1) The documentary "Tattoos & Piercings: To Do or Not To Do" explores societal stigma around body modifications like tattoos and piercings. 2) Three young filmmakers, Jessica, Joseph, and Yogita, were naive to the scale of prejudice faced by those with tattoos/piercings in areas like employment. 3) Jessica got a spontaneous piercing for the documentary that her parents disapproved of, finding the filming process relevant to their generation who often get tattoos/piercings and will soon seek full-time jobs.

1. DRAFT 1
Tattoos and piercings have held a stigma, it seems, forever. We have always associated
the elaborate body art and body jewellery with antisocial, disruptive and generally
belligerent behaviour, whether it be tatted teenagers or bedazzled bartenders- body
modification is more prevalent in society than ever. However, as time has gone by and
social norms have slowly changed, have we have become laxer with our attitudes towards
these forms of expression, or are do we still discriminate? It’s the 26th of November and
in a modest tattoo parlour in Solihull, and the cameras begin rolling. This is the scene of
‘Tattoos & Piercings: To Do or Not To Do’, where 3 amateur documentary makers are
coming together to produce a documentary, which poses the question- are we still
subconsciously prejudice to people who have tattoos or piercings? It is tipped to be a big
hit, with BBC 2 already commissioning the trio for their own series, this time based on
beauty standards of the 21st century. The three in question- Jessica Crosby, Joseph Allen
and Yogita Patel- have displayed serious commitment to airing an unbiased documentary,
showing both the pros and cons of having any form of body modification. I have met with
the three, after they finish another long day of filming, to discuss how they are finding it
and the impact they hope it will have. ‘I really hope it triggers a change in how we as a
society conduct ourselves, and subconsciously feel, about people with tattoos or
piercings. We all, like it or not, do stereotype. And, though it may not be malicious, a lot
of the time it does have serious repercussions’ says Joseph, whilst packing away the
tripod. Yogita also chips in, ‘We all knew there was a stigma attached to those with them
[tattoos/piercings] however, we were quite naïve to the scale of it. For instance, even
though there are laws in place, it is still a really big thing to employers.’ And, they’re
right. 37% of HR managers cite having a tattoo as the third biggest attributor that limits
career potential, and 42% of people across all ages believe they are inappropriate at work.
When the conversation turns to piercings, all eyes are on Jessica. ‘I actually got a
piercing, just for the documentary. It was so spontaneous, and my parents still aren’t too
pleased, but I’m really happy I did it.’ She then proceeds to tilt her head and show me a
small silver stud at the top of her cartilage, in the middle of a really rather painful looking
red lump. She then smiles and says, ‘We all quite enjoyed the filming process, and I think
this is because its relevant to us, too- as the younger generation, we are most likely to get
a tattoo or piercing, and soon will be seeking full-time employment- it was important we
paid attention and learnt how whatever decisions we make now may come back to bite us
further down the line.’ It is refreshing to see how aware this group of 18 year olds are, yet
still eager to learn and provoke a change in society’s opinions.