New Idea

So we have been really struggling with a final idea. This is because though we like the idea of focusing on the docks, we think that it will be hard to take a unique twist on it, especially in such a small time frame. Our main fear is that we will end up making a very predictable and very boring five minute film.

So, I have only been to Liverpool once, and for only two days. One of the things that stands clearest in my mind is the Lamb Bananas. Never have I seen anything like this before, but throughout the city, there are dozens of unique sculptures that are half lamb and half banana. They look ridiculous but they do put a smile on your face. I remember being told while I was there that the Lamb Bananas were very much a marmite issue within the city.

As this is specific, and still pretty unique to the’Pool, we are going to focus on this!

Ideas

Had our first discussion about what to do our documentary on. We are thinking that as the brief specifies Liverpool, it will be good to focus on something that is specific to Liverpool. So far, ideas have been focusing on the docks as this is an important part of Liverpool’s past. We are thinking we could interview someone from the Maritime Museum to give us a brief history and the current situation of the docks today, and the impact the docks have had on Liverpool. I think that it would also be good to briefly touch on the impact the docks had on the rest of the country, considering that at one time they were a central trading link in the UK.

We have found a website that is linked to Terence Davies film, Of Time and the City. It features stories that viewer and readers have submitted that are about their own times in Liverpool. I think this is great because they are all so personal and unique to the individuals and Liverpool. Only problem is, is that to be able to use one of these stories we would need to gain permission from those who submitted them. The website doesn’t contain a lot of detail about its contributors so this could prove very tricky. 

the last documentary i watched..

A Crude Awakening

a crude awakening by dan das mann and karen cusolito

A great story. It does what it says on the tin. This is one of the documentaries that makes me want to go and move to the country side, own a farm and become completely self sufficient. An idealistic future. But what this documentary highlights is that we are now running out of oil but this is happening as its demand is increase, and this is a problem. Due to the current way of life that we in the west are now so accustomed to and enjoy, everything is linked to oil. The production of all we own is down to oil and our economy and even our politics, are linked with it; it is oil that makes the world go around, not money. Thus, the ever decreasing supply leads to desperate and generally pretty bad decisions. War and tar sands to name but two. However, the film then moves to discuss the possible replacements; bio fuels, nuclear power  and solar power are a focus, but as one interviewee comments, if using solar energy 'to generate the same amount of power we now use in fossil fuel, you would have to cover a land area roughly half the size of the state of California'.

The films content is good and it has  a good mix of interviews, graphics, cartoons and archive footage. The interviewees obtained are impressive  - CEOs, top oil advisors to many companies such Exxon and advisors to the Bush administration (the film was made in 2006) - making the message have a far greater weighting. I think my main problem with the film is its editing; it is clunky and continually goes to a blank screen between many of the clips, for a reason I can not gather as it just stops the whole things flowing smoothly. But, inspite of the this, its made me want to get my house in the country, so I guess its done something right.

Of Time and the City

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this. From what I had heard, Of Time and the City and was a black and white film about Liverpool narrated by the film’s director, Terence Davies. I thought it would be dull, like a bad lecturer giving you a bad lecture. However, it was not this.

Of Time and the City is in fact a beautiful and poetic film. The choice of footage, paired with Davies choice of music and his deep, theatrical voice, make this film unique. It is poetic. It is nostalgic. It is funny. It is despairing.

Davies comments not only on what he sees as failures in Liverpool, but the rest of the Britain too. He scathes the monarchy and the riches that it receives amongst the backdrop of a ration ridden post war Britain. He critiques (biut not this word) the governments and councils for their ‘solution’ to this; council housing. He comments how they expected something wonderful and beautiful bu instead where given the concrete monstraties that can be found across the country. It is almost as if he feels let down. He is so fond of his hometown and childhood that he feels that to take away from the beauty of the place – being both Liverpool and Britain – is heartbreaking. The soul and flare that he once knew has died out. And all that is left are memories. 

documentary

A new brief; to make a 5 minute documentary, based on an article, set in Liverpool.

Sound Editing

Editing sound has been really fun. We are using a mixture of atmos tracks as well as some composed stuff.

This is Grace doing her thing..


















The sound really enhances our film, so I'm well chuffed. We are trying to strike a good balance.. it was originally our intention to be a lot more experimental with the sound but now we are in edit and composing mode, it doesn't look like that will work.  Doing so detracts far too much from the footage itself and makes the whole thing feel very busy.

Paper room

By far the funnest day of 2012 so far.