Christine Whitfield is coping with an empty nest after her three daughters left for university and her husband left for a new career in Europe. While some mothers struggle with loneliness and loss of purpose when their children leave, Christine has embraced the change and is using her newfound freedom to work harder at her job and pursue hobbies and time with friends. The documentary will show how Christine has adapted to her new chapter in life through interviews and footage of her daily activities.

1. EMPTY NEST BRINGS
NEW CHALLENGES
Based on Christine Whitfield
By Kelly Whitfield
Research

2. BRIEF OUTLINE, WHAT I
KNOW ALREADY
The name for what my mother is going through is common within most families, especially when
their children are leaving for university. Its called the empty nest syndrome, however, it is not only
the children that are leaving for university. Her husband has left for a new career travelling Europe
whilst catering for Cirque Du Soleil. So there is a lot to cope with. She also has a full time job, a
daughter still at home, a new puppy and has started a new college. So there is a lot on her plate.
However, as well as working harder, she is also playing harder, she is going out more with her
friends. Doing things for herself, and changing both her emotional self, and physical. The physical
change shows through in her appearance as she has changed her whole wardrobe. It’s a new
chapter of her life, and I want to document it. Some mothers find it very hard when their offspring
leave home. For example, I went on a forum to find that some women find themselves lost. For
instance; “I do not know what to do with myself, I have no purpose in life, I have no interests, no
confidence, no experience, I am totally lost. One minute I feel okay and the next I can’t stop crying.”
she said‘. However, this is not the case for what Christine is going through, it’s the complete
opposite, because Christine has taken the negative and turned it into a positive.
http://www.fabafterfifty.co.uk/2011/10/26/how-to-cope-with-empty-nest-syndrome/

3. RESEARCH ARTICLE
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk
/womenshealth/features/e
ns.htm

4. WHAT HAVE I TAKEN FROM
THIS ARTICLE
I have come to notice all of the symptoms, and the challenges and changes
are the same in most, but what is interesting within my documentary is; not
only has my mother lost two of her children to university, she has also lost
her husband to a new career. However, all of them are gone for now, but not
forever. That all stories/cases of the Empty Nest Syndrome are slightly
different, and that people react in different ways.

5. QUOTES FROM THE ARTICLE
THAT I WANT TO TOUCH ON
Sadness
Keep in touch
Lean on your friends
She may be going through other major changes
Have some treats
New found-freedom
Fresh start; consider further education and training
Take up new hobbies

6. RESEARCH VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzYCArfjZaM
What I have taken from this video –
That media technologies has a lot to do with families keeping in touch, and
communicating. This is one of the key ways to coping.
It is also very normal to feel sadness, but there is second part to your life
now. You should take up hobbies. There isn’t always the worries of all the
mouths to feed. Things are in a sense simpler, because they are more about
you.
The case study helped to show me that most go through this change, and
that my mothers reactions are text book.

7. CHARACTER PROFILE
Name – Christine Whitfield
Age – 55 25/03/1959
Nationality – White British
Hometown – Portsmouth
Current Residence – Bere Regis, Dorset
Occupation – Office Manager
Talents/Skills – Mum
Marital Status – Married
Offspring – 3 Daughters 16, 18, 20
Siblings – Younger Brother, close, but don’t see much of each other
Significant others – Her Friends; Sylvia Spurdle, and Amanda Knight

8. COLLECTING GENERAL
MATERIAL
I have collected a series of archive material such as photos of past and
present, and I have collected them from both social media sites, such as
Facebook, and photo albums from home. So as to give a difference in time,
and to carry the film. From these photos I can build up what kind of a life that
Christine leads, I also have this information from personal experiences. From
this I know that Christine is a family person, and she cares about everyone
and everything; big or small.
I also had a phone call with Christine, and she confirmed all of my initial
ideas about what it was like for her now that she was in such a lonely house.
She said that yes things are hard, but she doesn’t feel guilty when she is
doing things for herself now. She has college now, and that takes up time, as
well as work. As well as that she is going out more with her friends and so
doesn’t have to worry about everyone else. Its like she has found a new
chapter in her life.

9. CREATIVE PROBLEMS I MAY
FACEIt may prove hard to give this story visuals. I don’t want just some interviews, and
some cheesy cutaways … that’s not what I’m about.
To overcome this I have done some storyboarding of some sequences of empty
rooms, not so many coats, empty fridges … because they connote the empty nest
visually. I am also going to have certain activities within the film. For instance my
mum getting ready to go out, going through her clothes. Because her wardrobe
has changed since circumstances changed, she isn’t living in the past anymore.
Sometimes the film may seem boring to the audience because they are not
emotionally related to Christine. However, because of the amount of different
emotions that Christine talks through, and the change in lots of different locations
hopefully that will keep the viewer interested, and give the film a good pace.
(Red Text = Solution)

10. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS I MAY
FACE
I may have trouble booking out equipment for when I want it. So I will book
early, and hope it isn’t gone when I need it. However, if this is the case I plan
to ask my old schools media department if I could hire out some equipment
because they have everything I need, and its local to me.
I will have some problems filming all of the sequences, as well as getting
sound recordings. So my plan is to set up an H4 on a stand, perhaps a
tripod.
I have also found a website on Foley sounds, and how they can create an
atmosphere. So I plan to use Foley sounds to suggest that the house is
empty, so that both in a visual and sound sense, the audience can appreciate
the feelings Christine is going through.
(Red Text = Solution)

11. OTHER SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPSphFM96mk
This film can help me because some of the B roll is useful for telling a story
about empty nest syndrome.
And how also I can talk a little about how its effecting other family members
such as my younger sister whom is still at home, and my puppy, who can
feel saddened when people leave the family home.

12. HOW WILL MY PROJECT BE
DIFFERENT TO THIS
My film will not have the advertisement feel, and it will involve more talk from
my characters.
It will not have some of the cheesy cutaways.
It isn’t about my dad being there, it is about have three different parts of the
family missing, and how my mum is coping with it.
There will be more of a narrative.

13. RESOURCES
I will be using the best filming equipment I can get, because this will heighten
the quality of my film.
Sony PD175 – 2
Sennheiser HD280 Pro
Zoom H4n 5
Libec TH950 Tripod 1
I will make the mise en scene of each scene as best and fitting as I can, in
which to make my film seem effortless, and seamless.

14. DATES AND TIMES
I would like to have filmed within reading week, 8th to the 14th of February, I
will need to book out equipment for this time.
After the filming has taken place, I have from the 17th February – 14th March
for my rough cut. And from the 14th March – 3rd April for my final cut.

15. IDEAS FOR PERSONAL
PROJECT
Ideas for
Personal
Project
Show
activities
Working
Interviews
Playing
hard
Empty
spaces
Archive
material

16. IDEAS FOR PERSONAL
PROJECT
I want to show my mum working hard, so college work, looking after my
sister (cooking; putting food on the table). Full time job. But also playing
harder, getting ready for a night out. With her friends. Alongside some
archive footage of all the family, and empty spaces, like our rooms, fridge,
and coat hanger. This will be then intertwined with some interviews of how
it’s been a challenging life experience, however, she isn’t letting that stop her
from having more freedom.

17. MOOD BOARD

18. QUOTE FROM ME TO MY
PARENTS
‘The best couple I know, still as much in love as they were when they first
met. Nothing can break them; and even though these current circumstances
are a strain they aren’t forever, and every moment they are together they do
everything they can together, and are so splendidly, happily doing so.
Kelly Whitfield, 2014