Log: Improvements to Documentary Extract

I need to edit the footage from Mrs Sweeney to pop up in random parts of the documentary extract not just placed at the end of the extract to round it up. So, today I am attempting placing her footage in different sections of the documentary so it applies accordingly to what is being presented.

Log: Improvements to Documentary Extract

To make Charlotte's sailing hobby more visual and realistic in the documentary I have downloaded vague some footage taken at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club to add into the clips of Charlotte. This is quicker and easier to do through Youtube as Charlotte lives in Burnham-on-Crouch which is difficult to get to from Southend to film her.

Research & Planning: Word Gist

Key words that were trending after people had watched 'Beyond the Essex Girl'. The words were either within a tweet using the '#EssexGirl' hashtag or hash tagged separately through the social networking Twitter site. 

Log: Changes To My Documentary Extract

-Make the focus of the documentary more explicit e.g. voiceover - "I've travelled to Essex to explore the myth of the 'Essex Girl'"
-Film/voiceover of Anna stating her ambitions for the future like Charlotte does
-Get facts and figures to insert as text e.g. number of grammar schools in Essex and Essex University
-Initially Charlotte fits the stereotype of an Essex girl with blonde hair and a slim physique but her attitudes are different to Anna's.

Log: Expert Opinion Footage

I have now got more footage to add to my documentary extract in order to portray typical conventions of a documentary. I have filmed an interview with my sociology teacher Mrs Sweeney giving her opinion on the Essex girl, how it developed and if its a true perception of Essex girls. Her responses are similar to an article I found in the Telegraph 'What is an Essex Girl?'. This article specifically lists television programmes that developed the stereotype which relates to the sociological perspective that the media influences stereotypes such as the "Essex girl".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7368909/What-is-an-Essex-Girl.html

"In recent years it has been epitomised by such celebrities as Big Brother's Jade Goody and Chantelle Houghton, and glamour model Jodie Marsh.

Used to describe working class girls and young women from Essex, they usually apply significant amounts of fake tan, giving them a glowing, orange, appearance, while they are also known for their bleached blonde hair - one particular joke is "Why do Essex girls wear so much hair spray? So they can catch all the things going over their heads."

Production: Double Page Spread

I added photos to my double page spread in this particular layout, but I felt it looked unprofessional and a bit basic. I also didn't want too much text covering the whole page.

Therefore, I tried a different layout by covering one A4 side of the pages with a portrait photo to catch the attention of the readers. Then I can fill the other side with the review as reviews aren't exceedingly long. However, I am still finding it difficult to come up with a title for the review, possibly a pun. 

Research: Audience Feedback (Documentary so far)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12gY-Aja8o4luJyJxgacrzIv_wlpgjYt7JEpLud75esY/viewform

Research: Audience Feedback (Poster)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wNc4SxZrbNQ6CSoE_U9daZfmynADym6zY3UvJPrzTog/viewform

Production: Advert

In today's lesson I have altered my original television advert poster for 'Beyond the Essex Girl' to a different image as the previous poster looked unprofessional and distorted. I have made an audience feedback questionnaire on Google Docs for criticisms on the poster so I can make any last minute adjustments to suit the target market.

Log: Film Progress

Today I have been working on iMovie at home trying to improve my film, I have found that I need to get a bit more footage to add to the second half to end the documentary extract as it still hasn't been finished.

I also need to add voiceovers to the beginning of the documentary to establish the narrative. I am yet to decide whether to use my own voice as a young girl or an older sounding woman's voice.

Production: New Shots for Poster

I decided to reshoot my poster images in a different way in order for the faces to align together. Therefore I chose just one model and modelled one half of her face with heavy make up and the other with none to get the half and half effect. 

The make up difference didn't seem too obvious in the shot so in iPhoto I cropped the photo into two separate halves and edited each side to apply to how I aimed to create it. With the left side I boosted the saturation, colour, changed the contrast settings and the definition. 

And with the right side I didn't changed too much apart from the brightness and it faded the colour slightly to get an instant skin tone contrast between each half. 

Before putting them onto Photoshop I aligned each side up together and got this effect which I desired from the beginning. 

Production: Shots for Double Page Spread

I edited some of the photos for the double page spread review product on iPhoto to enhance the colour of the spray tan tent to stand out on the page. 

Log: Production

In today's lesson I began writing my review for my double page spread. I pasted some of the text onto Photoshop, however Ms. Casson said that the whole thing should be written in Word first to be checked and then moved into the layout.

I also showed Ms. Casson my advertisement poster and we both decided that as the two faces aligned together looked slightly distorted so I should reshoot a photo of one model with half of her face made up and half without. We also decided that I should add a hashtag as the audience for BBC Three are aimed at 16-34 year olds who are digitally active, this will enable the programme to be promoted through social networking.

Log: Television Magazine Review Progress

Today I began writing up the review for 'Beyond the Essex Girl' to go onto my double-page spread. I thought the review could begin with a negative approach of a non-Essex resident who held the stereotypical view of an Essex girl. But, the critics view had been transformed by the second half of the documentary to show how the programme achieved it's aim in challenging the Essex girl stereotype. I also created the basic layout of the double page spread.

Log: Auxiliary Product

I was unsure about the plain white background of my television advert poster because it looks quite simple but after asking my focus group they thought it looked fine white and it's complies with the BBC Three colour scheme. 

Production: Progress On My Advert

Today I decided to choose two different images from the previous in order to line up the facial features perfectly. I added contrast/brightness and a drop shadow effect to the images to look more professional. I still think the advert is a bit too simple and I should change the background colour and add a slogan.

Production: My Advert Poster

Today, I uploaded my photos onto iPhoto and began to edit them by editing the contrasts and saturation, also retouching any blemishes so it looks professional to the audience. I then chose the two images I thought where best and incorporated them onto my ready made poster to merge together. However I had serious difficulty in lining up the facial features of both girls and the face looked distorted when put together.

Production: Beginning My TV Advert Poster

In today's lesson I began to create my TV advertisement poster in Photoshop based on my flat plan idea. I used DaFont to install a variety of fonts to fit my plan and uploaded them on to photoshop to get a vague idea of how to lay it out. I am also in the process of researching how to add diamond-like sparkles to the text on 'Essex girl' to represent the glamour that's in the stereotypical label. 

Planning: TV Advert Flatplan

The poster advertisement from 'Beyond The Essex Girl' will have a main image acting as the focal point to the poster of two separate halves of two young girls faces. The left half of the face will represent the stereotypical Essex girl with an orange face, blonde hair and heavy make-up. But, the right half of the face will represent a simple 'plain jane' looking girl who will challenge the Essex girl stereotype, hence the title 'Beyond The Essex Girl'. This will hopefully briefly signify the narrative of the documentary. The title for the programme will be in large typography around the main image, the 'Beyond The...' will be in a dark, simple font and the 'Essex girl' will signify the stereotype, in a bright pink colour with feminine typography. The BBC Three logo will also be presented at the bottom of the page along with the date its broadcasted to signify to the audience where to watch it in order to attract views. The BBC Three logo is also pink and black which will correspond with the colour scheme I am attempting to represent. 

Log: Considering the Evaluation

http://shsgadvancedportfolio14.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/considering-evaluation-and-exam.html

In today's lesson we focused on previous examiner's feedback in order to help us plan and produce our video, ancillary products and evaluation. I personally found that I should refer back to my focus group continually for advice, use animatics when presenting storyboard etc. and when evaluating use videos with audio commentary.

Research & Planning: Television Magazine Review Analysis

Research & Planning: Television Advert Analysis

Log: Progress

Today I've begun to analyse television reviews in magazine as part of the research for my auxiliary products. I have also been researching the ASA (Advertising Standards Agency), the company that handles complaints on advertising etc. such as 'Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier' for 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' as further research. 

Log: Progress

This lesson I have been analysing television advertisement poster auxilliary products. This is a crucial step in production as I can identify and compare different products to incorporate into my own documentary advertisement.

Research & Planning: Advertisement Analysis for 'Snog Marry Avoid'

Research & Planning: Auxiliary Products

My research on documentary advertisements on British television:

This advertisement for 'Snog Marry Avoid' is broadcasted on BBC Three, therefore similar to my documentary product. The poster addresses females by using the colour pink and the two still images of the woman, I plan to follow these connotations with my own product as they both target the same demographic. The advertisement is very simple but the font and, colours and costume stand out on the white background, this is definitely a technique I am going to take into consideration as I believe it looks bold and attractive to the target audience.

The advertisement for 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' on Channel 4 follows similar connotations that 'Snog Marry Avoid' have displayed. It uses little text and a font and font colour that stands out on a simple background. Instead of the programme name the poster simply conveys a slogan 'Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier', these three words all relate to those in the programme title, this technique connotes that the documentary is a well-established and popular series that is very recognisable. As this programme is a documentary series I feel this is a good poster to analyse as our target audience will be similar. The crucial aspects for a documentary advertisement should be an image, text, sponsor, channel logo and date. This advertisement came in a series of posters that were advertised in the same manner, however, there was some backlash for the advertisements as they were considered racist to Gypsies etc. The layout and scale of the poster for a popular series such as this were good use for billboards. 

http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/10/Channel-Four-Television-Corporation/SHP_ADJ_197451.aspx

The ASA complained on how the 'Bigger Fatter Gypsier' ads were irresponsible and offensive. They claimed that there were 372 complaints overall. The ads were offensive because they believed they were racist, denigratory and portrayed Gypsies and Travelers in a negatively stereotypical way. The ads were irresponsible because they believed they depicted negative stereotypes of Gypsies and Travellers    and endorsed prejudice against them. 

BBC Three's 'Don't Call Me Crazy' has a slightly different layout in comparison to the other two advertisements. It still remains with the same BBC Three colour scheme that is portrayed in the majority of their posters, pinks, whites and blacks (like the logo). It also follows the conventions of bold texts to stand out, preferably capital letters, a channel logo and an image. However, this poster definitely portrays more information about the documentary as it shows all the dates it is broadcasted as well as the team behind it such as the narrator, editor and producers. The production company, 'Platform Productions' is also written at the top of the advertisement. 

Log: Progress

I have begun to edit my footage, I still haven't completely finished filming as I need more shots of Charlotte and an introduction to the documentary. After Ms Casson looked through my footage with me we and both decided that some of the parts I have need to be re-filmed in a high-key lit area as the camera quality is lacking when it isn't daylight. I was also slightly worried about the sound on the interview sections and thought I may have to record voice overs to make it clearer quality, however, with the tools on iMovie I managaged to reduce the volume of the background noise and increase the volume of the clip. Therefore, I think the footage sounds loud and clear enough for now but I will have to get opinions from my focus group. Here are some of the video clips that I need to re-film due to poor lighting:

Myself and Ms. Casson also decided that the original shots of the young girls getting ready to go out with alcohol surrounding them was inappropriate to be shown so I have re-filmed those shots with no obvious alcoholic beverages. 

Research & Planning: Branding

Branding from EveSalmon

Research & Planning: Log

From looking through my footage on iMovie today it is evident that I need to get some more filming done and possibly re-film small parts where the lighting wasn't very good and the camera was quite shaky. I particularly need to film the second half of my documentary/trailer which focus' on beyond the Essex girl, this will include 2 interviews with an teen who is the complete opposite of the Essex girl stereotype and with Syd Moore. 

Research & Planning: Location Spots

This is a yacht club in Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-sea, Essex. I thought I could use this as a location spot when representing my opposite Essex girl Charlotte who enjoys sailing as a hobby.

This is my bedroom which looks very girly and young therefore, I could use it when filming my Essex girls getting ready for a night out.

This is Anna's bedroom, my stereotypical Essex girl, so I can use this room for her interview.

Research & Planning: Documentary Research

Although this documentary is based in Liverpool, the stereotypical image is extremely similar to Essex in regards to the tanning salons and cosmetic surgeries, 

This is where the Essex stereotype was first recognized. 

Research & Planning: Music Options

I have picked out these music options for the introduction of my documentary as they reflect an upbeat party vibe that Essex girls would stereotypically enjoy. The fast paced music being at the beginning would catch the attention of the audience and I have chosen contemporary music to attract my younger target audience.

Research & Planning: Articles

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2101789/TOWIE-look-Transforming-Essex-Girl-involves-8-hours-torture-1-200.html
This article basically explains how a normal woman can transform into the stereotypical 'Essex Girl'. The process included spray tanning, eyelash extensions and hairdressing to get the 'bigger is better' hair style. Therefore, reinforcing the stereotypical image that Essex girls are labelled with.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/feb/05/britishidentity.gender
Germain Greer defends the negative Essex reputation.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/mar/05/gender

Research & Planning: Social Networking

After researching Essex girl stereotypes I have come across a parody Twitter account 'Life of an Essex Gal'. This just proves that the typical attitudes of Essex girl's are shared across social networking, not just nationally but internationally. 

https://twitter.com/Essexgirls2

Research & Planning: Treatment Feedback

Everyone seemed to like the name 'Beyond The Essex Girl' for my documentary title, therefore I am most likely going to use it. The feedback from my classmates is very useful and I have some new ideas such as people to interview, comedic Essex phrases and the incorporation of Essex boys. 

"Possibly start of with a montage of public opinion of Essex girls"

"Maybe show some focus on the stereotypes of Essex boys"

"Why not a full documentary if you have enough footage"

"Find out who watches the 'Educating Essex' type programmes"

"Use Essex Girl jokes as titles"

"Contact Syd Moore"

"How can you expand the target audience so its not just Essex viewers watching it"

Research & Planning: Treatment

Treatment media from EveSalmon

Research & Planning: Focus Group

Name: Ella Kilkelly

Age: 17

Location: Thorpe Bay, Southend, Essex.

Hobbies/Interests: Sailing, shopping, going out with friends. 

Favourite TV Genre: Sitcom's 

Favourite TV Documentary: Channel 4's 'Educating Yorkshire'

How Often Do You Watch Documentaries: Rarely

     Name: Harriet Jones

Age: 17

Location: Thorpe Bay, Southend, Essex.

Hobbies/Interests: Going out with friends, fake tanning, beauty treatments. 

Favourite TV Genre: Reality TV

Favourite TV Documentary: Channel 4's 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'

How Often Do You Watch Documentaries: Fairly often. 

Name: Jane Crooks

Age: 45

Location: Great Wakering, Southend, Essex.

Hobbies/Interests: Doing hair and nails, coffee with friends, the cinema. 

Favourite TV Genre: Reality TV

Favourite TV Documentary: Channel 4's 'One Born Every Minute' 

How Often Do You Watch Documentaries: Often

Name: George Salmon

Age: 19

Location: Thorpe Bay, Southend, Essex.

Hobbies/Interests: Going clubbing, sleeping, playing football.

Favourite TV Genre: Sport

Favourite TV Documentary: Channel 4's 'Skint'

How Often Do You Watch Documentaries: Regularly