Coventry People: Up the social ladder

here is our film for the Coventry People documentary task. It is about Mr Asgar Ali, a man who grew up in the deprived area of Hillfields and made a success of himself.

REFLECTION 4: Personal Critical Evaluation

The Coventry People documentary was a task that I found very interesting. As time continued to pass I became progressively immersed and engaged with the brief as an activity I would successfully complete. Once the group commenced working as a unit, it was clear that we would be able to accomplish each and every one of our requirements in the build up and creation of our artefact.

The problems we encountered as a group was initially the decision process of selecting which of our group’s characters would be put forward for production; after discussion and reflection upon which character ‘had the most powerful’ story we came to agreement that it would be best if we made the film about Mr Ali. Establishing a shared and natural group dynamic to provide an effective working module was also a barrier we overcame as a group. Through discussion on issues that arose we were able to refocus and set out on our work. The filming phase of our documentary also proved very difficult; this was because of the availability of our character and the lack of time we had access to film him. After persistent pushes towards getting free time with Mr Ali we were able to shoot and take our footage to the editing phase.

My unique contribution to the group regarding the project as whole was very consistent as I took part in every aspect of production and was ready to be a leader. When discussing the story of character, I was able to provide input in deciding how we would be able to portray our story in the 3 minute time limit. On set of our filming I played the role of director in seeing which shots would work best in making our documentary and interaction between Mr Ali and the audience viewing the film. I would say that my ability to work in a team was good, we shared all of our opinions together and made critical decisions with consideration. My editorial judgement also proved useful; whilst editing our footage I was able to observe which clips would be useful in creating the story we were showing.

Reflecting upon my involvement in the project I would say that I have developed on a personal level. The environment of the task lead towards  me acting as a leader within the group; during research, I initiated a plan stating what areas of information would be useful contributors to our product. Throughout the project I have encountered situations of decision that I was not familiar with, by overcoming each obstacle with confidence I have seen my own progression. The knowledge I have learnt during this task has given a clear insight towards what it is to be a researcher and the process of making a documentary, as well as being part of a team. The experience has been very valuable to me as I will use all I have learnt in future work and productions I conduct.

Audience – (Coventry people)

Screenings:

• The Adelaide Film Festival would be a nice attempt of screening our film, I have visited the website and note that entries for the 2011 awards open on the 17th of May.
  Link to site: http://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/
  
  
• UK SCREEN is a film and music network that can broadcast user-generated content online. It does not break terms of copyright and would help promote our work.
  Link to site: http://www.ukscreen.com/index.htm
  
  
• YouTube is a major broadcasting internet site. uploading our film to YouTube with the use of social networking would promote the film significantly and get views.
  Link to site: http://www.youtube.com/
  
• In terms of Cinema, Upload Cinema is a site that takes internet material and presents them on ‘the big screen’. Entering our film to their interface could be a useful option.
  Link to site: http://www.uploadcinema.net/submit.php
  
  
• Wildscreen.tv is another website that could lead to the viewing of our film on television, subscribing to their website and uploading our film would put it in a stream of mass consumed footage for audiences.
  Link to site: http://www.wildscreen.tv/
  

Review:

The film is in its final stages of production and near completion. The theme is of Mr Ali’s story of ‘rags to riches’; the way in which the film has been produced provides a more realistic outlook of his life as he walks up the ‘social ladder’ towards success.

REFLECTION 3: Research Production

The production as a project is developing comprehensively. As a group we have been able to continuously make decisions regarding our artefact and the contributing research we are undertaking. The research we are conducting is still focused around statistical data regarding Coventry as a city and how specific scenarios and facts relate to the upbringing of our character and the state we now find him in. As we have shot a significant amount of footage for the documentary, we have begun formulating the story we will present. Research into what we are portraying has become more specific as we have a more focused plot and arrangement.

As we capture footage, the group have been reviewing the maerial and began editing it. My role within the editing phase of production was deciding upon the footage that was initially relevant to our story and then choosing which frames would be useful towards the final production. The group has been working together to make the project a success; we have been able to progress on to further stages of production due to our consistent effort towards accomplishing the completion of our artefact.

Critical decisions have also had to be made regarding what footage is still required to be obtained if our piece is to be delivered properly. In recent group meetings I have voiced my concern regarding my urge and want to capture more video and images that would suit exactly what our character is speaking about during the documentary. I would say that the group share a mutual understanding and vision of our piece and are ready to go forward with such ideas. The  group dynamic has improved as we draw closer to the end of our project, I would say that we are working well.

REFLECTION 2: Research Progress

With our group deciding to make our film about Mr Ali, we have began looking into research surrounding our character and the areas we have been discussing in interviews and group meetings. The development of our research has happened because we have a shared understanding of the story of our character and the story we would like to present in our video; having this knowledge has made group discussion more organised because we know what areas we need to research to have a basis that we may refer to.

During a recent group meeting, we began listing what  we would need to research to have a broader perspective and view of the situation we were covering, in regards to our character’s place and role within the city of Coventry. A decision that has helped the group research progress was the way in which I devised a list of categories that have been considered and carried out for research. I visited a National Relocation website with Coventry typed into the interface; Coventry: demographics, income, jobs, education, residential, ethnicity statistics and crime were the main areas of research that came from this site.

Research within the group continued as we also noted that the OFSTED reports for education could also be valuable towards the production of our artefact. I looked at www.mycoventry.jobs.co.uk where I was able to see an array of self-employed jobs in Coventry. Another website I visited was www.coventrypct.nhs.uk which helped me with seeing the unemployment statistics across Coventry, the West Midlands and England. After seeing all of the different areas of research, we began delegating individual areas we would like to conduct further research. The group have established the current areas we are studying and will have feedback on further ideas as the project continues.

1Minute – Character video

short video about Mr Ali, in preparation of our ‘People in Coventry’ project.

Reflection 1: Research Process

Above are images of locations I used to conduct conversations with my character and members of my group, I chose this theme of empty chairs and rooms to highlight my ‘places of inspiration & ideas’. The relevance to student life is an aspect of the work I’m doing, as the people I am interviewing work  with students; finding out their experiences and opinions is an area of interest for me.

In relation to experimentation and exploration, I’d say that initially my level of confidence in approaching strangers to converse with them about general pleasantries and aspects of their lives was at a low; it wasn’t necessarily that I was afraid, I was unsure of how I’d portray myself without turning the conversation into one that was completely task orientated. Over time I had already been beginning to speak to those members of Coventry I see on occasion and felt that I would be ready to approach members of the public. It came to mind that it would be convenient if I started speaking to the staff in my halls of residence and saw if they would be willing to contribute  to the research I was undertaking. Ann-Marie Taylor and Maureen Towey were people I had interesting conversations with and have been the main source of the information I speak of in my work; I found enjoyment in building a relationship between the two women as they have been able to start opening up to me, we speak regularly and i feel confident that they will be able to commit to the project.

As a group, we have discussed the broad variation of characters we all have taken interest in speaking to. The decision process of choosing which of our characters will be best in making a good film has been a task that we have worked on; as we continue to engage with our individual characters, so do we hope to find out pieces of information that help portray a story that we can present to an audience.

Research Plan / Visual Content

In our production, we would like to tell the story of how our character has always lived in Coventry, the experiences she has had, the people she has met. Ann-Marie likes working in a busy environment where there are lots of people to speak to, our group could explore why this is. In relation to the fact that she will be moving into the new enterprise building, we would like to get her opinion on this. As conversations continue we’d hope that we could get into more depth with Ann-Marie,so that it would give a more powerful film.

The editorial hook and angle we have taken is that we are seeing how our character engages during the conversation so that we can use the information and make some commentary. The visual treatment will presented in writing, pictures, clips of the character(s) and discussed areas. The group research we shall conduct regards the history of the building (Priory Hall), the average career lengths for receptionist staff and the future works of the new building being made. Resources that we will use to gather information are the Library, Internet and Conversations we conduct; this information is then categorised into various sections of relevance and importance to our project.
The heart of our story is of personal emotions, as a group we believe that it can be told in 3 minutes. The way in which we get appeal from our audience is that it shows people from a side they are not normally used to seeing them; Ann-Marie deals with students regularly, students could see her opinions on situations they shall be involved with.

Supporting Character – Maureen Towey

Another member of the Priory Hall reception I interviewed was a woman called Maureen Towey, she too lived in Coventry all her life and had worked with the university for 13 years. She had previously been working in accommodation & Management of Apollo house; before this she had worked doing bank work and also in a mortgage centre, she found it  boring and preferred working with people in a social environment. Maureen worked in social services with children in care part-time, sadly her mother passed away which led on to her taking up the job in a full-time place to help her keep focused get her mind off her sadness. Maureen has always enjoyed working with Coventry university and her close team of stuff, she was able to share a story with me of student experiences. In relation to the new enterprise building that is under construction (where the reception will be moving to), Maureen felt that the concept of the building was removing the personal connection the staff had with the students; instead of seeing them  and developing relationships with them. The new connection students could turn to one where they were merely providing a service to the students. Maureen’s positive nature showed that she had an optimistic outlook on the situation and hopes that as long as her colleagues are with her when they make the change the new building, work will remain enjoyable.

People in Coventry: Treatment

The subject that I would like to show in my documentary on People in Coventry is Ann-Marie Taylor; she is a receptionist in Priory Hall, my halls of residence. Ann-Marie has worked for the university for 11 years and seen the changes that have taken place over time, the story being shown in the artefact would also pick up on how staff have come and gone over time. The experiences she has had working for the university would also come to discussion as the piece progressed; showing changes over time and her views on how things are now compared to how they were when she was starting her work.

The style of production would be a subtle mood, possible locations would be of around Priory Hall or where the new reconstructive scheme is taking place on campus (where reception will move to). the pace would be slow to start but could pick up in pace as introduction to over members of staff emphasised the social aspect of work. The sounds would just be of the conversation held between myself and Ann-Marie and possibly others who also work in reception. The video itself would show how the people in reception are happy and ‘bubbly’ people expressing their joy in the working environment.

The relevance this piece has to people and the enabling factor in getting people to want to watch this film is that it gives personality to the stereotypical ideologies of those who work in office set environments. The people who work in reception deal with students on a daily and quite regular basis, getting their outlook on situations they meet would be and area of interest for viewers. The feel good method of presentation i pursue to portray in the making of this film would hopefully make it and enjoyable one to watch.