This document contains research and planning for a web documentary about piercings and tattoos. It discusses possible topics to cover such as the age people get piercings, workplace policies, and opinions on body modifications. It also outlines the target audience, production methods, and analysis of similar videos. The production plan is to interview teenagers and older adults about their views on piercings and tattoos using a camera on a tripod. The footage will be edited in Premiere Pro and have a serious tone while informing viewers about different perspectives.

1. Factual
Bertie Stasiulevicuis

2. Task 1 – Research into existing
products

3. Age
• (how common, how extreme?)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• What age do people start getting piercings?
• First Piercing?
• How Extreme do people go to start with?
• Do people want more after their first piercing or are they satisfied?

4. Workplace
• (do piercings and tattoos affect getting a job? And customer
opinions?)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Do obvious piercings and tattoos deter employers from hiring
someone?
• What do customers think when they see employees with body
modifications?

5. College / School Environments
• (do people cover their piercings or show them off more)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Do people with many body piercings and tattoos embrace and show
them off or do they stay more hidden?
• Are there many people with extreme body piercings?
• Do people get judged for having piercings or is it the norm?

6. Opinions
• (who judges piercings & tattoos? Older = more judgemental? If so –
why? (upbringing, less of a trend when the older generation were
kids))
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Which group of people are the most judgemental towards piercings
and tattoos?
• Why do people judge other peoples choices?
• Are older people more likely to judge piercings and tattoos because it
wasn’t as common for them growing up?

7. Extreme Modifications
• (man jailed, legality, stretch piercings, tattooed eyes, under skin
modifications)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Can body modification go too far?
• Should people be able to get tattooed in uncommon places such as your
eyes?
• Should dermal piercings be more common?
• Is there much difference to dermal piercings than tattoos?
• Man who got arrested and put in jail for performing ear removals and
several other extreme body modifications

8. Task 2 – Idea Development and
planning

9. Web – Documentary
• Interview style video – multiple people discussing tattoos and piercings.
• Characteristics:
• Subjects – What the documentary is about, human actions and opinions on
the topic.
• Purpose – the reasoning of making the Web – Doc, informs the viewers of
the ideas behind the video.
• Production Method – how the images are shot, how the sounds are
recorded, and then how the two are put together.
• Audience experience – the aesthetic of the film, in a way which affects
attitude to the subject.

10. Web – Documentary
Both of these YouTube videos follow similar formats, they are filmed in an interview style which discusses
tattoos and piercings in the workplace and how they affect day to day life.
Throughout the video on the right, they use a subtitle screen to show the questions being asked, I will use this
in my video too, because it gives the viewer a clear idea of what is happening, and it can also be used to
transition into other video clips easier.

11. Audience
• My Web-Documentary is aimed towards teenagers aged 16-19 and
also an older generation.
• The reason behind this target market is because a teenage audience
would be able to relate to what they are watching and understand the
ideas and opinions the other teenagers shown on the video have.
• I would also want an older generation to be able to watch the video
and maybe have a better idea of why piercings and tattoos are more
common with younger people, and to see if the stigma around old
people being more judgemental is even true.

12. Production Method
• I will use a camera mounted on a tripod to record my interviews, I will use
an over the shoulder shot, this shot is most commonly used to present
conversation back and forth between two people.
• For the sound I will use the cameras microphone, as it means I don’t have
to have separate files for my video and audio, this would be a benefit to my
work because it means I would take less time editing and be able to focus
on the aesthetic more.
• I am going to use premiere pro to edit my video, I can also add subtitles to
the video, to use for peoples names when their interview is playing.
• On premiere, I will follow a four stage process of; assembly, refinement,
post-production and export to do so.

13. Tone and style
• I think the video will have a relatively serious feel to it, I will capture
this with the video, when people are speaking they are not going to
be completely serious and straight faced. as the questions are not
based on important topics, but the ideas that they have may be told
in a serious manner.
• I will record the video in an interview style manner, meaning that the
focus of the camera will be on the interviewee.
• The video will be under an interview style genre.

14. Analysis of similar videos
• There is a video on the Vice website titled ‘Confronting Favela
Violence Through Tattoos’ this video shows a tattoo artist in Rio De
Janeiro, her artwork shows rebellion from the war against the
government, who are very discriminative towards those who live in
the favelas.
• This is a good inspiration towards my work as it shares similar
themes, for example showing peoples reasons behind getting their
tattoos.

15. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• I think that this video is aimed towards an older audience, as it interviews people who have gone
through a life living somewhere dangerous, and the consequences it can bring. For example one
of the tattoo artists explained how she had to cover up a scar on someone's back who had been
punished for snitching to the police.
• Furthermore, I think that the video could also be directed towards people who live in nicer areas
in this country, to give them a feel of what is really happening. In the video the tattoo artist was
speaking on how people look down on tattoos and think that they’re ugly, but she makes a point
to exclaim her and others reasonings for getting them, and why to some people it is so important.
Audience

16. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• This video also uses over the shoulder camera shots when interviewing people, this is an example of how
common it is to use this type of angle, it is an easy way of knowing what is happening on screen.
• The video included a lot of close up shots showing what the focus is at the time, this includes peoples
tattoos, and the tattoo artist doing the tattoos.
• Most of the shots that are seen are filmed outside, this gives the video a true atmosphere of where they are
researching about the tattoos, it gives the viewer a clear idea of this type of place, and how dangerous it can
be.
• The outside shots are either of the scenery around them, or an interview. The outside shots show us how
run down the buildings are because the government takes no action on these parts of the city.
• In the interview that is shot outside, the camera is placed on a tripod whilst the questions are being asked,
we can see the lack of care taken, and this alone captures the perfect ambience of the film.
Production Method

17. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• The video is filmed in quite a serious way, the people who are being interviewed are talking about
something that is very important to them, meaning that they hold the subject very close to their
heart and want to properly make their point on tattoos and life in the favelas.
• The video ends on a lighter note than the rest. The tattoo artist is explaining why she enjoys what
she does, and that she is proud to live in a favela.
• This video is mainly filmed with a serious, informative tone, but it also included moments of
happiness, and shows people reminiscing about the past.
Tone and style

18. Analysis of similar videos
• Also on the vice channel, there is a video titled “Las Vegas’ Tattoo
Economy”. The video gives us a clear insight into the popularity of
tattoos in las vegas, and the recent boom that they’ve had. The
interviewer visits multiple tattoo shops and interviews multiple tattoo
artists and asks them about their experiences with working in Vegas.
• This includes similar themes to my work because it strongly focuses
on how important body modification can be to some people, a point I
would like to make in my own work.

19. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• I think that this video could be made for a wider audience, this is because it includes
information on the struggle of becoming a tattoo artist in Las Vegas, and the stories
that are told throughout are about people getting to a point where they’ve created
successful businesses. But still mentioning why people are so excited and passionate
about getting tattoos, especially somewhere like Vegas.
• In my opinion, this video appeals more to an younger audience as they are more
likely to be interested in the tattoos themselves and how extreme some of them are,
but it could also be interesting for an older group because It shows another side to it,
which is a business and education perspective, seeing how so many people have
taken the initiative to take action on the big boom of the tattoo industry could be
very influential to an older generation.
Audience

20. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• As this video includes a lot of interview style conversation, the cameraman uses many over the
shoulder shots to show the viewer what is happening and focus their attention.
• This web-doc includes a lot of close up shots as well as landscape scenery shots. The close up
shots are used for tattoos, as the tattoos themselves hold a lot of information on life in that area
of life, and this shows how unique it is.
• All of the landscape shots are filmed outside and the camera is handheld, this is the best way of
showing the viewer the type of area that they are in, and possibly how the tattoos correlate.
• The interviews on the other hand are always inside tattoo shops, the interviewer goes into their
tattoo shops and mostly asks questions about their location, and why they are popular enough to
make a difference in the Vegas tattoo scene.
• In post – production, the editors have added in subtitles to show the names of places shown
throughout.
Production Methods

21. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• This video is not so serious, it includes a wide variation of people and different
stories, most of which are quite very unique, all the different types of people
makes the video have a feel that would be hard to seem serious.
• The video does include a serious section, talking about the darker side of tattoos,
and how they get to a point where they are no longer peoples choices and they
are forced to have them. Which I think is an important aspect as it is very
overlooked.
Tone and style

22. Analysis of similar videos
New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
‘New York Style Tattoos With Bert Krak is a documentary based on the rise of tattoos in
New York, it shows us how the history of traditional tattoos has changed over time, the
documentary follows Bert Krak, one of the most famous traditional tattoo artists in the
world. He is being interviewed on how he has made a difference.
This video speaks on the history of tattoos and how people view them due to their
culture.

23. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• This video is made for an audience who has an interest in tattoos, and want to
know more about certain people in the industry and what they have done to
become a popular tattoo artist.
• This type of video would be important for someone who has these interests, this
is because it can give them an opportunity to see another culture If they do not
live in the New York area.
• I think that in terms of an age group, this is based at an older generation, there is
a lot of talk about growing up and how little was heard about tattoos, this gives
people something to relate to when watching the video.
Audience

24. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• This video contains a lot of interviews, but instead of using an over
the shoulder shot the camera man has his camera placed on a tripod
and films whoever is getting interviewed and shows their current
surroundings, which is always inside of a tattoo shop.
• There are also a lot of close up shots to capture the atmosphere,
these are usually of the artwork which is shown throughout, these
include original pieces and peoples tattoos they are getting at the
time of recording.
Production methods

25. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• Bert Krak shares a lot of stories about his life and how he has reached his fame
and popularity. I think these stories reflect the mood of the documentary quite a
lot, if the story is about something important to Bert, the video will have a much
more serious mood and this is shown by the music played in the background
which was added during the editing of the video.
• This video is the first out of the three where I have noticed the backing music
reflect the mood of the video, and I will attempt to do this in my own work.
Tone And Style

26. Overall Analysis Review
Confronting Favela
Violence Through Tattoos
Las Vegas’ Tattoo
Economy
New York Style Tattoos
with Bert Krak
Visuals:
Music:
Interviews: