This is the storyboard and plan for my documentary
This is our first version of the storyboard.
Revision for the final documentary video: After multiple trial and error with shooting, we decided to start with the 1st interview with the operator at the beginning of the scene. The reason we did this is that we want to immediately hook the audience with the dialogue that raises questions in them, rather than an immediate answer, while also making the viewer connect faster to the information and feel more real and personal, rather than another crime story. There were not many changes for the cult scene, as it went perfectly well from shots 1 to 3, aside from just adding the interview dialogue and scenes in between them.
Everything went according to plan until shots 5 and 6, where there were slight changes to the character's outfit and the lighting of the drone operator interview scene. After shot 7B, we added a new interview scene of a local citizen who witnessed the cult's actions. This gives the audience more information and a deeper storyline regarding the cult than leaving simple questions unanswered. In between the interview, we also combined some shots of the cult HQ and flyers to match the dialogue and give a more realistic sense. In the end, we added a medium shot of the journalist from his camera getting dragged by the cult members and extra footage of the drone getting jammed with pictures that may answer the viewer's question before ending it with an outro.
This the research I did for the documentary project. I did 4 in class and 1 at home.
Research 1:
Documentary Opening 1: (WORST ROOMMATE EVER)
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title.
What are your expectations for the documentary?
What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title?
What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?
I expect this documentary will be about a person who rents out and lives in a housing unit with another individual and the other individuals turns out to be a murderer or a criminal
The image shows what seems to be a mugshot of a distressed woman. The way they color her face with a lot of veins and reds make her look creepy and scary.
I expect to see interviews from people related to the case i.e. police officers, detectives, friends/ family of the victim/ the doer and they describe to us the details of what happened and yet give us more questions unanswered.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so?
Give one example of each and explain the meaning:
Camera:
Mise-en-scène:
Editing:
Sound:
Women or moms as it featured single mothers and women friendships and how it when wrong
Hand held which made the scenes feel more realistic and suspenseful.
The scenes were very dark and gloomy which added to the aerie atmosphere and made it scenes feel more scary and mysterious
There was a lot of jump cuts and quick cuts and made the pace of the documentary feel fast and gave it a lot of energy
There was a lot of suspenseful dramatic sound effects usually when there was a cut this again as well added to the suspense and made the documentary feel more intense
Would you continue watching?
Why/Why not?
No, as the documentary target is not me and I am not particularly interested in the subject matter as I will not be able to relate to it and doesn't reference anything I find interesting although it does have many hooks and it is intentionally vague and leaves a lot of questions unanswered making viewers want to watch more.
Research 2:
Documentary Opening 2: (What jennifer did)
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title.
What are your expectations for the documentary?
What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title?
What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?
I expect this documentary to be about the dark side of an everyday person as shown in the title where a woman’s picture is split with one half being her smiling and another what seems to be a mugshot
The color red is used which connotes danger and eerie as well the picture quality is grainy which connotes a sense of mystery as it uses real film.
According to conventions of a crime documentary, I expect to see crime scene photos of mysterious violent crimes such as murder or assault and interviews of victims or police officers or other people involved.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so?
Give one example of each and explain the meaning:
Camera:
Mise-en-scène:
Editing:
Sound:
Teenagers as they are depicted in the show and as well may also find this interesting as they can see themselves in Jennifer's shoes.
They used real cctv footage which showed jennifer in a high angle which means that she is shown as weak and vulnerable this is again supported as she is crying
They used real cctv footage from the interview between jennifer and the detective this makes the documentary seem more real and makes the audience more focused
Flashbacks to the 911 call which intersects with the detective taking a statement this helps with the story telling of the documentary as it shows the 911 call and as well shows us what she is like currently in the detectives office.
Risers and Dramatic SFX which complement the documentary making it more intense and suspenseful.
Would you continue watching?
Why/Why not?
No, as the subject matter does not interest me and I don't find the messages and meaning relevant.
Research 3:
Documentary Opening 3:(Deadly American Marriage)
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title.
What are your expectations for the documentary?
What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title?
What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?
I think the documentary will be about domestic abuse and possibly a murder.
The thumbnail shows a wedding picture of a seemingly happy couple which contrasts the title which shows us the dark side of their marriage.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so?
Give one example of each and explain the meaning:
Camera:
Mise-en-scène:
Editing:
Sound:
Adults as it has graphic scenes of blood and features a sensitive topic which is of domestic abuse.
Real High angle of a CCTV footage of a police interview makes the documentary look and feel more real as of course it's using real footage and also helps immerse the audience into the situation as if they were there which helps them want to keep watching.
Blood this connotes that there was violence of some kind and in this case a murder this also has the effect of grounding the situation and making us be able to better understand the weight of the situation at hand as real photos of blood can be triggering for some individuals.
The documentary cuts from real footage to the detective this helps the watcher get more exposition and a first person account of the drama which helps give the viewer information and additional context in an interesting way.
They used the real 911 call footage in the documentary this makes the documentary more realistic and thus immerses the audience even more into the documentary.
Would you continue watching?
Why/Why not?
No because the subject matter doesn't interest me and as well I am not the target audience of this documentary.
Research 4:
Documentary Opening 4:(The Puppet Master)
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title.
What are your expectations for the documentary?
What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title?
What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?
I think this documentary will be about a master manipulator and what they have done to trick, hurt or manipulate their victims.
The thumbnail shows a red line detective board with connotes a mystery or a search which hints of what the documentary is about hunting a con man.
I expect maybe for there to be an interview of the victims to get an idea on who he is and what he did exactly.
After You Watch
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so?
Give one example of each and explain the meaning:
Camera:
Mise-en-scène:
Editing:
Sound:
I expect it to be fans of true crime which range from adult to late teens.
In the interview a medium close shot is used that pulls the audience into the documentary and makes them feel as if they were in the room with them this mixed with the shots of the crew and behind the scenes which also add to the realism.
As for mise en scene a lot of the scenes had low key lighting this has the connotation of mystery and adds to the theme of hunting for a conman and as well the darker tones and conventions of this genre
The documentary tends to cut to seemingly random B Roll shots in a dark tone that adds a mysterious element to the documentary and helps build the pacing and the tone. Which as well I may apply to my documentary as it is a cheap easy way to add more footage but still add to the theme and tone.
The dialogue “who else could have done this too” connotes that their may have been other victims this acts as an unanswered question or a hook to attract and make the audience attached.
Would you continue watching?
Why/Why not?
Yes as the before mentioned hook is very appealing and as well as the topic is something i find interesting and to be honest I do feel at the edge of my seat as a lot of questions remain unanswered.
Research 5:
Documentary Opening 5:(Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief )
Before You Watch
Look only at the thumbnail and title.
What are your expectations for the documentary?
What are the connotations of the image, font, colour, or title?
What do you expect to see or hear in the opening?
The thumbnail shows the scientology building with palm trees on the top so i expect this documentary about the goings and the exploits and the crimes of the church of scientology.
The building is shown in a low angle which makes it seem tall and powerful connoting the influence and power scientology has on its followers.
I expect to see interviews of ex or current scientology members who can give inner insight of the inner workings of scientology.
Who is the target audience? Why do you think so?
Give one example of each and explain the meaning:
Camera:
Mise-en-scène:
Editing:
Sound:
I think the target audience is those who are interested in the workings of scientology and want to learn more about it and maybe for adults as there might be a lot of sensitive topics such as manipulation, murders, kidnapping and other such things.
Close ups are used to show the details of the electronic devices such as crocodile clips connected to metal and a meter of some sort that puts the viewers attention on the electronics and makes them wonder what it is used for.
The scene shows a bunch of thingamabob electronics that connotes that they may have been experimenting on the followers or using it to somehow mind control them to join. Or could be one big placebo telling them that it's used for something but it isn't to deceive the followers. This as well makes the viewer wonder about the use of the electronics
As for editing they used quick cuts to transition between the b-roll of the electronic devices which connotes a sense of tension and urgency which makes the viewer feel alert and makes the pace faster.
They overlay various dialogues of various individuals that have been affected by scientology and this connotes that scientology has affected a large number of people as compared to if only one individual had dialogue in the scene. This as well makes the viewer realise the impact scientology has on many people and makes them wonder the extent of scientologies reach.
Would you continue watching?
Why/Why not?
Yes I would continue watching as the subject matter is something I find interesting and as well my media project is on a particular subject matter so I will be using this for reference/inspiration for my documentary. I also find the artsy style unique, indie and interesting.
Research into other media and Representations of cults
The main media type I consume so when making this I took some inspiration from games I've played that involve cults.
Far cry 5 (video game) 2018
Far cry 5 opening follows the style of a documentary and quite frankly is the inspiration behind our documentary as it features cults, a man infiltrating and getting captured, interviews and others so this game was actually a big inspiration for us making the documentary. Although we made alot of changes as this is a game so it is not live action and backgrounds and movements can all be digitally produced and as well they had a large budget so we had to adapt it to make it simpler and easier to produce.
Assassin's Creed Oddeysey (Video Game) - 2018
This was the inspiration for the cult we liked their mysticism and their mystery but as it is in ancient Greece we decided to adapt them to a more modern context.
Tree and connections of cultist
This is the inspiration behind "The Shepherd" this is Deimos or Cassandra she is strong assertive intimidating and respected or feared.
