimmy's. This was a factual, with no commentary, program set in a hospital. With no actors it used real life story's to fill the program.


This lead to more programs such as Children's Hospital and Airport'by the BBC.


It was also asked to be seen by the producer of ER before that was created.


It was a great opportunity to learn from his experiences.


This week we looked at Observatory documentary, such as that seen in Jimmy's. 


We did our own recreation of a scene, and we looked at camera work, lighting, sound and setting up shots as well as working with ordinary people.


We also discussed the eliments of a documentary;
-Interviews
-Sequences
  -Peoples homes
  - Actuality
  -wallpaper for interviews
-Narrative
  -Story, Ark and Spine
  -Life, Chronological
  -Events ad Characters
-Metaphor
  -Music
  -Style
  -Movement
  -Colour


Different types of documentarys, such as,
-Reconstruction,
-Undercover
-Animation


The basic Grammar of a documentary shoot;
-Events/Sequences
  -Camera Positioning
-General Views, or GV's
  -Place
  -Postcard Shots
  -Establishing shots
  -set ups
-Interviews
  -location
  -Good Questions, follow up questions
-Commentary Voice
  -Good sound
  -Less words the better
  -Don't offer opinions, but help the audience along


Always think about;
-Access and Consent
-Health and Safety
-Style and Direction
-Context


Finally some tips;
Planning:
Research, Research, Research. Always view the place of shooting first. Understand the process of whats being filmed, don't get caught out. Get to know your contributers, always communicate what it is your doing and why.


Filming:
Explain to your contributers why cut aways, that may seem dull to them are needed. Think about the edit when filming as much as possible, have people entering on the correct side of camera. Filming in someones home can help them relax and show character. Finally understand body language as it can help you guess what actions will happen next.


Edit:
Think of the context, don't use editing to create falsehoods. Use establishing shots. You don't need to say what they are seeing people can work it out for themselves .


Audio:
A clean sound track is money in the bank, do as much as possible to get one. Clear dialog and good quality actuality and backing tracks, finish the shots of well. Take note of the surroundings, such as squeaky chairs and bleeping machines. Finally spend time getting the voice over right. If there is one it will be there to tell a story, so have them read as if they were, with good pace.


Next week we are looking at interviews.