Documentary & environmental filming with video journalism

For the next stage of the marine pollution ad (filming) I have come to Samos, as this is where the marine base is.

In a subsequent meeting it was decided the storyboarded ad style was too harsh for the approaching season as it targets tourism which is already suffering in the current economic climate. Therefore this structure may be carried out in a few months time.

The new style idea is more obviously comparative, using negative images next to positive ones and asking the audience which they would prefer. In this way the script is the main change with the shot list remaining similar and modifications taking place in editing.

I’ve drawn a couple of storyboards to suit this new style, though a decision need not be made until as late as editing. The idea for the first with a loose script idea, is along the lines of “a place to be proud of” as a statement at the beginning, followed by positive imagery. At the end “a place to be proud of?” becomes a question after the negative imagery.

The second storyboard has more obvious comparisons with negative imagery following directly after positive in a sequence of about six different scenarios. Possible text would be along the lines of “the choices are yours”.

Organic farming vs. pesticides:

I am currently getting footage together to make a short DVD about the effects of pesticides on public health and the natural environment, but also to offer solutions by giving examples of organic farming. This is to include interviews with various farmers and professionals.

General filming:

I have gathered footage of farmers burning toxic rubbish on the beach – plastic, aluminum and tin amongst other things.

I have also been filming trawler fishing boats as there has been a lot of activity lately with them becoming illegal in Greek waters from the 1st June (until the next season).

While filming this I spotted common dolphins feeding, so we went out on the boat to get some footage. They were filmed coming right up to the boat as well as long shots of them feeding/ playing. Flocks of birds gather above where the dolphins are, to feed on the fish as the dolphins gather them together at the surface. So for the long shots I had to simply look for the gathering birds.

It is worrying, however, to see the common dolphins so close to shore as this isn’t natural behaviour. One suggestion is that the excessive trawler fishing is depleting fish supplies so much it’s driving the dolphins to shallower waters in search of food. Current Greek law only states that trawler boats are not to come within one mile of the shore.

Originally posted June 2009
http://workjournal.archipelago.gr/?p=836

Environmental Marine Advertisement

I have recently joined Archipelagos on a 24 week placement, after graduating last year in Media Production, majoring in Broadcast Journalism (TV).

The first task I have been asked to undertake by Archipelagos is to make an environmental TV advertisement. There are four to be made ideally, between me and another person. We have decided to work individually – making two ads each – though we will work closely in terms of constructively critisising each others’ work and assisting with filming (and whenever needed). The ad I am starting with is on the marine environment in general.

Stage One
This is such a huge topic it would be impossible to communicate any aspect efficiently within the time frame of the ad (less than 2 minutes). Therefore I started researching generally and divided this into what I thought the 5 main issues were which have sub issues within themselves. Although the researchers at Archipelagos know many of the problems I was told to still do my own research as the wider the perspective the better – and eventually more accurate. The five topics I catagorised my research into were:

Shipping – Wrong routes, general pollution, anchoring/ mooring/ abrasion by ship hulls, coastal damage and damage caused by accidents, ship waste handling.

Fishing boats – Exploitation of resources, unwanted by-catch/ trapped animals returned dead to the sea (protected species), fishing techniques, general pollution, small scale fishing.
Pleasure boats – Anchoring /mooring, general pollution, accidents

Military – Pollution (general & noise)

Land-based pollution – Marine effected land pollution (e.g. illegal tip leakage)
An issue to be emphasized throughout is poor local and governmental management as these are the middle men needed to make the change possible – the connection between public will and progress.

(The issues of noise pollution and contamination of alien species from other seas were left out as these are more obscure and big topics on their own, which may need to be looked at in more depth – making whole ads or short documentaries by themselves.)

Stage 2
After this decision I had to think of a way to communicate the message in a way people would firstly listen to and secondly remember.

There are so many scientific facts which can be added but this will most likely confuse or bore people within the short time frame. For the desired effect and response the audience needs to engage emotionally with the issues. Therefore I have come up with a basic structure and style for an ad. There are three variations of this basic model but because all the shots will be the same this can be decided as late as editing stages.

The agreed upon model is for the ad to start like a tourist ad, with all the stereotypical features of this genre so the audience feel a false sense of security. Then, maintaining a happy and relaxed narration the images will become more disturbing, creating a sense of irony and a contrast between negative and positive which will hopefully give impact. The theme throughout all the good and bad images will be “come to beautiful Greece/ your guaranteed to get more than you bargained for…in beautiful Greece” (or words to that effect).
Then if people want more details the web address will be at the end for them to look up.
The next stage is storyboarding and filming the planned shots.
Feel free to contact me for more details of the effects mentioned on the marine environment – or for questions on video journalism.

http://workjournal.archipelago.gr/?p=668