Documentary Update

Today I filmed the first of my interviews for my documentary, it was with the doctor. She was a very busy schedule, working 3 days a week, 4 children all with activities as well as meetings and housework and personal time therefore I had a limited time frame to interview her in - after 2pm but before 3pm or after school. I chose not to do it after school as I knew the children would create unwanted background noise. I arrived just before 2pm so that even if the doctor wasn't ready I could set up to film and make the most of my time. Matthew came with me to hold the boom pole. I gave a copy of the questions to the doctor so that she could look over them and think about what she wanted to say, this is important as she is working as a medical expert therefore facts need to be accurate. We then did a trial of run through the questions, I was sat just next to the camera off screen but we found out that she would look at camera therefore I had to move further from the camera so that she is looking more to the side than I would ideally want but it still works. The framing of the interview is another thing I would like to have changed, the shot was set up but because I changed where I was behind the camera the contributor changed how she was sitting. The framing is fine and doesn't cut off her head but if I had more time or someone on camera to check the framing then I would have changed it so that there would have been more space above her head and to be moved upward. Since the questions had been rehearsed, we recorded the interview in one take and finished earlier than expected.

This interview has really taught me a lot on how to conduct interviews, questioning and framing, and I will remember this for my next interviews.

As a media producer this interview may affect the overall film however I will not know until post-production. If it really doesn't work then a re shoot may be possible however this may cause scheduling conflicts and in the industry would mean a waste of a day and money.

I have come to believe that my documentary will not be 3 minutes, after filming today and realising that that interview did not last long I fear it will be shorter than 3 minutes.