Dissertation
Title:
“The
use
of
Documentary
style
footage
within
fictional


films.”



Task:
to
develop
a
cinema
verité
style
documentary
short
film,
scripted
and
produced
by
myself,

realizing
the
proposal
through
pre
production,
to
post
production.




Technologies
used:
professional
camera
equipment
such
as
the
Sony
Z1,
lighting
rigs,
Vinton
pro
touch

tripods,
and
Editing
software
including
Avid
Media
Composer
and
Final
Cut
Pro.


1.1
‐
Proposal;
Student
Initiated
Film”


• Summary/treatment

• Characters


• Structure,
style/form

• Conflict,
resolution

• Plotline




th
Filming
to
take
place
at
Ports‐down
common
and
inside
cliff
face
on
12 
April
10,
2:30pm.


Equipment
used;



• Sony
Z1
with
standard
Shotgun
audio
input
and
lens
set.

• Vinton
Pro‐touch,
although
there
will
be
little
use
for
this
as
most
shots
will
be

recoded
handheld,
or
with
possible
use
of
shoulder
Rig.

• Lighting
includes
3
mobile
led
headsets,
1
radial
fixture
for
light,
1
mobile
light

pack
for
higher
exposure.
(batt
packs
to
be
charged
and
batteries
fully
stocked

before
shoot)

• Mini
DV
Tapes
x
3



Shots
will
be
recorded
in
HDV
at
highest
possible
res,
then
edited
down
for
export
purposes.


Due
to
the
nature
of
the
location
being
filmed
crew
are
advised
to
bring
waterproof
and
or

protective
wear
to
ensure
clothing
is
not
damaged
or
ruined.


This
film
is
a
mock
documentary
and
so
authenticity
is
key
to
its
success;
therefore
all
crew
will
be

playing
the
part
of
themselves
and
reacting
naturally
to
situations
and
events.



Please
keep
in
mind
that
this
shoot
is
important
for
the
production
but
also
a
learning
experience

for
all
involved.


I
appreciate
your
help
with
this
short
film,
I
will
be
providing
participation
forms
for
all
crew
members

on
site.


See
you
tomorrow!


Harrison






 1.1 Proposal

50%
Weighted
Artefact:

Short
film
“Student
Initiated
Film”



(1500
words)


Through
research
and
preproduction
planning;
I
have
developed
an
idea
for
a
short
film
documenting
a
small

production
crew
recording
an
investigation
into
an
underground
series
of
abandoned
World
War
2
tunnels.

Things
begin
to
change
as
they
start
to
discover
the
extent
of
the
system,
finding
strange
objects
and
unexplored

rooms.
Constantly
rolling,
the
film
is
created
in
a
cinema
verité
documentary
style.
The
journey
is
one
that
will

scare
and
amaze
audiences
as
events
darken
and
situations
escalate
in
front
of
and
behind
the
camera.


This
is
essentially
a
character
piece,
not
about
discovery
but
a
story
about
the
dynamics
of
the
crew
and
the

different
roles
they
each
take.
The
central
conflict
in
this
film
is
the
crewmembers
internal
battle
to
record
a

successful
documentary
despite
the
nature
of
the
task
they
face.
My
own
involvement
is
an
element
of

participatory
documentary
filming
that
I
intend
to
develop,
moving
from
behind
the
lens
and
being
involved
in

the
story.
All
parts
in
this
film
are
scripted
although
the
people
are
playing
themselves,
the
tunnels
are
real
and

the
atmosphere
is
true
to
the
story;
scenes
are
planned
but
little
acting
is
required
as
this
film
is
a
true

documentary
with
a
fictional
twist.


The
form
and
style
of
this
film
will
be
a
clear
distinction;
filmed
solely
with
first
person
perspective
footage.

While
talking
to
the
camera
it
is
important
that
the
characters
be
emotive
and
real,
this
can
be
achieved
through

atmosphere
and
script.
I
want
the
audience
to
relate
and
warm
to
the
crew
through
experiencing
their
hardships

and
successes.
Telling
the
story
in
this
style
will
hopefully
establish
a
strong
connection
with
the
audience.

Visually
I
want
people
to
understand
that
the
characters
are
alone
when
filming
and
by
careful
structuring
of

scenes
with
regards
to
perspective
his
story
is
told
on
a
level
that
truly
represents
the
journey
to
discover

something
unique.



I
intend
to
create
an
element
of
tension
and
mystery
to
my
film.
By
using
blank
footage
with
the
chaotic
audio
in

the
tunnels
the
result
is
that
the
audience
will
question
what
is
going
on
while
the
camera
is
covered
or
unable
to

highlight
the
scene.
The
characters
provide
the
narrative
here
in
this
video
journal
enabling
the
audience
to
draw

conclusions
as
we
reveal
the
story.
As
they
move
further
and
further
into
the
underground
bunker
I
intend
to

build
tension
and
keep
audiences
on
edge,
by
doing
so
this
film
becomes
one
of
energy
and
real
excitement
and

fear.


In
order
to
follow
the
characteristics
of
a
participatory
film,
scenes
have
been
developed
whereby
the
crew’s

existence
is
acknowledged
and
they
are
therefore
able
to
capture
unique
moments
while
recording.
I
intend
to

use
this
device
to
touch
on
emotions
and
internal
struggles
experienced.
The
audience
will
feel
that
they
are

viewing
the
crew
when
alone,
this
also
means
I
can
convey
deeper
messages
and
develop
a
more
complex
story.


Within
editing
it
is
my
objective
to
shape
the
rough
cuts
into
a
form
that
the
viewer
can
understand
clearly,
there

will
be
subtle
retakes
and
bold
use
of
black
space.
These
tools
are
key
to
reaching
the
audience
and
allow
me
to

expose
or
hide
the
characters
flaws
or
quirks.
It
is
important
that
scenes
flow
correctly
and
so
I
intend
to

juxtapose
chaotic
moving
shots
with
still
tripod
set
shoots.
Cinema
verité
is
a
style
that
does
not
tell
the
whole

story
or
reveal
the
same
detailing
of
conventional
filming
styles.
The
audience
expectations
need
to
be
realised

and
met
in
order
to
evaluate
the
films
success.


This
story
is
one
that
I
have
derived
through
my
own
experiences
and
ideas,
and
so
this
film
is
semi‐
autobiographical;
courage
and
determination
to
succeed
are
characteristics
I
am
constantly
trying
to
embody.

The
leap
of
faith
they
take
by
entering
the
tunnels
is
something
I
admire
and
respect
as
a
student
filmmaker
and

so
felt
it
appropriate
to
produce
while
at
university.
These
are
emotions
that
come
across
in
both
the
script
and

the
care
taken
producing
scenes.
Filming
in
the
style
I
have
chosen
will,
I
hope
give
a
fresh
take
on
storytelling;

inspired
by
a
number
of
respectable
films
and
productions
referenced
throughout
my
personal
investigation.
The

medium
is
one
that
I
am
used
to
and
I
hope
that
audiences
will
want
to
watch.



In
order
to
understand
cinema
verité
I
feel
the
need
to
explore
it
from
behind
the
camera.
By
developing
scenes

and
recording
journals
in
this
way,
I
hope
to
showcase
my
ability
as
a
filmmaker
and
produce
a
film
that
is
both

stylistic
and
convincing
in
its
story,
plot,
aesthetics
and
feel.
This
production
for
me
is
a
learning
experience
as

well
as
an
opportunity
to
voice
my
creative
opinions
on
both
a
genre
and
a
story
I
am
eager
to
tell.







Plotline
“Student
Initiated
Film”:


1. Edited
outtakes
on
top
of
the
moors;

• Setting
up
camera
equipment

• Rehearsing
script
“are
we
recording
yet?”

• Outlining
the
objective,
talk
of
a
tunnel
system
below.

• Title

2. Walking
through
woods

• Through
Brambles

• Weather

• Open
cave
“this
cant
be
it”

• Possible
trails

• Noises
and
people
nearby

3. Finding
Entrance

• Doubts
“its
too
narrow
that
cant
be
it”
“lets
look
further
on”

4. Getting
inside

• Harry
squeezes
through
“I
cant
see
without
the
light”

• Alford
second
“one
last
look
at
civilisation”

• Passing
tripods
and
bags

• Harrison
lastly

• Passing
equipment
through

• Turn
to
reveal
darkness
and
low
space
“this
is
insane”

5. Exploring
tunnels

• “hey
look”
point
–
turn
–
reveal
sign

• Walking
through
“I
cant
believe
this
stuff
is
still
down
here”

• Looking
up
at
the
roof
“think
about
it,
this
hasn’t
been
touched
in
nearly
60
years”

• Harry
addressing
camera
–
Alford
“oh
my
god
there’s
more
round
here”

• Different
takes
–
exploring
further

6. Discovering
untouched
quarters

• Alford
begins
to
get
nervous
“that’s
creepy,
seriously
creepy”

• Harrison
“get
back
here
with
the
light,
don’t
go
too
far”

• Harry
“do
we
know
the
way
back
yeah?”
Harrison
“..sure
its
back
this
way”
turn
to

look
down
tunnel

• More
recordings
‐
outtakes

7. Things
begin
to
change
as
lights
flicker

• Battery
pack
needs
to
cool
down
–
“just
wait
a
minute,
its
fine”

• Using
different
lights

• Alford
“Have
we
got
all
we
need”
Harry
“just
a
few
more
takes”

8. Alford
leaves

• Alford
“I
don’t
like
this
at
all
guys,
I
want
to
make
my
way
back”

• Harrison
“
just
wait!”

9. Tracing
footsteps
back

• Harry
trying
to
do
another
take
–
noise
In
the
background

• “what
the
hell
Alf”
cuts
take
short
to
go
find
Alford

10. Argument
to
stay
or
leave

• Harrison
“we
need
this
story
man,
we
can
film
in
night
vision
if
we
need
to”

• Harry
“
if
the
light
goes
I’m
going
too”

• Harrison
“ok,
ok
just
chill,
lets
just
get
this
last
shot
and
we’ll
go..”

11. Lights
start
to
fail

• Harrison
“shit,
ok
hold
on
I’ll
fix
this”

• Harry
“I
literally
cant
see
you
man,
this
is
not
fun
anymore”

12. Finding
Alford

• Alford
“I
thought
u
marked
the
corners
we
passed”

 • Harry
“what
the..
you
scared
the
crap
out
of
me”

• Harrison
“its
simple
you
take
the
left
at
the
far
wall
and
then
curl
round
back
to
the

front”

13. Lights
fail

• Harry
“ok
I’m
calling
it
were
done
here”
“agreed”
“agreed”

• Noises
make
the
group
nervous

• “what
the
hell..
move
come
on”

14. Finding
the
way
out

• Black
shots

• Confusion

• Then
a
light


15. Leaving
the
tunnels
one
by
one;

• Alford
“that
was
insane”
Harry
“were
you
rolling
the
whole
time?”
“yeah
I
think
so,

but
it
will
be
useless”

• Alford
crawls
out
first

• Then
the
lighting
and
bags

• Harrison
“can
you
pack
the
camera
away
and
pass
it
through
after
me”

• Harry
“sure,
have
u
taken
the
tape
out?”

• Harrison
second
out

• As
Harry
moves
out,
he
turns
to
grab
the
camera
–


• Camera
moves
–
its
picked
up
by
something
and
shot
fades
into
the
darkness
with

the
sound
of
heavy
breathing
and
shouts


• Harry
scared
yelling
“no.
no.
no,
pull
me
out
I’m
serious,
pull
me
out!”


Credits