The document summarizes Thomas Dickinson's documentary project on the Loch Ness Monster. Research included surveys to determine the appropriate length and elements, and examining existing documentaries to identify key elements. Interviews were less helpful due to narrow questioning. Planning involved mind maps and a mood board. Production was slowed by incompatible software across computers. The documentary uses narration, interviews, and scenic images with good flow. Suggested improvements include adding background music and enhancing audio/video quality. Peer feedback praised the professionalism but suggested the aforementioned improvements.

1. FMP
Evaluation
Thomas Dickinson

2. Production
Process
Evaluation

3. Research
Making a survey on “SurveyMonkey” helped me with my product by
discovering answers to questions like how long should my documentary be
and what elements it should contain. With the feedback it helped me evolve
and adapt my product by adding things like interviews, etc. This wasn’t an
extremely helpful part of research as the majority of the answers I got were
what I was thinking anyway.
It was useful examining the 4 pre-existing documentaries as I could locate key
elements that composed the final product like different camera angles, etc.
The documentary prior to 1990 was especially helpful to analyse as it was
interesting to see how documentary-making evolved over the years and what
elements they kept after time had passed.
The interviews weren’t helpful, partially due to my questions as they didn’t
leave room for huge, thought-provoking answers. Also, I asked two very
similar people instead of asking a wide variety of people which could’ve
benefitted the product by getting different perspectives. If I’d asked
completely different people better questions it would’ve made the product
attractive to a wider range of people.

4. Planning
The first form of planning I did was a mind map in which I came up with three FMP ideas
which I chose to be documentary related, so regardless of what I chose they’d all have the
same elements. My three choices were: a conspiracy theory documentary, a horror movie
documentary and a Loch Ness monster documentary. I chose the Loch Ness Monster
documentary as I had already made horror products on this course and the conspiracy theory
topic is to broad to give good facts on. I then made a second mind map just for specific details
of the documentary. Overall, I found it helpful as it’s an easy way to arrange your ideas.
After that, I made a mood board which primarily contained images of picturesque scenery,
mythical greyscale photos of the Loch Ness Monster and front facing shots of people being
interviewed. This is because they’re the type of images that will be common in my
documentary. When I’d collected the 15 images I analysed them and found key elements
shared between them like the black and white colour scheme, real life photography and
illustration. The mood board wasn’t really helpful as it took a long time and I learnt nothing
new from it, but it was interesting to look at the ingredients of documentaries and how they
are made.
In the informal proposal I discussed the concept of the documentary deeper than I did on the
mind map because the questions asked required it. I also developed who my audience was
going to be and their age, psychographics, etc due to the deeper questions. The informal
proposal was really helpful because of all the information it helped me gather; however, the
writing wasn't fun and was a major downside to the method.

5. Time Management
I was on time for the majority of the project, for example, I was on time for the planning, the
research, etc. The only time I fell behind during my project was during production and
evaluation because I could only edit my documentary one day a week. This is because the
Premiere Pro version I started on was 2022 but all the other computers I used were the 2020 or
2021 versions which aren’t compatible with my save file. This meant that I had to do my
evaluation in my production time and my production in evaluation time; however, if the
computers all had the same version of Premiere Pro I’d have finished on time. If I had more time
or the computers were up to date, I’d have added more footage to it to make it more snappier
and overall more enjoyable to watch. When editing my footage, I started with my narration first
as there was a lot to edit, so I needed to go through the whole thing. When I’d finished editing
my narration, I started the interviews which were fairly easy to edit as they were all good takes
because we’d keep reshooting if they weren’t. I just had to edit all the interviews in an order
that made sense. The last things I did were edit the footage and add noises over my narration
and add the credits. I had to add the footage after I did my narration because the pictures
correlated with what I was saying in it. I did the credits last as they go at the end so it made
sense and I needed to include the names of everyone who starred in it. Given the problems, I’d
say I handled my time well. However, if I had more time I would’ve added some royalty free
music, zoomed in on some of the interviews so it was just a green screen behind them and
maybe I’d have rendered over the green screen.

6. Technical Qualities
I used Premiere Pro to make the documentary, in which used the razor
tool and the text box tool. I used the razor tool to cut the narration when I
made mistakes. Another tool I used was the text box when making the
rolling credits. My planning was good in theory, however I could only edit
once a week due to most the computers I used not having the correct
version of Premiere Pro.
I used Photoshop to make the poster. The tools I used were the text box
and the select tool. I used the text box to write the release date, title and
my name as I made the product. I also used the select tool to pull the
picture into frame as the original picture was very zoomed out.
I also used Photoshop to make the DVD front cover, the tools I used were
the eraser tool, blur tool and the text box tool. The eraser tool was used to
make eye holes in the binoculars so I could put pictures in them. The
images looked strange when inserted over the background image so I used
the blur tool to make it look more natural in the setting. The text box was
used to write the title and coming soon. I think the DVD front cover and
the poster are well made and creative because of my skill with Photoshop
and by the fact I know my limits on it now.

7. Aesthetic Qualities
I think my product looks good, because I chose a good array of
images and footage. I believe this because they’re primarily of
picturesque landscapes and animals which are naturally beautiful
and make sense within the context of my documentary. The
equipment I used to record the interviews and the narration was:
a camera, a tripod, a voice recorder and a microphone that I
forgot to use. I somewhat believe that my works creative, because
I didn’t record my own footage and take my own pictures except
for the interviews therefore, I don’t think it’s as creative as it
could be. However, I embraced that and chose some beautiful
pictures regardless. The images reflect my narration well. I’d
improve the image quality because some of the images look
blurry. The way I’d improve the image quality is by finding similar
images of a better quality or by trying to render it to a higher
quality on Premiere Pro or Photoshop by adding sharpening
effects. Finally, I didn’t add too much to the videos and images
other than making them shorter or longer, but if I were to make
the product again I’d definitely add sharpening effects.

8. Audience Appeal
My product has appealed to my primary age range of people who are 19 or
above by making it educational as people of that age range are more likely
to want to learn. I have appealed to my secondary age range of 10 to 18
year olds by including images which would keep them entertained.
Therefore, I think my product is highly educational and entertaining as it’s
full of information and images to coincide with my narration.
My product appeals to males and Females equally as I have guests of both
genders; however, I have more males than females. I think I’ve appealed to
the audience well; however, I used more male guests than female guests.
Meaning if I were to make my product again, I’d interview an equal amount
of people of both genders.
My primary psychographic is achievers and I have appealed to them by
making it educational therefore it’s worthwhile to watch it. I have appealed
to my secondary psychographic of belongers by choosing a common/well-
known urban legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Therefore, I think I’ve
appealed to my audience well as I’ve used a lot of information about a
common topic
My product has appealed to my primary social status of upper class people
by making it informative which may appeal to people of a higher
education, as they may be more likely to learn in their free time. I’ve
appealed to my secondary social status of working class/middle class
people due to fact the majority of people in my documentary and me are
that social status. Therefore the way we talk and phrase things will be
similar to other people of our social status.

9. Peer Feedback

10. Feedback 1
Charlie
• What did you like about the product?
– It was very professional and the responses the interviewees gave
(especially the blonde one with glasses) were very thought out.
– One other thing I liked about it was the images used made me know
what he was talking about and what the narrator thinks the monster
looks like.
• What improvements could have been made to the product?
– Should add quiet music in the background because it is a bit bland and
would make it more professional.
– One other improvement is the narrator could be louder, as you can
barely hear him.

11. Feedback 2
Muhammad
• What did you like about the product?
– I liked how smooth the narration of the narrator was
and how all the footage used in the video was
accurate and fits the overall theme of the
documentary.
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– The audio quality of the narration could be better as I
kept on hearing buzzing noises in the background.

12. Feedback 3
Kal
• What did you like about the product?
• I liked the talking part when the narrator was
giving facts about the topic also, the pictures
were very handy with the voice over. I also liked
how the interview was edited and overall it was
very smooth.
• What improvements could have been made to the
product?
• I think what should be improved was the quality
of some of the pictures as they were blurry and
the camera was a bit out of focus, which is a
shame as the rest of it was good. I also think
when the title comes up it shouldn't be up for
that long or it should at least have music behind

13. Peer Feedback Summary
• What do you agree with from your peer feedback?
• I agree that music would have made the product more
interesting especially during the title card and the credits roll.
I also agree that the images helped picture what I was talking
about even though some were blurry.
• What do you disagree with from your peer feedback?
• I don’t disagree with any of the feedback, as it was all fair and
was things I was thinking already. For example, I was
supposed to put a microphone on the camera and forgot to
which would’ve helped the sound of the interviews and my
narration too.

14. Peer Feedback Summary
If I were to make my product again, I would’ve got rid of
the buzzing sound over the speaking parts, made the
images and interviews clearer and added music. To get
rid of the buzzing sound, I would have used a
microphone like I was supposed to originally instead of
forgetting like I did. Then to make the interviews and
images clearer, I’d have used auto-focus while filming the
interviews and I’d have found images of a better quality
from Google to use. Another technique I could’ve tried
was adding sharpening effects over the videos and
photos in post production. Finally, to add music, I
would’ve looked on YouTube to find royalty free music
that was tense/serious, so it would fit the atmosphere
and theme. To download the royalty free music I’d look
for a download link or screen record it on my phone and
email it to myself.