Millie created a documentary about women's experiences in online gaming. She conducted research through surveys and watching other videos on the topic. Millie storyboarded her documentary and planned what clips and information to include. During production, Millie lost some of her work but was able to re-record narration. In her final piece, Millie discussed issues like sexism and harassment that women face online, though felt it could have been more polished. Going forward, Millie plans to outline topics more clearly and improve her narration, editing, and video production skills.

1. EVALUATION
Millie Southall

2. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Millie Southall

3. My project – Behind the screensWomen Online

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.