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Dear Moderator,

I hope you had fun while viewing my work and seeing all the hard work that went in during the process of making it. I definitely had fun but at the same time was stressed. Thank You for looking at my blog!

Yours Sincerely

Bansari

Q4- Evaluation

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? As well as using these technologies I used the Camera to film. The camera for me was a huge issue as I had forgotten how to use it since I last used in my foundation portfolio. However since than I had gained much more insight on how to use it since it was pretty much user friendly. However I had issues with lighting in my product which I could not correct while at the editing table since it was an location issue and I was filming in the morning when it was pretty bright.

Q3- Evaluation

Q2- Evaluation

How Effective is the Combination of Your Main Product and Ancillary Task

Q1- Evaluation

Created with Padlet

Final Article

Final Article

Final Newspaper Advertisement

Click to Enlarge 

Here is my final newspaper advertisement. I have tried to emulate channel 4 newspaper advertisements using there style and production ident.

Final Video

Here is my Final Cut of My documentary

Audience Feedback

Most of my audience feedback was positive which helped me gain a sense of confidence. They said that my documentary could of been even better if transitions would have been added as well as work on framing could have been done. Other than I got mostly positive reviews for my blog which helped me a lot. If I was to undertake work like this in the future I would feel much more confident.
 As well as that here is some the things I could work on:

• Looking at interview styles in expository documentaries
• How interviews are conducted
• Framing of Interviews
• Mise-en-Scene
• Lighting

Production Log

I am nearly at the end of completing all the tasks for my coursework with only evaluations left to complete. I feel this has been an interesting journey of creating my coursework. I have been under extreme stress while completing this and have sometimes given hope but due to the help of my peers I have lifted myself up and persevered. I felt that was the only way I would get any work done and finished. I feel I have given birth to a child and no am setting it free. After months of hard work I am proud what I have constructed. My only advice to other A2 students would be is work really hard and meet deadlines on time!!!

Technical Difficulties

I faced many technical difficulties during the making of this blog. I found that some of my work was deleted on blogger. As well as that I found that Adobe Premiere Pro closed down on my many times making it harder for me to upload things. Moreover I found it difficult to keep things in order when editing. Other than that I did not face many difficulties during the making of my product.

Drafting Process- Article

Here is my drafting process for my blog. I went from constructing my article on Adobe Photoshop to constructing it on Adobe InDesign as I found InDesign a more user friendly software to use while creating my article. As well as that InDesign had already a pre double page spreadsheet template ready making it even more easy for me to carry out my work.

Article Construction

Drafting Process- Poster

Drafting Newspaper Advert

Music for Documentary

In order to look for background music for my documentary, I had to look at various copyright free websites until I found a website which is absolutely copyright free and would let me download music for free as well. This is highly beneficial for a student like me as I can't afford to buy music at very high rates and pay for it every time I was to use it. The website that has made it possible for me to download music legally and free of cost is Free Music Archive ( http://freemusicarchive.org/).

Rough Cut

Here is my Rough Cut for my documentary.

Original Footage in it's Raw State

Filming/Behind the Scene's Photo's

Filming and Behind the Scene's Photo's on PhotoPeach

Production Log

I have completed my health and safety assessment as well as research on my ancillary tasks about codes and conventions. Looking at other real media texts for my ancillary task has given me a focus on what to concentrate on while creating my own ancillary tasks. I have thought about which software's I would like to start drafting my ancillary tasks on. As well as that I have got audience feedback of my work so far and what needs touching up and improving.  Other than that I feel the outstanding work for this week is nearly finished and I am on task.

Alterations Made Along the Way

Audience Feedback

Risk Assessment/Health and Safety Evidence

Health and Safety Assessment

Planning for Newspaper Advertisement

Newspaper Advertisement Planning

Planning for Listings Magazine Article

Article Planning

Production Log

Having made an filming editing schedule while in the lesson my main focus know is to get all my filming and editing done for the next week to follow and stick to it. Other than that I intend to carry on with my construction process. I have many other things to focus on as well while completing my filming and editing such as research and construction of my ancillary tasks and suitable software's for them. As well as that I need to finish of things like shot lists and storyboard in order to start filming other than that I feel I am on task with my coursework.

Structure of Documentary

I have a structure for my documentary that I would like to follow and stick to while I film:-

• Opening shot of mother and daughter sitting down and discussing Bollywood films, Voiceover, Non diegetic sound  

• Two Shot, Over the shoulder shot of them discussing Bollywood films, Voiceover, Non diegetic sound

• Individual Interviews of Mother and Daughter split up going back and forth,

• Filler shot of Cinema, Voiceover, Non diegetic sound

• Interior shots of Cinema with 'Expert' doing his daily work, Voiceover, Non diegetic sound  

• Interview of 'Expert'

• Filler shot of contrast character talking with friend e.g. two shots, shot reverse shot , Voiceover, Non-diegetic sound

• Contrast Interview

• Filler shot of wedding, Voiceover, Diegetic sound

Editing Softwares/ Equipment Research

Editing Software

The editing software that I will use will be Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Adobe Premiere Pro is a complex editing software which allows editing to be done at a high standard. The software will make the product look to a very high standard and can give effortless results. I have used this software before for AS Coursework and found it difficult to use but having said that learnt a lot of new things. The software has many features which not simply let you edit but add many details to your product making it look as professional as possible. I found Premiere Pro extremely hard to use at times when doing my coursework last year so in order to get more practice I looked at more tutorials compared to last year.


In order to edit for my two ancillary tasks I will need to use Photoshop. I have had some previous experience of using Photoshop but still feel a beginner as it was at a very basic level. However in order to prepare I have been watching tutorials on youtube and asking my peers for help if needed. For know I feel this is the right strategy to tackle this and is working out fine.








Equipment

Sony HD AVCHD is the camcorder I will be using to film. I will be able to film in High definition as this is a HD camera. This will give my film a professional quality. With new camera being introduced in the market the features they have has evolved allowing people like me to film almost professionally with it being cost effective.

The Tripod I will be using is called Hama Star 42 Tripod. The tripod is a more advanced the one I had previously used as it allows me to turn the camera around nearly 360 degrees as well as turn it up and down allowing me to get different angles easily. A Tripod is essential when filming as it helps you keep your camera steady and your footage is eliminated of any shaky camera which is a huge error people fall prey to when filming without realising  and a easy way to lose substantial marks.

Film/Editing Schedule/ Permission for filming

I had to ask permission for filming so therefore I had to devise a letter than take it to Safari Cinema Harrow. They agreed to let me film for my project.

Script Development

Production Log

I have chosen a Idea I would like to create which is 'How are Bollywood films relevant to NRI audiences'. I feel the idea is relevant to me personally since I am a Non Resident Indian who watches Bollywood films. This will make me more interested in the topic to research and create a documentary for. As well as that I have started the construction process of my product with creating a floor plan, doing location recce's as well as looking for other suitable locations.

Floor Plan

Here is my floor plan for all the interior scenes in my documentary. I used a site called RoomSketcher to design it. This was a much more easier way to design it than hand drawing it.

Location Recce

I have decided where I'm going to film my documentary. I will film my documentary in two different locations.

The exterior of Safari Cinema. I will be filming a filler shot outside the cinema to introduce the cinema. I feel this is an ideal location as it not only introduces the cinema but even lets the audience know of the popularity of Bollywood films for specialised cinema's like Safari to exist. 

The exterior of Safari cinema where I will be filming one of the staff members doing the daily job again which will be used as a filler shit. This introduces to the audience what the cinema is like inside. 

The background where I will construct rest of the interview.

The location where I will conduct the interviews of Mrs Patel and her daughter Ms Patel. I feel their home is ideal in not only capturing their daily life but their love of Bollywood films as well which I feel is what I need for this documentary. 

Shot List

Storyboard

Title Ideas

Having a documentary my title will be straight forward. The documentary itself will be called Are Bollywood Films Relevant to NRI audiences? Therefore there will be no confusion as to what the documentary will be about. I'am following the way Channel 4 name their documentaries therefore I will not need any ideas.So this process is eliminated for me.

Production Log

I have made my decision of where I want to make my documentary. I feel the subject is to broad in order to be put in the first 5 minutes of beginning. I feel my coursework so far is going on task and I am learning a lot of new things while continuing on with my research. I have done my research for my ancillary task and know understand the codes and conventions better and what to follow when I will reach the stage to construct my ancillary tasks. Other than that I am happy with the way things are going so far! Hopefully they stay that way.

Analysis of Double Page Spreads

Analysis of Newspaper Advertisements

Script Development Draft 2

Since my documentary will not be from the beginning like initially planned as I changed my idea around to doing my documentary 5 minutes somewhere in the middle I have decided to just plan out my voice overs and let the actors I will be filming improvise their answers giving the professional look to my documentary as that's what expository documentaries seem to do. So after scraping my script here are the voice overs I have created for each of introduction of my characters.

Voiceovers

The Voiceovers will go in the same order as I have written them in the documentary. 

• Both Mrs Patel and her daughter Amy love Bollywood films. They both find regular time to discuss them and watch them together. However do all NRI families share the same attitude as these two mother and daughter do? Or is this an generation aspect?

• Safari Cinema is located in Harrow and only showcase Bollywood films. Mr Khan who has been working their for 20 years says Bollywood films have many important factors and that's what makes it one the most watched and desirable industries in the world. 

• Living in the same community both Amy and Vanisha share different attitudes to Bollywood films. Amy who loves Bollywood films as we have previously seen, however Vanisha is the polar opposite and why is that so?

• Weddings are a multi billion pound industry in the UK

Production Log

Having made a script and looking at 'typical' age group of certain character profiles I may need, I know
where my idea is heading. This is what I did in class and other work I need to complete is do some audience research and interview different people on 'What is a Bollywood film according to them' and ask more question on if they watch them and if they do then why and etc. This will give my documentary much more focus making the planning stage much more easier for me. I feel this may be a bit more harder to approach people and ask for an interview but other than that's all the work I want to complete before the end of this week. I feel I need more background information on documentaries maybe watching a few more documentaries may give me this reach. This will help me sharpen my knowledge and when I do come to planning my documentary things will become easier.

Character Profiles

The whole idea of an Documentary is to present factual knowledge and let it's audiences know the 'real' truth behind it's doors. Therefore for me 'constructing' characters and creating profiles for them would be harder than I anticipated. However looking at my target audience I know the type of 'characters' I would need in my documentary. Making a first draft of my script has helped me picture the type of characters I would need and looking at my target audience again.

Character 1:-
Age- 16-17
Student who is still in sixth form or collage, and NRI who watches Bollywood films.

Character 2:-
Age- 20-25

Character 3:-
Age- 40-45
Profession- Expert in Analysing NRI audiences and Bollywood films (Expert)

Character 4:-
Age- 25-30
Profession:- Expert in Looking at NRI's in Bollywood Films

Script Development Draft 1

Here's my first draft of my script. My script contains some annotations which I though of whole writing the script. I found that interesting Idea's can be developed while reading your work which I previously didn't think of. I've tried to keep to the type of font a script would use in order to make at as authentic as possible.

HOW ARE BOLLYWOOD FILMS RELEVANT TO NRI AUDIENCES DRAFT 1 11-11-13

1 EXT. SHOTS OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS E.G. CINEMA. DAY  

Indian Music.  

NARRATOR

           Being an NRI audience myself, I’m intrigued

           To see how Bollywood films actually relate

           to Non Resident Indians. The Hindi Film Industry

           otherwise famously known as ‘Bollywood’ famously

           is a multibillion industry making around 200-300

           films a year. Recently being an NRI myself I have

           noticed a change in the trend of audiences shift.

           More Bollywood films are now aimed at NRI’s as the

           films central characters are usually NRI themselves.

           Thus changing the whole dynamic of Bollywood films.

CHARACTER 1

           I love Bollywood films even though I live outside of

           India, I watch them regularly.

CHARACTER 2

           I’m beginning to relate myself to the characters

           In Bollywood films, as most the films are now set

           in the west.

2 INT. CLASSROOMS/SEMINAR

CHARACTER 3

           Bollywood has been a long standing industry and

           Has evolved with time be it for family audiences

           or independent cinema goers everyone has a ‘thing’

           they can relate to especially NRI’s in the recent

           years as most films are being set outside India in

           the Western World.

CHARACTER 4

           NRI audiences are a huge market for Bollywood films.

           Due to this most films are now being made keeping NRI

           Audiences in mind such as outdoor sets and urban stories

           Have recently become the new trend.

NARRATOR

           Today Britain itself is a multicultural society.

           Therefore Bollywood audiences are not just made

           up NRI’s but secondary audiences that are not

           even targeted.

CHARACTER 5

I watch Bollywood films because of the rich culture.

I find it interesting to see the colours the music

something that is unique to only Bollywood films

and not any other industry.

Script Feedback

I sat down with the production team who had a look at my script and gave me feedback on how to change things around. They said to make me script specific to what type of audience I'm studying e.g. teenagers, adults etc. The opening part to my script should be split into half and more historical knowledge should be shown in it. Such as I introduce what Bollywood films are and than I introduce some audiences discussing Bollywood films and cut back to the narrator talking about the history of Bollywood films. This therefore makes my documentary more realistic and gives it an professional feel. This will even look more creative.

Production Log

I have done a handful of research and decided to make an expository documentary. I feel most of my research leans towards that mode anyway. Having done more research on my topic about 'How are Bollywood film relevant to NRI's' I now feel much more confident in constructing a 5 minute documentary sequence. This will make it much more easier for me to make shot lists and storyboards my work as by then I would have envisioned shot by shot what I would want. However, having said that things do change once posted on paper. So far I feel my coursework is on task and I am getting the work done but having said that I will have to stay on task with everything before I fall into the lazy routine of doing not a lot of work.

5 Minute Sequences of Documentaries

After deciding on my final idea, I wanted to look into the first 5 minute sequences of documentaries, and pick up upon general traits and what is included according to the codes and conventions and what is not. I looked at both Participatory and  Expository Documentaries, however the type that I will be making is Expository.

Stephan Fry's Out There

• Start of documentary and voiceover of narrator starts
• Music starts at exactly 0.22 seconds
• Light, Chirpy music, almost like classical music
• Screen splits in to 4 little screens to show different people from different racial backgrounds
• Few interviews are shown at the start in clips of 2-3 seconds showing what is to come in the documentary
• 1.48 second title comes up on Screen, music reaches pinnacle
• Narrator himself participates gets interviewed and filmed making this an participatory documentary
• Clips of public walking
• Music starts and stops throughout the first 5 minutes
• Editing becomes fast paced after 0.28 seconds, music sign posts something serious is about to be discussed, in this case the documentary discuses the rights of homosexuals around the world.
• Mise-en-Scene, natural settings used with the use of outside public areas, room inside a building, dark to neutral colours are used again highlighting a serious subject is being talked about.
• Voiceover states laws, facts about homosexuality in England, Ireland, Wales.
• Films a Civil Partnership being performed

NRI Audiences and Bollywood Films

NRI stands for Non Resident Indians. A generic term for all Indians who have migrated to different countries and settles themselves around the world presumably the Western World. Bollywood films or otherwise known as the Hindi Film Industry is a huge lucrative industry where thousands of films are released every year in the Hindi language. One of the latest trends in the new wave generation of Bollywood films is the recognition of NRI audiences. Protagonists in Hindi films are usually NRI's themselves.

Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayange (1995) was a major release by Yash Raj Films an Indian film production company started by the famous film director Yash Chopra who went on the direct many critically and commercially successful films in his time. DDLJ became highly successful and one of the first Hindi films to feature NRI protagonists who were born and brought up in London but still shared Indian values. The film having NRI's as main protagonists helped it became a big hit with the audiences of the west who loved Hindi films but didn't see a common factor with them. Critic Anupama Chopra said that ''Perhaps the innocence of Raj and Simran's romance in which they can spend the night together without sex because Raj, the British NRI understands the importance of an Indian woman’s honour. Perhaps it’s the way in which the film artfully reaffirms the patriarchal status quo and works for all constituencies—the NRI and the local viewer. Or perhaps it’s the magic of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who created a template for modern love, which was hip and cool but resolutely Indian." She also calls the film a milestone that shaped Hindi cinema through the 1990s.         

Being perhaps the only film on the 90s to stand out amongst it contemporary's with it's main characters as NRI's however in recent years that has changed. Here are some films in the decade to feature NRI's has the main protagonists. 
Love Aaj Kal (2009) a light hearted comedy that talks about two couples and their respective love stories in two different generations. The modern day love story focuses on the couple Jai and Meera who live in London. The film contrasted a modern day love story with a love story set in a older period in India where love marriages where highly unlikely. The films was a success in India and abroad and the NRI story was liked by many modern couples in India.


Cocktail (2012) and Indian romantic comedy film was predominantly shot in London and featured the outgoing character Veronica played by Deepika Padukone. The films was a hit abroad and in India. Commercially and Deepika Padukone was critically lauded for her role as Veronica a young free spirited woman, living a independent life, willing to have no strings attached sex and not be bothered by the 'Indian values'. Rubina A Khan a critic gave the film 4/5 stars, saying that "Cocktail is a contemporary film that reflects life as it happens all around us…. just as crazy, twisted, beautiful, funny, weird and lonely as anyone's life can be. It's about easy choices and hard decisions and how life still goes on, despite it all. It's a cocktail you definitely wanna try!". The unconventional format of the film, the story between three friends who come to terms with some hard decisions in their life made it a hit with the Urban Indian audiences and mostly multiplexes based in big cities such as Mumbai or Delhi compared to the small town viewers who found this too forward for their taste. Aniruddha Guha of DNA India gave the movie 3.5/5 stars, stating that "The best thing about Cocktail is that it is as different as a film can get within a very conventional format. My favourite scene has Gautam talk to Veronica and Meera together about his feelings towards each of them. "Look. You love me. I love her. Let's sort this mess out." A rare moment in Hindi cinema."

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) another Yash Raj film and the last ever film to be directed by Yash Chopra himself who suddenly passed away while the post-production of the film. The film featured a love story between an Indian migrant Sameer and Meera and NRI born and brought up in rich affluent Indian family in London. Jab Tak Hai Jaan did very well at the Indian and Overseas box office. A love story between an Indian migrant and NRI was praised by Critic's as this was a very unconventional turn. The film grossed £1,619,356 at the UK box office.

Audience Research

I conducted some audience interviews with some NRI's. I found various different reasons as to why an NRI would watch an Hindi film and why one would not. This has helped me bring a focus to my documentary and what I should include in it. The key reason that I found came across in my interviews was the entertainment aspect of Bollywood films. Many Bollywood films don't have the same amount of 'substance' as Hollywood films making them more light hearted or entertaining as they lack the realist aspect. Having said that Bollywood films with aspects of social realism but they tend to be for a niche audience and don't tend to do as well as big budget and full entertainment type Bollywood films. I conducted interviews with Non- resident Indian audiences who watch Bollywood films. I conducted some by filming them and some by writing a transcript of there interview as they didn't want to be filmed.

Transcripts from Interviews conducted

My Audience Research Interviews

What are Documentaries?

A typical dictionary definition of a documentary is given as something along the lines of using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a particular subject. To even make it more simple a documentary is an informative visual picture put together to inform or entertain an person about any particular subject. A documentary is more of an creative way to document about a particular subject rather than literally reading an document or any other text. 

Bill Nichols (2001) an American critic and theoretician best known for his work on the identification of the 6 distinct modes a documentary can be:- 

The Expository Mode:-  This mode is probably the most common form seen on television. The aim of a expository documentary is usually to inform the audience about a place, an event or any other topic. An expository documentary may develop an argument if wanted to put a point across however that is not always the case. 



Codes and Conventions of Documentaries (Click on image to Enlarge)

Why We Fight Series (1944) is a typical example of a Expository Documentary. A series of propaganda films made by Frank Capra to support WWII.  

The Participatory Mode:- The narrator interacts with the audience, often the central character in the documentary. The documentary puts emphasis on the narrators interaction with the people they meet and their reactions to the interviews  These are called Vox pops , which are mostly used in these types of documentaries. 

Nick Brromfield's Kurt and Courtney (1998) is an example of a Participatory Documentary. 

The Reflexive Mode:- This mode uses specific footage and information that will lead viewers to a specific outcome and therefore essentially make the decision of their opinions for them. They often acknowledge the constructed nature of the documentary, making it obvious to the viewer. These documentaries do not create sense of realism and follow a mockumentary format.  

Louis Theroux's work would be a key example of Reflexive Documentaries here is an example of one of his many works Law and Disorder in Philadelphia (2012). 

The Performative Mode:- They are closely linked to reflexive mode as they both investigate the relationship between the real world and the way in which documentaries represent it. They further challenge to idea of the 'truth' the documentary gives. 

Supersize Me (2004) by Morgan Spurlock is an example of an Performative Documentary. 

The Observational Mode:- This type of documentary looks real life subjects and what goes on in the world around us. It can based around life in an institution such as a hospital, prison clinic or focused around people; their lifestyles. 
 
My Bug Fat Gypsy Wedding (2001) example of an Observational Documentary. 

The Poetic Mode:- An abstract approach to documentaries.They emphasize visual associations, tonal or rhythmic qualities  description and form. They mostly come across as experimental and can bear close resembalance with the avant-garde genre. 

Codes and Conventions of the Poetic Mode:- 

Koyaanisqatsi (1982)  in other words known as Life out of Balance is an documentary film by Godfrey Reggio. The Documentary explores the unseen world using images, videos and music effectively together. 

Welcome!

Dear Moderator

Welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy looking at my work as much as I love doing it. As well as my work through this blog I will share my passion for Media Studies which I take great pleasure in learning about. 

Yours Sincerely 

Bansari Raval (A2 Media Student)