5.1 From Camera to Computer Screen

From Camera to Computer Screen 

To get the footage from the camera to the computer, you need a special piece of equipment called an SD reader. With this you can put the SD card from the camera into the reader then it can be connected to the computer and from there the footage can be uploaded to the computer and the editing progress can begin.

4.3 Problems During Filming

Problems During Filming 

The weather, shots looked different because of it.

The worst thing about this county is the very inconsistent weather. This proved a problem to us as we did 3 different days of filming over a few weeks in which the weather got particularly colder each time and it caused a few of the shots to be different than others. Although there can be a way to solve this, in the editing we can use colour correction to edit the backgrounds so they all look similar and consistent.

Having too many of the same shots,.

Each time we went out we underestimated the amount of train shots we got and ended up going out and filming for 3 days instead of 2. Also after looking at the final amount of footage we did get too many of the same shots, which means, i think that the documentary at times can look a bit repetitive. 

Voxpops 

No one really wanted to be on camera from the Tamworth area , so we had to gather people from our school to talk about the HS2 which was still good as we got some great opinions .

Time management 

I feel like we could of managed our time a lot better, as i think we spent far too long planning the documentary, rather than getting the majority of the filming done earlier. 

4.2 Filming Diary / Equipment

Filming Diary 

Day 1

On the first day of filming we started by heading straight to the train station to start filming the main section of the film, the trains and the train station. We started by getting the inside of the station where people pay for tickets, with the train stations permission of course, and whoever was in the shot. Then we progressed from platform to platform each time trying to get different shots of the platforms and the trains, they consisted of pans, wide pans, single shots as well as the occasional dutch tilt, which in the end we didn't use as they didn't match the codes and conventions, and the shot were not the best quality. Then after around 2 hours in train station, we decided we had enough shots and proceeded to the Tame Valley wetlands. In this location we decided to grab some countryside footage, so lakes and lots of plants. The shots we used for this were mainly the same but we used more still shots so we can capture the beauty of the countryside.  Now before we started filming we only thought we needed one day to gather up all of the footage. That wasn't the case as we only had around a third of the footage. 

Day 2

Around a week later we met up again and after reviewing the footage we had on Filming Day 1, We found we needed way more shots of trains as we had some that were too similar. Also we found we needed to go into the town of Tamworth and get footage of  towns most well known places, like st Edithas church, the shopping centre middle entry, and The statue of Sir Robert Peel. Like on the first day, we went back to the train station to try and get some different shots. We tried many different ways of getting shots like going far away from the platform, closer to the platform, even tired using different tripods to get the best shots. We then Went into Tamworth to capture some of the famous aspects, When we were there we also captured shots of the Tamworth market as footage that we could use if we needed it. Overall when we were filming, we decided to get way more footage than we needed as it is better as some of the footage we already have might be unusable.                     

Day 3                                                                                                                       

On day 3, we had no specific place to go and film. On this day we needed to finish up and get some last minute shots, so we started at Ventura park, knowing that the traffic would be a nightmare, we recorded some of that, to show one of the points that he HS2 would be a positive in reducing traffic in areas. Then we got some shots near the snow dome and the lake there as we felt we needed a few more shots, that didn't consist of trains and buildings. 

Independent Filming

After the Third day of filming i found that something was missing, and remembered there being a Stop HS2 house just 15 minutes away from my house, So from there i gathered some shots of the house and the posters outside. Also as a few bonus shots i captured the A5 and cars going up and down roads to also go with what we filmed in Ventura on Day 3.


Equipment 

For the filming of our media we used different pieces of equipment and without these the product would have never been completed. 

- HD Camera - Is used to film all what we have filmed. 
- Tripod - to help position the camera at different levels of height and different angles 
- Phone Cameras - We used these for when we wanted to get detailed shots and more colourful shots, then we used these for the screenshots and pictures we used for the Print artefacts.  

4.1 The Expert Interview

The Expert Interview 

During the planning process of the documentary, we found that many different documentary’s had a expert to side with one side of the argument to give the viewers something to rely on. So we had an idea of getting someone official to go and interview and ask questions about the HS2. However we were unsuccessful and were planning to stop using this idea. Until we found out that our local MP ( Christopher Pincher ) was visiting our school for the politics students, knowing this we asked one of our teachers if it was okay to interview him.  To our amazement he agreed and booked a time during the day he was coming in.

This is the email we kindly sent To Mr Pincher asking him if he wanted to be in our film.

The interview overall went well, as Daniel conducted all the questions correctly and we definitely got more footage than we needed as CP was very good at giving detailed answers to are in depth questions. I also manned the camera for one of the first times as we both agreed that Dan would be best to be the interviewer as he knew more about the overall subject. I’d originally planned for there to be a shot reverse shot during the interview, however the room we were given was slightly too small and we had to improvise and use a standard Two shot which overall still work well.

Now as the editing progress begins we are thinking of using as much as this footage as we can, as this provides a great sense of conventions to a documentary as documentaries like supersize me, keep going back to the same expert throughout the film, this is what we have tried to implement into a shorter space of time, in our film. 

3.3 Health and Safety Risk Assessment

Health and Safety Risk Assessment 

This is to show the examiner the dangers that we could encounter when we are filming, and to show that we have prepared ourselves in case any of these things happen.

Production Title: HS2: A White Elephant	Production Date: 20/10/17
Producer name: Dan James, Tayte Fordham	Director Name: Dan James, Tayte Fordham
Date of risk assessment: 10/10/2017	Risk assessment conducted by: Dan James, Tayte Fordham

Hazard	Persons who may be harmed	Property that may be damaged	Risk controls already in place	Risk Assessment (Low/Moderate/High)	Further action to reduce the risk
Being hit by trains/Falling into the train tracks	Cameramen	Train track, train & camera equipment	Yellow line not to pass	Moderate	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers
Being hit by cars	Cameramen	Car	Use the paths	Low	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers
Falling down steps	Cameramen	Camera Equipment	Safe shoes and clearing the steps	Low	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers
Falling into river	Cameramen	Camera equipment	Safe shoes	Low	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers
High up, multi storey car park location	Cameramen	Camera equipment	Be careful when near the edge	Moderate	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers
Busy high street	Cameramen	Camera equipment	Ensure space is made around cameramen	Low	Brief cameramen the risks and dangers

3.2 Final Script

Final Script

This is the final draft of the script that Dan will use for the voice over for the HS2 Documentary;

Script Final Draft

Scene 1: Intro Graphic

Ext: Railway

Establishing shot with Titles appearing on the shot post production

Scene 2: Intro Interview with Christopher Pincher the MP for Tamworth on his intial thoughts of HS2

Scene 3: Info about HS2

Camera – A Range of different camera shots in the town of Tamworth and shots of different trains. Types of shot: Pan, Establishing, Long, Close up, Medium, Focus pull

Dan: The HS2, Britain's answer to a rail system that challenges locomotives like the Japanese bullet train and Elon Musk's supersonic train. Or could this be the rail that breaks Britain.

The High Speed Rail, is the long awaited improvement to British railways linking London to Birmingham in phase 1 and in phase 2 it links Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds. This is the second high speed rail after HS1, that links London to the channel tunnel.

The HS2 project will cost at least 56 billion pounds. Work on the first phase begins at the end of the year and will arrive in Birmingham by at least 2026, so that’s almost 9 years, if it manages to maintain its building schedule.

HS2 Ltd say this is not just about delivering a new railway but providing huge economic, social and environmental benefits to the UK. The government assumes that the fares structure will be in line with that of the existing line and HS2 could generate sufficient demand and revenue without needing to charge premium prices. It estimates total fare revenues of up to 34 billion pounds over a sixty year period.

One of the government’s goal is to stop congestion in major cities, like Birmingham and London and want the HS2 to reduce this. The HS2 will have around 1100 seats per train and will be carrying an estimated 26,000 people per hour. Furthermore the journey time from Birmingham to London will be reduced from 1hr 21mins to just 49mins due to the operating speeds of up to 250mph that surpass any other conventional trains at this current time. On average a train from Tamworth train station to London Euston one way takes 1hr 30mins with no changes and costs around 20 pounds for an adult depending on availability.

Ministers also claim the London-West Midlands section alone will create around 40,000 jobs However this could all sound too good to be true as the HS2 pressure group, Stop HS2, say that the midlands would actually lose out to London on the job front as they would claim 70% of the 40,000 jobs will employ Londoners near the HS2 stations.

Scene 4: Voxpop

In this scene, we will ask questions to the general public in Tamworth about their opinion of HS2 from a question bank.

• Are you in favour of HS2?
• What do you think of HS2?
• Is HS2 a waste of taxpayer’s money?
• What do you think of HS2?
• If you had one word or phrase to describe HS2, what would it be?
• Do you think the local area will change?
• Do you think HS2 should be a priority or do you think the government should focus on sorting the NHS or Brexit?
• Do you think HS2 will be affordable or is it for the middle/upper class?
• When/If the HS2 is constructed how much would you think that a one-way ticket form Birmingham to London would cost?
• What do you think of the current railway system?
• Should we focus on nationalizing the current railway infrastructure rather than building new rails?

Scene 5: The route graphic

Dan: The route will begin in London and go straight up to Birmingham cutting through a lot of picturesque countryside and towns. During the making of the rail many different sized businesses will be affected like Whittington golf club, but we will discuss that certain topic later.

The HS2 will race through the countryside going past many towns and hamlets like, Buckingham and Banbury respectively. The line then starts moving onwards towards Birmingham travelling near towns such as Leamington Spa, Marston Green and Coleshill before cutting across and reaching its first proposed stop in Birmingham. On the left leg of the ‘Y’ shaped project the line will run towards Manchester, the track cuts through Middleton, Whittington and Lichfield. Then on the right leg of ‘Y’ shape the train line travels towards Leeds as it runs parallel with m42 near Tamworth.

Scene 6: Local Area

Film shots such as Tamworth Castle, Ventura Park, Tamworth Market, Snowdome, Signs

Dan: Now, our hometown, Tamworth. As we already know the HS2 is not directly stopping in the Tamworth area. The closest it will stop will be in Birmingham. But that does not mean that it is going to affect Tamworth in a major way. Firstly Tamworth, mainly residents living in the Wilnecote, Hockley area will gather a lot of noise pollution as the HS2 is running directly across the A5 dual carriage way. This is going to bother a lot of new residents who have recently moved to the new houses in that area not just the noise pollution it is also going to be a lot of visual pollution;, and there are even signs of residents not wanting the HS2 at all.

Scene 7: CP

Insert snippet of an interview with MP Christopher Pincher with titles of "continued after the break..." or "coming up..." at the bottom left hand corner.

3.1 Final Storyboard Design

Final Storyboard 

This is this the final storyboard, that we will use to plan our production and to help us in being a guide to what we need to film.

Scene 1 – Interview clip

This will be a short clip of an interview with local MP Christopher Pincher. We will ask him questions about the topic of the HS2 and if it will have any effect on the local area. We are hoping we can use a bit of the interview to make the audience watch until that scene as it is what most conventional documentary's do.

Shots – We will be using 2 types of shot for this interview. A Two Shot, which will capture the interview and Christopher Pincher in the same shot and we are using a shot reverse shot, so that when either CP or the interviewer are talking, the camera can be on them.

Scene 2 – Introduction Graphic

The introduction graphic will consist of a 3D graphic of the UK and the HS2 smashing through houses with bags of money flying out. This introduction is a representation of what other people think of the idea of the HS2.  This will be created using the After Affects software.

Shots – For this graphic to work we will need a long shot of a bridge so the train will be able to go across it using green screen and after affects.

Scene 3 – Intro To the HS2

This will be a selection of different facts about the HS2 and will keep resorting back to the theme of Local and how the HS2 will effect Tamworth.

Shots – ( Mainly establishing shots of Tamworth.) mainly the castle, the shopping centre And the houses as the HS2 will be destroying houses.

Scene 4 – Voxpop section

This will be with different people of the local area as we want a varied opinion of the HS2. We will ask a range of different people who even aren't are target audience.

Shots- these shots would normally consist of two shots mainly with the interviewer and the interviewee.

Extra – We will also be using a mini microphone so in case the sound quality is not all that great we have a backup. 

Scene 5 – The route graphic

We are interested in looking at what route the HS2 will take a showing our audience where it will go in the area near Tamworth. Or we will show where it will go in the Uk.

Edit – We will make this graphic on Adobe after affects

Also during this effect there will be a voice over telling the audience about the route and extra information (maybe about Tamworth). 

Scene 6

This will be a focus on the local area and what the HS2 will do and how it will change the area, More jobs less jobs, More houses, less houses etc..

Shots – this will include techniques like focus pulls, so that the audience can focus on the problems that the HS2 might bring to houses  so that means the focus pull can empathise that.

-Talk about during route graphic

- Add question 3 in here ( From VoxPop )

Scene 7– Ending graphic – After the break.

This will include a scene showing the interview with CP as a reminder for the audience to watch after the break.

Other ideas that may or may not be implemented in the documentary 

Maybe – Add archive footage of old trains, - Also we are going to discuss “ A brief history of Britain's railway line”

Edit – Needs Discussion.

Packington Moor Farm

- Talk about the problems with HS2 and why its closed down.

Untitled Scene

-Go to golf club and play golf

-Talk about the Whittington Golf club

-( Find Out More Information )

-Maybe Ask for the interview.

-This could be in the Route Graphic

Images of the Storyboard:

2.6 Filming Location Planning

Filming Locations 

For our documentary we will mainly be filming in our local town of Tamworth. This is mainly because the town links with the HS2 quite a lot.  Within Tamworth we will be filming:

Tamworth Town Centre

We believe that if the documentary is going to be about what Tamworth thinks about the HS2 and how its going to affect the town, we will need some footage of town. In this case we were thinking of capturing the main aspects of Tamworth such as the Robert peel statue in the picture above, as well as the picturesque main road that is the main hub of Tamworth's community. We will also be walking around Tamworth to see what other things we can film on the day. 

The type of shots that we are planning to get will manly be still shots and the occasional pan as documentaries only use basic shots as it is mostly the voice over that guides the viewer through the documentary. This is not to say we will be only doing those shots, we are going to try and go against the codes and conventions of the camera shots documentaries by doing zooms and maybe a dutch tilt, if it is suitable.

Tame Valley Wetlands 

When looking on Google maps for a good place with lots of green, and that was still in reach, the Tame Valley showed up and we believe that it is a great representation of the wildlife and plant life, that will be torn down to make way for the HS2. So hopefully on the day we film the wetlands will look as good as this so then we will be able to get some great pans going across the lake. 

Tamworth Train Station 

Now, The train station. Most of the films shots will be shot from here as the documentary is about the HS2 and since the HS2 has not been built yet we need to use the old trains that are still running to represent the HS2 to our audience. But enough though we need to get a lot of train shots, we need the actual station itself to represent, train times for example or when we speak about how many seat the HS2 will have we will record people who are sat down on the train. 

Ventura Park 

Ventura park will be involved in the film when speaking about prices and business as this is where business thrives. Also this makes Ventura park very, very busy which is also a good thing. This means we can record traffic which is good as it can go into the film when mentioning about the environment and how the HS2 can stop congestion in major cities across the UK. 

Tamworth Sixth Form     

One of the key scenes of the whole documentary will be filmed at the sixth form, the interview with an expert scene. Luckily Christopher Pitcher was nice enough to come to us to film the interview. Also any other last minute shots will be shot here or in the Tamworth Town centre as it is a short walk away. Also the Voice over will be recorded here, even though we won't need a camera.