I think this is an interesting question.
Let's stick with the Paramedic theme.
Say we set about answering some of the questions from our basic Research Plan.
Say we found out, from the web, that there is a governing body who represents them.
Say we phone this body and maybe speak to someone who deals with the media. They tell us an event is coming up, a fundraising thing were some paramedics will be demonstrating what they do. And the media person says, "I think you should come and cover this, it's a great story".
Is it?
It might make something, and I say might, for a news piece, if its a slow news day.
But it's very manufactured. It's not 'real', in the sense that, its a staged event. Not an everyday occurrence.
Plus, is it a strong story?
Well, we might measure our ideas as stories, once we've got them by comparing them to something.
Here's a link to a piece of research carried out by charities. It looked at what journalists thought made good stories. (scroll down to the section that says: What make a good story)
You can use this as a list to compare your story against, asking yourself, does your story at least make a couple of these catagories?
http://www.volunteergenie.org.uk/making-a-story-plan
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Finding a Story: Under Your Noses. Anvil
The Story of Anvil, a now quite famous documentary made a couple of years ago had quite an interesting genesis.
I don't imagine the chap who made the film, Sasha Gervasi, thought he was going to make a film about Anvil. He certainly wasn't looking for the story.
He must have, however, been in explorer mode.
Sasha used to be their roadie. Or tech crew. I'm not exactly sure. Anyway, he met the band and heard they were doing a reunion gig since they'd fallen on hard times.
Still, he didn't recognise it as a story at this point.
You can pick up the story of how the story happened on this Youtube clip. It's worth a watch through because it also shows how important it can be to have your subject on board for what your are going to do. At least that way, you might not have as many access issues. And the information you collect will be closer to reality and less manufactured.
The use of this I think is this. Look around you. There are good stories happening under your nose all the time. Think about your family, your friends. Think about what they do for their work, their leisure.
I'm pretty certain there are tonnes of stories you could document in your daily lives.
Maybe never even go near the Paramedics...
I don't imagine the chap who made the film, Sasha Gervasi, thought he was going to make a film about Anvil. He certainly wasn't looking for the story.
He must have, however, been in explorer mode.
Sasha used to be their roadie. Or tech crew. I'm not exactly sure. Anyway, he met the band and heard they were doing a reunion gig since they'd fallen on hard times.
Still, he didn't recognise it as a story at this point.
You can pick up the story of how the story happened on this Youtube clip. It's worth a watch through because it also shows how important it can be to have your subject on board for what your are going to do. At least that way, you might not have as many access issues. And the information you collect will be closer to reality and less manufactured.
The use of this I think is this. Look around you. There are good stories happening under your nose all the time. Think about your family, your friends. Think about what they do for their work, their leisure.
I'm pretty certain there are tonnes of stories you could document in your daily lives.
Maybe never even go near the Paramedics...
Finding a Story: First Steps
Okay, so how do you go about finding your story, once you have thought about a theme area like e.g. modellling, or paramedics?
Well, the best starting point is making a research plan.
I always start on the web, in a library, and on a phone.
Both primary and secondary research are invaluable and have different advantages and disadvantages.
First up though, the plan.
The point of making a research plan is just to answer questions. Forget about the story for a while. It's not important at this stage. It'll make itself known when it's good and ready.
Well, let's take our Paramedic theme.
For secondary research, I'd make a list of questions, stuff that interests me:
Could be:
How many paramedics are there in Northern Ireland?
What problems do they face?
What's the job actually like to do?
How much training do you need?
Is it well paid?
How do they cope with the stress?
What sort of people are they?
Does it take a lot of courage?
Is there anything coming up that they are doing which might be interesting?
Could I get a hold of anyone who would talk to me?
What are the access issues about getting into ambulances?
You'll notice some of these are vague questions. They certainly aren't stories. We are still in the land of school project. But that's fine. It's gets us started.
However, some of the questions at the bottom are more practical.
Thinking of who you can talk to, or at least film, is always of paramount importance and if you can't answer it, then most likely, you don't have a documentary.
Remember, the cool thing is, you're not married to this idea. If you're initial bit of digging doesn't show you much then the chances are there isn't much in it for you. At least, not at the moment.
Make the same list of questions yourself.
Well, the best starting point is making a research plan.
I always start on the web, in a library, and on a phone.
Both primary and secondary research are invaluable and have different advantages and disadvantages.
First up though, the plan.
The point of making a research plan is just to answer questions. Forget about the story for a while. It's not important at this stage. It'll make itself known when it's good and ready.
Well, let's take our Paramedic theme.
For secondary research, I'd make a list of questions, stuff that interests me:
Could be:
How many paramedics are there in Northern Ireland?
What problems do they face?
What's the job actually like to do?
How much training do you need?
Is it well paid?
How do they cope with the stress?
What sort of people are they?
Does it take a lot of courage?
Is there anything coming up that they are doing which might be interesting?
Could I get a hold of anyone who would talk to me?
What are the access issues about getting into ambulances?
You'll notice some of these are vague questions. They certainly aren't stories. We are still in the land of school project. But that's fine. It's gets us started.
However, some of the questions at the bottom are more practical.
Thinking of who you can talk to, or at least film, is always of paramount importance and if you can't answer it, then most likely, you don't have a documentary.
Remember, the cool thing is, you're not married to this idea. If you're initial bit of digging doesn't show you much then the chances are there isn't much in it for you. At least, not at the moment.
Make the same list of questions yourself.
Finding a Story: Avoiding the School Project
It's difficult when you first start to work on your documentary ideas to avoid a couple of common mistakes.
I've stuck a few of them down here, maybe it'll make things easier or allow you to spot problems.
When you're asked for a documentary idea, what someone wants to read is a 'story'.
In documentary terms this means having a subject, having something interesting about that subject that you want to present to us the audience.
The problem is, like most simple things, you can't to the idea without going on a journey of EXPLORATION first.
What tends to happen with most students in the beginning is they think of a THEME, say for example, NURSES. And then tend to jump straight away to something like:
'My documentary will be a day in the life of a nurse.'
Unfortunatley this isn't a documentary. At least not in my book. It is more of a school project. Or maybe even something like Factual Entertainment.
A documentary, a story, is much harder to find.
And ironically, you have to stop looking for it in a way, to find it. Yoda would be proud. But what do I mean.
Well, if, for instance, you're interesting in Nurses, or Models, or Zoos, or Paramedics, you need to go and find out about them, talk to a few of them, and then, during that, usually a story will present itself.
A Nurse might tell you about a story in which she saved someone's life, and that becomes your documentary.
Because it is an actual real thing that happened.
You see I'm sure the difference between this and the 'Day in the life of' type of story.
Think of yourself as an explorer. Go explore the area you're interested in and wait until a story emerges. There are thousands upon thousands of them.
I've stuck a few of them down here, maybe it'll make things easier or allow you to spot problems.
When you're asked for a documentary idea, what someone wants to read is a 'story'.
In documentary terms this means having a subject, having something interesting about that subject that you want to present to us the audience.
The problem is, like most simple things, you can't to the idea without going on a journey of EXPLORATION first.
What tends to happen with most students in the beginning is they think of a THEME, say for example, NURSES. And then tend to jump straight away to something like:
'My documentary will be a day in the life of a nurse.'
Unfortunatley this isn't a documentary. At least not in my book. It is more of a school project. Or maybe even something like Factual Entertainment.
A documentary, a story, is much harder to find.
And ironically, you have to stop looking for it in a way, to find it. Yoda would be proud. But what do I mean.
Well, if, for instance, you're interesting in Nurses, or Models, or Zoos, or Paramedics, you need to go and find out about them, talk to a few of them, and then, during that, usually a story will present itself.
A Nurse might tell you about a story in which she saved someone's life, and that becomes your documentary.
Because it is an actual real thing that happened.
You see I'm sure the difference between this and the 'Day in the life of' type of story.
Think of yourself as an explorer. Go explore the area you're interested in and wait until a story emerges. There are thousands upon thousands of them.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Bias: Doing your best to avoid it - RESEARCH!
How to avoid bias then?
If you do a search for 'bias' and 'media' you'll find a lot of stuff.
Do a search for non-biased media and you'll find very little.
Really the only one way to at least try to be unbiased is to do research.
It is amazing, if you look deeper, the amount of stories that get published, or documentaries that are made, that lack any quality research. Research gives you authority. It means you at least know all sides of the story before you decide to try and tell it.
The BBC prides itself on not being biased. Although that isn't always the case. And it definately isn't the case if you are Noam Chomsky.
Here's a link to the BBC Editorial Guidelines. There's a whole mine of interesting stuff here. The way the BBC usually tries to get round bias, is by presenting both sides of an argument.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/impariality/index.shtml
If you do a search for 'bias' and 'media' you'll find a lot of stuff.
Do a search for non-biased media and you'll find very little.
Really the only one way to at least try to be unbiased is to do research.
It is amazing, if you look deeper, the amount of stories that get published, or documentaries that are made, that lack any quality research. Research gives you authority. It means you at least know all sides of the story before you decide to try and tell it.
The BBC prides itself on not being biased. Although that isn't always the case. And it definately isn't the case if you are Noam Chomsky.
Here's a link to the BBC Editorial Guidelines. There's a whole mine of interesting stuff here. The way the BBC usually tries to get round bias, is by presenting both sides of an argument.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/impariality/index.shtml
Bias: Propaganda, and What isn't Bias
This is an important area for any documentary maker.
We've talked, when watching documentaries, a lot about the truth.
I think we've agreed we all like to watch documentaries more, if they feel truthful.
One of the things that kills truth is bias.
Bias, quite simply is when a documentary presents a point, an argument, a set of facts, from a point of view that is heavily controlled by the film maker.
It results in a piece of work that is biased to one side of an argument.
The other potential word for a biased piece of work is Propaganda.
Here's some very clever people to explain why bias exists. From their point of view.
LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS ARGUMENT IS MAYBE NOTHING BUT A RUSE!
It's an interesting point that Chomsky makes. You'll hear a lot about the media having a liberal bias. But what he is saying is that that very argument is even more fakery, designed for you to not think about the more important argument which is who is making my news/programmes/films, and what is there point of view and why am I watching them!
BIT OF BUSH
George Bush kind of backs up the ideas with his own view about presenting truth.
This next film might be OTT for nowadays, but it succiently explains what propaganda is, when its presented as facts! Worth bearing in mind, this was presented as a NEWSREEL, a factual film.
Is bias so bad?
Some journalists think so! Some don't!
Check out: http://biased-bbc.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Today%20programme
REASONS FOR BIAS
So, listen to norm and the basis of all bias from within the media is the necessity of large interests wanting to keep you docile and not ask any questions.
Way to do that - make you watch rubbish that either nulls your brain, makes you defeated or powerless, or presents such a persuasive argument the other way that you can't fight it and your own mind is made up for you.
Hmm.
The truth is probably you are ALREADY biased, since for all of your life you've been watching films and tv without thinking much (at this age anyway) of where they come from and whether or not they are truthful. Which, you know what, is fine.
However, now you're considering a career in the industry you need to look at honestly how YOU might be biased and how that would effect what you make.
HOW YOU MIGHT BE BIASED
- you watch a lot of biased programmes - you'll make what you watch. (you are what you eat).
- you want your documentary to be 'liked' - so you'll make it 'nice' and 'sweet'.
- you don't know enough about your subject so you regurgitate the same old stuff.
- you're lazy.
These, and other factors, like your upbringing, economic background, etc, will lead to bias.
KINDS OF BIAS IN FACTUAL TV
Here's a nice list of how you can be biased. Without even knowing it!
http://www.fairpress.org/identify.htm
WHAT ISN'T BIAS
- Well, your opinion, if you make it clear its your opinion, isn't biased. That is, if you make it clear its your opinion, and not massively factual. Probably the reason why participatory documentaries have risen in popularity is the notion that the film maker cannot be accused of bias if you can see what kind of person they are and therefore what kind of film they would be likely to make. In other words, you know the reactions you are getting, and therefore believe them.
We've talked, when watching documentaries, a lot about the truth.
I think we've agreed we all like to watch documentaries more, if they feel truthful.
One of the things that kills truth is bias.
Bias, quite simply is when a documentary presents a point, an argument, a set of facts, from a point of view that is heavily controlled by the film maker.
It results in a piece of work that is biased to one side of an argument.
The other potential word for a biased piece of work is Propaganda.
Here's some very clever people to explain why bias exists. From their point of view.
LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS ARGUMENT IS MAYBE NOTHING BUT A RUSE!
It's an interesting point that Chomsky makes. You'll hear a lot about the media having a liberal bias. But what he is saying is that that very argument is even more fakery, designed for you to not think about the more important argument which is who is making my news/programmes/films, and what is there point of view and why am I watching them!
BIT OF BUSH
George Bush kind of backs up the ideas with his own view about presenting truth.
This next film might be OTT for nowadays, but it succiently explains what propaganda is, when its presented as facts! Worth bearing in mind, this was presented as a NEWSREEL, a factual film.
Is bias so bad?
Some journalists think so! Some don't!
Check out: http://biased-bbc.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Today%20programme
REASONS FOR BIAS
So, listen to norm and the basis of all bias from within the media is the necessity of large interests wanting to keep you docile and not ask any questions.
Way to do that - make you watch rubbish that either nulls your brain, makes you defeated or powerless, or presents such a persuasive argument the other way that you can't fight it and your own mind is made up for you.
Hmm.
The truth is probably you are ALREADY biased, since for all of your life you've been watching films and tv without thinking much (at this age anyway) of where they come from and whether or not they are truthful. Which, you know what, is fine.
However, now you're considering a career in the industry you need to look at honestly how YOU might be biased and how that would effect what you make.
HOW YOU MIGHT BE BIASED
- you watch a lot of biased programmes - you'll make what you watch. (you are what you eat).
- you want your documentary to be 'liked' - so you'll make it 'nice' and 'sweet'.
- you don't know enough about your subject so you regurgitate the same old stuff.
- you're lazy.
These, and other factors, like your upbringing, economic background, etc, will lead to bias.
KINDS OF BIAS IN FACTUAL TV
Here's a nice list of how you can be biased. Without even knowing it!
http://www.fairpress.org/identify.htm
WHAT ISN'T BIAS
- Well, your opinion, if you make it clear its your opinion, isn't biased. That is, if you make it clear its your opinion, and not massively factual. Probably the reason why participatory documentaries have risen in popularity is the notion that the film maker cannot be accused of bias if you can see what kind of person they are and therefore what kind of film they would be likely to make. In other words, you know the reactions you are getting, and therefore believe them.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
The Art of Documentary: Web Resource
This is a brilliant resource for any documentary film makers.
It includes interviews with a lot of the world's most respect documentarians.
All the interviews are about documentary practice, planning and ideas creation, which covers nearly everything we'll be doing on the course.
We'll look at some of these in class, but I really recommend you take some time to get to know this website yourself.
Some of the basic tips on planning, being spontaneous, listening, shooting are excellent and given freely by people with tonnes of experience.
The theme I think though, that runs throughout these clips is twofold:
Firstly, nearly all these film makers are inspired by other film makers whose work they loved and subsequently learnt a lot from.
Secondly, you have to find a method of telling 'reality' that suits who you are and this takes time and practice. You might be suited to a more observational style of storytelling, or if you're like Nick Broomfield, you might find it better to get yourself into the film and make that part of the narrative (participatory filmmaking)
Both these underlying themes I think show why documentary films are so different from one another. Or at least why the good ones are so different from one another, because you are really watching one person's unique view of the world in many ways.
Enjoy!
http://films.nfb.ca/capturing-reality/
It includes interviews with a lot of the world's most respect documentarians.
All the interviews are about documentary practice, planning and ideas creation, which covers nearly everything we'll be doing on the course.
We'll look at some of these in class, but I really recommend you take some time to get to know this website yourself.
Some of the basic tips on planning, being spontaneous, listening, shooting are excellent and given freely by people with tonnes of experience.
The theme I think though, that runs throughout these clips is twofold:
Firstly, nearly all these film makers are inspired by other film makers whose work they loved and subsequently learnt a lot from.
Secondly, you have to find a method of telling 'reality' that suits who you are and this takes time and practice. You might be suited to a more observational style of storytelling, or if you're like Nick Broomfield, you might find it better to get yourself into the film and make that part of the narrative (participatory filmmaking)
Both these underlying themes I think show why documentary films are so different from one another. Or at least why the good ones are so different from one another, because you are really watching one person's unique view of the world in many ways.
Enjoy!
http://films.nfb.ca/capturing-reality/
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