This document outlines Sam Williams' pre-production planning for a documentary featuring interviews with individuals who have lived and worked in unstable countries. Equipment like cameras, lights, microphones, and laptops will be used to film and edit interviews. Interviews will take place either in subjects' homes or Sam's home. Questions were developed for subjects with military experience and those who lived abroad. A production schedule is included, with filming and editing planned over 4 weeks in April and May. Health and safety considerations like COVID protocols, equipment testing, and creating a comfortable interview environment are also addressed.

1. Pre-Production
Sam Williams

2. Pre-production Assessment

3. Equipment
• Camara – to film the interview.
• Tripod – to hold the camara in place.
• 2 Studio lights – to provide lighting for the interview.
• 2 wireless mics – to pick up and record the interviewee
speaking (sound test is critical previous audio was too
powerful so I will need to make adjustments this time).
• SD card with enough memory for a 30 minute interview.
• Laptop that is capable of reading SD cards for interview
upload.
• All equipment must be tested in advance to make sure
the interview location is suitable.

4. Facilities
• I will edit the video at college on premier pro. I can also edit
at home on free editing software if required.
• No studio or other facilities required because I can do
everything at home

5. Personnel
• I am comfortable managing the production by myself if
required I might ask a friend to help set up and adjust my
equipment. This is so I can set up and test lighting.
• Interviewees x 4. I would like to recorded 2 people and have 2
as back up all 4 have been briefed and are willing to take part.

6. Visual Planning

7. Storyboarding

8. Questions for interviewees sent on
military assignment
• 1)Please can you tell me what first went through your mind when you were given this
assignment?
• 2) What was the situation in the country when you first got there?
• 3) Can you tell me a bit about the local environment you were working in?
• 4) did it feel like you were working in an unstable country?
• 5) Do you think your job was supported by the local people? Did they know enough about
what you were doing to help them?
• 6)How do you think you made a difference?
• 7) Do you feel that you left the local people in a better position when your tour was
finished?
• 8)Was there anything that you would have liked to achieve that you didn’t have time or
weren’t able to do?
• 9)what skills do you have that made you the right person for this assignment?
• 10)How was your life on base in the country different to your life on base back In England?
• 11) Do you think that we have an important role to play in supporting countries that are
experiencing conflict?
• 12) Do you think you would like to return to xx now the situation is very different?

9. Questions for interviewees
living/working
• What made you go to Iran to work?
• Did you have any concerns about taking either you or your young family?
• What was the situation in the country when you first got there?
• Can you tell me a bit about the local environment you were working in?
• And what was the environment like for your family?
• Do you think your job was supported by the local people?
• How do you think you made a difference?
• Was there anything that you would have liked to achieve that you didn’t have time
or weren’t able to do?
• what skills do you have that made you the right person for this job?
• What was it like returning home?
• Do you think you would like to return to Iran now the situation is very different?

10. Questions for interviewee visiting family
and carrying out freelance work
• What is your connection to iran?
• How often do you visit?
• What was the country like when you first went there? And how has it
changed?
• Have you ever taken you sons there?
• Do you do anything differently there when you visit with a young family?
• You are a photographer do you have to make any adjustments when you
carry out your photography projects there?
• Can you tell me a little bit about the culture and everyday life for those
living there?
• When you're in the UK is there anything you miss In Iran? Would you ever
be tempted to move out and live there?
• Has the situation with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe changed your view on
traveling to and from Iran now or in the future?

11. Organisational Planning

12. Production/permissions
• This was a sole project for me with my
interviewees only. A production group was not
necessary for this project.
• Filming took place in home environments no
permissions required
• I recced the locations in advance of filming to
make sure it was quiet; the room was big
enough for the equipment and well-lit
for filming.

13. Locations
• I'm considering a number of options they are:
– At my home with all the interviewees in the same location
– In their local environment that reflects the nature of the interview for
example military interviews will be in an office, those who lived abroad in
their own homes
– I would also consider a mixed option of own home and my home
depending on the time of interview and where they would feel more
comfortable
– No permissions needed because I am not intending to use a public
location
– An office location for those in the military might not be an option due to
the sensitive nature of their work and me not being able to record in the
army barracks
-

14. Production Schedule
WEEK/DATE TASK TO BE COMPLETED COMMENTS
28th April 2022 INTERVIEW 1 1 hour 30 mins
28th April 2022 INTERVIEW 2 1 hour 30 mins
21st May 2022 INTERVIEW 3 1 hour 30 mins
27th May 2022 INTERVIEW EDIT 1 2 hours
27th May 2022 FOOTAGE EDIT 1 45 mins
27th May 2022 INTERVIEW EDIT 2 2 hours
28th May 2022 FOOTAGE EDIT 2 45 mins
28th May 2022 INTERVIEW EDIT 3 2 hours
29th May 2022 FOOTAGE EDIT 3 45 mins

15. Clearance and Permissions
• No clearances required because I was not
interviewing in a public place.
• Verbal agreement received by all
interviewees; no written agreements
required.
• Questions were sent in advance to make sure
that sensitive and confidential information
would not be discussed for those in the
military

16. Health and safety
Potential Problem Effect on Production Control/mitigation
Covid Could not have access to
the people I wanted
Have back up people to
interview
Camara Battery could be dead or
the camara could be
broken
Make sure that the camara
is working properly and is
PAT tested
Lighting on location Lights could break Get proper lights for
the interviews make sure
PAT tested

17. Health and safety
Potential Problem Effect on Production Control/mitigation
Technical and location risk
for the interviewee
Unwilling to be
interviewed
Create a safe environment
for them to be interviewed
in
Interview questions for
active military interviewees
Incomplete interview
because of sensitive
questions
Send interview questions
in advance making sure
they are happy with them