4. Research
I was very unsure about my project because it was hard for me to produce a topic.When I figured out what I wanted to make my project on,
I chose something that I was very passionate about, so I was very excited to make it. Because I was excited about it, it made it easier to
research as I was enjoying what I was doing.
For this project, I have improved on my research compared to my previous factual project. I think that I have done better this time because I
was more engaged in the topic of this project.The topic “women in gaming” is very interesting to me. I enjoyed watching videos of other
girls sharing their experiences and I felt like I could relate to them.This made me want to make a video similar that other people can relate
to.
For my research I conducted a survey which I sent to everyone who is my target audience to get a general idea of their opinions based on
my subject. I also watched documentaries and commentary videos in the style of the video I wanted to make. It helped me produce the
style I wanted to use and the type of language I want to use.
For my research I watched a range of different style of videos try and figure out what style of video I wanted to make. I watched more
professional style documentary videos and some videos where it is jus gameplay and someone narrating. From watching these videos I
decided I wanted to make a more commentary styled video because the audiences were similar.
5. Planning
I think from this project to the last, I have definitely improved on my planning. I can tell I have improved
because I could see myself referring to my planning a lot more than I have before. I think it was like this because
I put a lot more effort into planning what was more helpful to me, rather than what I thought would get me a
good grade.The most helpful part of my planning was my story board. For me, seeing what I plan for my work
visually is more likely to help make achieve this. I work better when I have a visual goal in mind.
I took the time to carefully draw out what I wanted in the documentary and it has worked well. I enjoyed
spending time drawing the storyboard and I think it was a useful way to spend my time. I managed to get each
of these clips into my final piece. I chose not to add the pop up of facts and statistics because I didn’t think it
would fit with the more casual vibe I created.
6. Production
For the most part, my production went fairly smoothly. Before the half term break ( around ¾ into
the project) I had most of my product complete. However when I came back from the break, the
computer had updated and I didn’t back up my work onto OneDrive and I lost my narration.This was
bad because I had created subtitles to all of my work based on this narration.This was difficult for me
because I had hired out an audio recorder to do my narration. In the end, instead of doing it on my
phone, I recorded my audio on my microphone at home.This time around, I added a face Cam. In my
mind this would make it more personal as the viewers actually get to see me and my facial
expressions as I talk about the topic.
After I re-recorded my narration, I decided to re-edit the entire documentary as I had gotten some
new in game footage of what people say to me I think it turned out better than the first attempt. In
the first attempt my documentary was more like a music video than anything else. It had subtitles in
bright colours and pop up subtitles. Looking back at this, I think it made it seem like the target
audience was much younger than it was. I think by adding the face Cam and taking away the comical
subtitles it made it more fitting for my target demographic.
For my production I mainly used Premiere Pro. I think this was the best software for me to use as it
did the job I needed it to do. I used some photoshop and some illustrator to help make things look
tidy.
7. Final Piece
I think my final piece is satisfactory. I think my planning and research is better than the final piece. I
think If I spent more time editing the final piece would have been even better.
The outcome I was aiming for is a commentary style documentary video that talks about the issues
that women face on online games. I think I highlighted the main issues which were; sexism, flirting
and over sexualization of female characters in games. I like my final piece; I just don’t think it is as
good as it could be. I think it is successful in putting forward the message that I originally intended. I
just don’t think it seems too professional because my narration isn’t up to standard. I think it was
successful overall.
I think I applied all the characteristics and conventions of a documentary very well. I had a narration,
interview and I had facts about the subject. However when I watch it back, it seems less like a
documentary and more like aYouTube video. It still works in the context of a factual project but I
think it could use less gameplay and maybe more in person footage e.g. the interview.
I wasn’t so much trying to convey a message but to showcase the problems women face online with
bullying, sexism and flirting. I wanted to spread awareness to mainly men about what its like to be a
woman online and what happens on a daily basis. I think I was successful with this because I used
clips of my own experiences with things that have been said to me. I think by using my own clips it
makes it more personal to the audience and they can get a sense of what its like to be me. However I
don’t think I made it sound as serious as it should be.The topic is very serious and hits home to a lot
of people however I think I may have just glossed over it. I had the intention of making this a part one
of two, but because this was a shorter episode of the two I missed out a lot that I could have put in,
because I had the intention of putting it in the next episode.
8. What I used/didn’t use from my plan
Because I did a lot of planning in ways that would help me, I gave myself backup options and multiple
options, however there are some things from my planning that I didn’t use. I did not end up using the
subtitles I originally planned on using.This was because I lost my original narration that my subtitles
were for and when I re recorded my narration, I did not have the time to transcribe evert single word
individually.The way my subtitles were going to be were appearing on screen one word at a time and
it took me a couple hours to do the first version. I couldn’t keep the original subtitles because I
improved them and made the words flow slightly better than in the original.
I also didn’t end up using the small cartoon version of myself I made. I was going to put these
alongside the subtitles to make it feel more personal and have a bit of myself on screen. However
when I redid the subtitles, I recorded with a camera so the cartoon drawing of myself wasn’t needed
anymore.
9. Action Plan
If I was making a similar project in the future, I would write down the very exact points that I want to
cover, rather than just broadly outlining them. If I have a clearer view of what I want to talk about,
then it would make writing the script and talking in the narration a lot easier than what it was.
In the future I think watching more tutorials would help me. I know broadly how to use premiere pro
but as I watch more tutorials my skillset widens. If I watch more videos on specific documentary
editing, then I think I will improve a lot. I would also like to take a short course in documentary
making specifically but the price of them is holding me back, in the meantime I can watch tutorials
and do online lessons.
I think I need to work on my language skills. I struggled to talk in my narration without stuttering and
messing up words. If I spend the time to practice reading out loud then I will be able to read more
clearly when I narrate, and it will make the documentary more understandable and enjoyable for the
reader.
I could also work on my editing skills. If I work on editing more professionally, instead of choppy and
disorganized then the final products I create will look a lot better.
