problem Solving
Introduction​
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This page of my project portfolio will present my plan for resolving any potential problems that could affect the development of my project. I will also show my research and experimentation of different skills in order to execute a better project.
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Contingency Plan -
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Although it is not always possible to plan out every aspect of a Production to the last detail, it is important to have various plans and actions in place, should any issues arise throughout the project. Within my Contingency plan, I have identified some possible factors that I could encounter, as well as actions that I would take to overcome these issues. By completing this plan, I will be able to immediately respond to a situation with a detailed idea of the correct steps to take. As well as my Contingency plan, other problem Solving documents, such as a Health and Safety Assessment and a Location Recce can be found in the Planning and Production section of my portfolio.
Skills Experimentation -
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After having refreshed my knowledge of Documentary Making, and specifically Documentary Interviews, during the Skills and Techniques aspect of my Research, I will now actively use and implement the skills that I have when producing an experimental interview. This task will focus on the practical elements of producing an interview and will encourage me to think pragmatically about the information that I had previously learnt. Furthermore, I also aim to incorporate a green screen within my mock interview so that I am able to identify whether this technique will successfully factor into my interviews and whether it will work effectively during the real thing.
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To begin with, I decided to set up my Green Screen in an open, indoor location, where I would be able to move freely around the space and set up the relevant equipment. After constructing the metal framework, I threaded the green screen onto it and ensured that it was clipped to the poles either side. When watching the YouTube tutorials on how to set up a green screen, I learnt the importance of making sure that there are no creases or shadows on the green screen as this can affect the removal of the colour in the editing process. After ensuring that the screen was straight and without creases, I then invited my interviewee to be seated in front of the camera. For this part of the set up, I needed to test the framing of the scene and make sure that the interviewee could be seen and was at a suitable distance between the screen and the camera. I then briefly spoke to my interviewee about the topics that we would be discussing and the types of questions that I might ask throughout the interview. I made the decision not to give my interviewee the list of questions too far in advance, as I wanted their answers to feel authentic and true to themselves. Once all of the equipment had been set up, including the tripod, camera, and external lighting sources, and both crew and contributors were happy to proceed, I attached the Lapel microphone to the interviewee and begun the interview. I have attached the questions below.
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Which songs or music artists from the 60s do you enjoy listening to, why?
Which songs or music artists from the 70s do you enjoy listening to, why?
Which songs or music artists from the 80s do you enjoy listening to, why?
Do you think that social issues are represented within 60s music?
Do you think that social issues are represented within 70s music?
Do you think that social issues are represented within 80s music?
What's your opinion on 60s fashion, is it still relevant in the modern day?
What's your opinion on 70s fashion, is it still relevant in the modern day?
What's your opinion on 80s fashion, is it still relevant in the modern day?
Why do you think that music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s is still relevant today?
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In total, the interview took place over the course of an hour, however, we made sure to take regular breaks throughout to ensure that we were refreshed and prepared for the following question. We stopped filming at regular intervals, and quickly restarted again once we had discussed the upcoming question. I made sure that one of my priorities was that my interviewee felt relaxed and comfortable throughout as I felt this was essential in contributing to the types of answers that they would give. After asking the interviewee all of the questions that I had prepared, I asked whether they had any other points that they would like to discuss, and finally thanked them for their time and responses. I received positive feedback from my interviewee and felt that the process followed a calm, yet prompt schedule which allowed me to record the footage that was needed.
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Once I had completed the interview, I immediately uploaded the footage to my Editing Software to ensure that it had all been recorded smoothly and looked and sounded as it should have. I then made sure that all of the files were backed up in various locations to ensure that they were safe and would not be lost or deleted. I have attached a visual representation of how I edited my Interview together below.
To begin with, I opened the editing software that I would use to remove the green screen and complete the Chroma keying process. I the added a Title card which reads, 'The Evolution of Music - Mock Interview', so that the viewer clearly understands what they are watching.
After this, I then uploaded my piece of footage into the timeline and placed it next to the Title Card. I ensured that each end of the footage was cut appropriately to remove any unnecessary footage either end of the video.
Thirdly, I applied a Background Remover effect to my footage and made sure that it was stretched across the whole file. If it was not placed across the whole file, the effect could have cut out at a certain point, revealing the green backdrop.
Once I had applied the effect, I then opened the 'Properties' window which would allow me to make the necessary adjustments when removing the chroma colour. Firstly, I selected the drop icon and clicked on the green colour on the monitor. This allowed the software to identify the exact shade of green and remove it accordingly. After having done this, I experimented with the Hues, Lightness, and Saturation options to ensure that the outline of my interviewee was smooth and that all specs of green had been removed.
Having done this, I was left with a clear shot of my interviewee, with the background now removed. This gave me an image of how the new shot would look and allowed me to play the footage through and identify any specs of green which were still visible.
Once I had made any further adjustments to ensure that the footage looked clean, I then needed to select my new background. I searched the internet for copyright free images and selected one which I felt represented the era of music that was being discussed. For each piece of footage, I selected a different image which I felt reflected what my interviewee was talking about.
Finally, I needed to add and sync my audio to the timeline. I decided to record my audio separately so that It would be of a higher quality to the audio which was recorded on my camera as a part of my footage. Although this would take longer in the editing process, it would allow for a more professional end result.
At the end of the post production process, I was left with a new background which clearly represented the topics that were being discussed, and added some further depth to the context behind the documentary. I repeated each of these steps for each piece of footage and have included the final mock interview below.
Overall, I feel that my mock Interview was successful as I was clearly able to set up my green screen and ensure that the lighting was correct so that it would limit the amount of issues during the post-production process. I was able to conduct the interview when clearly asking my interviewee questions and make them feel comfortable and relaxed with the topics that were being discussed. Through completing this task, it has made me feel more confident when moving forward with my real interviewees, and has encouraged me to consider whether I might like to use my Mock interview within my final Documentary to portray a younger view on the topics that are being discussed. This is something that I will decide during the practical aspect of my project.