| The main ideas and intentions that I was trying to express in the project were: |
I was trying to show empty spaces in a house to represent someone who is missing. I wanted the audience to look at the empty bed, clothes hangers, sofa, dinner table and chairs and feel a sense of loneliness. These are the places the missing person should be. I wanted to show the massive emptiness that is left when someone goes missing, how they are always thought about when the family is eating dinner or watching TV and that they are missing that important time with that person. I was inspired by Rachel Whiteread who focuses on the negative spaces of objects and creates sculptures from them, such as inside of cupboards and houses. I found this idea really interesting and thought about how a family or loved one would look around parts of the house thinking about how that missing person should be there. The idea behind my project was to have no actors, I wanted the audience to watch the advert and almost miss a character in each shot to really get a feeling for the issue. I have directed the advert towards the people who are missing with the tagline “please come home” at the end as hopefully they can see this and be reminded that they are wanted home. I want to direct this towards my missing uncle too so if he ever tries to look me up and finds me on YouTube, he will know we all miss him and want him home.
| The methods I use to develop my ideas were: (brainstorming, creating a concept map, visual research, storyboards, try different techniques etc) |
I created a mind map, did some rough sketches and then looked at lots of missing people videos on YouTube. I then started to build my storyboards around that, trying to incorporate real footage into it, but I realised it would make it too long. I then started to research more videos such as a time lapse to think about different artistic shots I could use to represent the issue. I did many storyboards and from my third storyboard showing shots of someone touching empty spaces such as chairs and a bed I realised I could create a whole advert from this idea. I researched into Rachel Whiteread and kept making storyboards until I realised the importance of having no actors and the idea was right.
| I took a risk by trying something new. (Explain) |
I had to organise everything myself, finding the locations, designing, filming, setting up the lighting and doing the editing. It was quite a challenge getting this sorted out, especially getting the equipment to the locations as it was really heavy. I think the main thing I took a risk with in terms of the filming was the falling posters, I had it clear in my mind how I wanted it to look but I was unsure if I would work. I had to do a lot of takes dropping the posters standing on a chair and when I had finished I still didn’t know if they were good enough until I started editing. I wanted to capture each poster falling in slow motion in perfect focus but as I slowed them down the camera couldn’t do this but it still looks alright. One of the falling posters works perfectly where you can see the poster so clearly. I took this risk but it was a risk worth taking as it’s my favourite part of the advert.
| Some of the unexpected problems I had to solve while working were: |
My major problems were in pre-production trying to refine and get the idea right to film. This took me a while and I created a lot of storyboards. While working on the film I had a few problems. I found transporting the equipment to the locations was hard as it was really heavy, especially the lighting kit. Trying to remove the shadow from the TV in the living room with the lighting was hard to get right and keeping the camera steady when filming handheld.
| The decisions and choices I made to help solve these problems were: |
In the end I found most of what I filmed handheld of the bed and chair wasn’t good enough to use, so in the editing process I had to cut a small part of it and slow it down so they look like static shots. This worked really well and saved me from having to film it all over again. With transporting equipment I ended up using only one light as I couldn’t carry them all, but in the end one light with a diffuser worked really well in producing a soft look that wasn’t too bright. It looked like more of a natural light.
| The most interesting or challenging thing that I achieved was: |
The end part with the falling posters is definitely the most interesting and most challenging thing I achieved. In the editing process I had to cut and combine different shots to get the each poster to fall right so the face is seen. I had to adjust the levels so the black curtains in the background became completely black which I love as it makes the posters really stand out. I also had to move the frame of each shot so they all fall the same direction and keep to the left, I added some fades each time a poster gets close to the bottom of the frame which is when the next one starts falling. This is to get a good flow to it, like they are falling together as I had to do it separately. This idea came out of nowhere really am I really happy with how it turned out, I think it’s really effective.
| The things I have learnt from this particular project were: (Specific examples should be cited.) |
I have learnt a lot about the organisation and planning for the production of a film. There is a lot of paperwork needed to be done such as risk assessments, recce sheets etc. and that everything needs to be planned out. I have learnt a lot about the Panasonic 151 camera as this is the first time I have used this camera and I really like using it.
| If I were to do this project again I would change or do differently: |
I would perhaps re-shoot some of the shots such as the bed and chair using tracks to get a smooth movement. I could also widen my focus so instead of it being shots of inside a house relating to one person I could film lots of different places representing a variety of ages. I could film something like an empty swing in a playground gently swinging back and forth to represent a missing child.
| A new project that might grow out of my experience maybe: |
As my uncle went missing I could make something more personal such as filming the things he used and spaces he would have been in. I think this would be too much but maybe if I filmed my Nan talking about him would be really powerful. This would also mean if he came across it he would realise how badly my Nan misses him and needs him home, but this would be rather hard for her. Perhaps have a photo of my uncle at the end of the advert.
| I have achieved the following learning outcomes for this module and my evidence is: |
LO1. Produce well-structured and relevant work supported by visual, textual or other evidence as appropriate.
I have created a lot of storyboards to refine my idea and work out the structure to my advert. I have researched through looking at videos by the ‘Missing People’ charity, techniques I could use such as a time-lapse and an artist; Rachel Whiteread. The subject for my advert is quite personal to me and my family so I have focused on what is important to them, which is sending out a message to my missing uncle.
LO2. Appreciate the issues which arise from your relationship with audiences, clients, markets, users, consumers, and/or participants.
I took a lot of the feedback I got from tutors and students and worked on my own idea. I realised when I targeted my advert towards everybody to help find the missing people it wasn’t motivating enough so I changed it so it’s directed towards the missing people so they can get in touch with their family. I found this was more important, especially how it will be online so there is a chance they could see it.
LO3. Generate innovative and novel ideas through the exploration of knowledge and enquiry
I created many storyboards before coming up with my final idea, I had drawn different artist shots and ways of representing missing people. I wanted to create something that is more artistic than factual, which is where I came up with the idea of filming empty spaces. As far as I know there isn’t an advert about missing people like this, they are mostly showing the work the charities do with interviews with families who have someone missing.
LO4. Apply knowledge of design, management and publishing work through the use of appropriate systems and formats.
I like to draw down the ideas that come to me, which is what I did. I created storyboards, rough sketches, a mind map and took photographs of the locations I wanted to film. I was organised in the filming process with a production schedule, recce sheets and risk assessments. I have published my work on YouTube which is a very commonly used website and appropriate for my advert. It’s also under my YouTube name of CThorby so if my uncle ever sees it he will know it’s about him and could get in contact with me.
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