Workshop 2: Screen Test

Assignment: Visual Narrative, 1 minute film

In this visual narrative, I have tried to show the creative route I would like to take when making the final documentary. As mentioned in previous blog posts, the topic of immigrants/refugees is a broad matter which can be approached in many ways such as a touching on 1 personal story or discussing the political impact immigration has etc. In this screen test I have decided to go for a personal visual where I have focused on the story of my dad.

This screen test is also a way for me to develop my own cinematic style which I feel I have started to do with the use of archival footage visually explaining the war in yugoslavia and also personal home video that were filmed by my father; giving more context and visual imagery to allow the viewer to understand the narrative clearly.

Assignment: Treatment

Based on both themes of transgression and resistors, the documentary will show the story of an immigrant. There are many hardships that are faced with leaving your home country, whether that is for a better lifestyle or for other personal reasons. In recent years, immigration or rather illegal immigration, has been a prominent topic up for debate in the media. Though this is a very broad matter, I feel that a personal story of someone’s journey of leaving their home country will inform and educate different opinions on this issue. The cinematic approach I am planning to take on is the observational mode. It is described as ‘attempted to capture (as accurately as possibly) objective reality with filmmaker as neutral observer'(keyconceptsinmc 2012).

Codes and conventions of observational mode:
– The filmmaker is usually hidden behind the camera

– filmmaker does not change or influence the environment/surroundings

– ‘Since nothing is staged for the camera, the camera rushes about to keep up with the action
resulting in rough, shaky, often amateur-looking footage'(keyconceptsinmc 2012)

My proposed idea fits with some of the conventions observational mode states, though I personally would like to create a much more cinematic visual for clips filmed in the present aswell as a mixture of vhs/archival footage (which could potentially create a much more constructed feel to the documentary film). However I feel that a documentary cannot be restricted to one particular mode as aspects of the poetic mode also applies to the creativity of the proposed documentary; it ’emphasizes visual associations, tonal or rhythmic qualities, descriptive passages, and formal organization favours mood, tone and texture'(keyconceptsinmc 2012) I want to create a documentary that is authentic and that can inform an audience but also make my creative decisions visible and appreciated, as ultimately documentaries and any media is a work of art.

Additional ideas and thoughts:

Equipment used to create screen test :

Panasonic Lumix GH5

2. Zoom recorder h4n

Using this equipment was in my comfort zone as I have used the panasonic and h4n in previous projects; knowing that they perform well. The screen test allowed me to portray the narrative easily but it also gave a chance to see what was missing in terms of the creative and technical production of the 1 minute video. The things I would change in future production is to experiment more with the lighting and possibly use different sound equipment as I initially booked out the rode wireless mics rather than using the zoom recorder h4n. However because I filmed in a quiet location, I felt that the wireless mics were not needed, though I would like to test them out in future productions.

As art is subjective, I want take the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone with certain filming equipment and experiment much more in order to create and develop my own personal filmmaking style. In future production of the documentary, I plan to elevate/ improve my lighting skills, sound skills and all technical skills in the documentary to make it work for the subject and generally to produce a higher standard of work.

In previous projects I took on the role as gaffer which allowed me to expand my knowledge on the types of lighting I think work well and I started to understand how cinematography and lighting go hand in hand. In the images below (test shots from previous project) I used the Aputure Lantern Softbox which as a larger light source, created a soft and flattering effect. I am planning on using Aputure Space Light alongside Aputure Lightstorm LS 120D as it theoretically offers a similar effect. Overall, my plan is to use equipment I am comfortable with using but to also experiment with the technical aspects of the documentary process.