The underlying workings of the group

So far allong the journey that has turned out to be our documentary we have dicovered the potential roles within one another, the limitations which are undoubtedly going to occur and the frustration of working with six members in a group. It is unlikely that within a group each member will share and pull an equal part in the planning, production, filming and organisation of a documentary fillm. Even with these initial set backs such as the lack of organisation with the equipment and the health and safety form we were still able to work cohesively as a unit and crew under the pressures of the filming day. When it came down to the pre-filming role allocation I seemed to take on the brunt of the preparartion phase. Such as organising all the equipment, even though I was supposed to be the director and the organisational jobs are not part of my role. I need to learn to communicate to group members exactly what I want people to do for me and emphasise the things that need to be done and that this is solely their job. We encountered so many new experiences and ultimately learnt so much about the audio visual field.

Tuesday, a day in the life of the two of them.

Well we managed to set off at around 9.30 soon to be held in the sticky jam of the traffic. It was a three way ride to Rutland, Hollie and cindy on the bus, Stephanie, Anne n I in the corsa and Hitsi in his bad boy car with the big wheels. We all made it in one piece and headed straight out to Edwards work location, Barnsdale Lodge. It didn't take us long to talk our way in to letting us film in the kitchen. Soon we were in the kitchen taking up far to much space so I minimalised the crew and sent them for a strole around the grounds, which resulted in being a very useful task in capturing photos of the surrounding, I have to say their were some extreemley photogenic chicken and sheep out there. Good work Hollie.

We gathered a few more shots around the lodge and practiced some 100% risk approved road safety, I was very proud.

Back at the House we gathered our thoughts and began to film a sequence of everyday day chours that Edward would normally be doing, aswell as playing around with the dog in the garden and biking in the field. The trampolene was quite a difficult shot to capture and there were numerous takes involved, resulting in a very breathless and slightly injured set of twins.

Later at basketball we followed the action from the side line and were able to catch an energetic mood and team spirit from the practice. Unfortunately the camera ran out of battery after filming for around 15 minutes in the sports hall. However luckily there was a powerpoint near by and we briefly charged the camera.

Alls well that ends well! and towards the end of the evening when we'd finished filming everything we had intented, there was a general sense of satisfaction as we headed back to nottingham. Although I was very infortunate to step in a dog poo as I got dropped off at my flat on the mansfield road which was then obliviously troden all up the stairs and into the hall way of my flat. What a great end to my day.

In our Kitchen there was an actual directors chair which was very fitting for the occasion except when hitsi decided to slouch upon it, I was very unimpressed lol.

My hands were some what occupied and there was no other place for the boom to go. lol.

Basket ball was so much fun although a little scary to film with hundreads of balls fying in all direction. We ended having a camera body guard which saved its life on a few occassions.

Image of the two of us

With this image I don't feel I need to speak about

Opening scene

As a group Dotty Doc's feel that the opening and closing scene will potentially be the most important part of the documentary. We intend to attract and pull the audience in at the start and by the end we hope that our story remains with the viewer long after it has ended. We want the audience to take away a new perception on the area of down syndrome.

Image breakdown and analysis of shots from "Hunger".

Shot 1

The individual appears to be held captive behind the caged windows, his expression lacks enthusiasm and hope as he stands in the dark but looks towards the light. I feel that there is an underlying religious message, not only because the character look slightly like Jesus but when we deconstruct the composition the dark area could be seen as the sin and evil in the world. Whereas the light could reflect the religious faith that people are drawn towards. The broken area of cage resembles an unatainable freedom, however gives a small glimpse of hope none the less.



Shot 2

This shot strikes me as being very aggressive, it reveals an overall dominance that is forced upon the prisoners. It raises the question "What have they done wrong?" Their state of undress emphasizes how weak and vulnerable they look compaired to the officers who appear larger and more dominant. The shot is on the same level as the character who is being restrained by the two men in the foreground, this allows us as the audience to feel the same sense of vulnerabilty. The harsh lighting casts light on the the two prisioners but doesn't shed any identity on the guards who all have caps on which throws a shadow over their features.

Shot 3

Its important to take into account the characters interaction in the background of the shot, even though they may not appear as an integral part of the composion, they can provide us with a valid overall perspective of the surrounding situation.

The character in the foreground stikes me, his expression is so blank and he doesn't appear to be interacting with anyone around him. Perhaps something negative dwells in this thoughts causing him to give off this distanceed and saddened way about him.

Shot 4

I can see a clear contrast between the two men in this shot. The man on the left appears more masculine and dominant, I have read this through his body language, for example. The way he sits with his legs spread wide apart, his posture. Whereas the man on the right is far more feminin and passive as his body takes up less space and somthing about him seems less aggressive.

I get the impresion that their meeting is compulsory and that the space between the two of them is a clear indication of how they both feel, subconciuosly wanting a space, divide between them. They are clearly not friends but possible lawyer and client.

Shot 5

Protagonist in the foreground whereas character is out of focus.


Their attention is off the screen to the right, the expression is so unanimated it doesn't make me interested at what they could be looking at.

Shot 6

There is a strong sense of connection through his eyes which are fixed on the character who is out of focus with his back to the camera. The way in which his head is tilted reveals some kind of acknowledgment. This shot develops alot of mystery at what this character is saying or what expression he is showing towards the other character.


Which image out the 6 was your favourite?
Shot 1

Why do I like this image?

I really like the composition of this shot, from the way the light cascades in through the spaces of the caged windows to the way his hair falls serenely over his shoulders. There is a real sense of calm in the characters expression although there is an underlying sense of reluctance as he is held captive.
I love the feeling that the light sheds upon the dark scene, it reveals a sense of hope and allows the audience to beleive the character will persevere through the darkness.

The memory keepers daughter

his stunning novel begins on a winter night in 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted story of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.

I found it such an intriguing although rather close to the bone read. As I'm a fraternal twin myself and have a fascination by any books, films and documentaries that are based on the subject of Down syndrome, especially when considering meeting individual characters themselves. When Edward and I were growing up I was always around others with different disabilities as Edward was part of a special needs pre-school, over the last 5 or so years I've developed more of an understanding, one could say I've gained a natural report from this upbringing.

What is Down Syndrome?

It is a chromosomal disorder caused by an extra 21st chromosone. The condition is characterised by a combination of major and minor differences in structure. Oftne Down Syndrome is associated with some impairment of the mental/Cognitive ability and physical growth as well as facial appearence.
The incidence of Down Syndrome istimated at 1 per 800-1000 births, although these statistics are heavily influenced by the age of the mother.

Dakota's Pride

This is a film I came across whilst researching for other documentaries on individuals with disabilities.

"One fathers search for the truth about Down Syndrome"

It poses tough questions that are answered by a Harvard physician, and parents of the children with Down Sydrome. In addition to being informative, this documentary celebrates the successes that have been achieved by individuals with Down syndrome.
I want to put across a strong sense of positivety through our documentary as I feel there is so much to celebrate in my brother, I also feel the audience will be drawn to Edwards warm hearted and delightdul character and charm .

The Goals of the Dakotas Pride film was to increase the understanding of individuals with Down Syndrome, reduce inemployment for people with Down Syndrome, and reduce post depression for the new parents of children with Downs.

Two of a kind

What life is like when there's an extra chromosome in the picture.

A unique documentary that shows the differences between a set of fraternal twins, Edward and Diana, one of which has Down Syndrome.


Edward and Diana above and below.




Where are we going to film?

We shall be filming in the twins hometown of Rutland in the following places:

• At Home
  
• At Edwards place of work.
  
• At Edwards basketball practise.
  
• At Diana's universtity in Nottingham.

When its going to take place?

We will be filming on the 18th and the 19th of November 2008.

Structure.

Beginning - Looking back at the past and photo montages of the twins childhood and outline the facts of down syndrome.

Middle - Comparing the current lifestyles.

End - Looking into the future and what it will bring for Edward and Diana.

Audio.

We got in contact with two muscians from Bournemouth university who have agreed to compose and record our soundtrack.

Visual Elements.

• Split screen interview.
  
• Photomontage.
  
• Combination of wide shots, close ups,mid shots, over the shoulder and ecperimental.

Christopher Lee Donovan.
I chose this image because I feel there is an underlying message that speaks to me. In my opinion the body parts in the box resemble the unrealistic ideals of which woman are expected and encouraged to be like. I like the way it takes this idealistic way of wanting to be seen as something that is worthless and simply discarded into an shabby cardboard box. It speaks about not conforming to the unrealistic ways and