Evaluation

Unit 8 was definitely one of the more exciting units. I love the premise of choosing your own media
product to make. As you know I have chosen a documentary, it was something I wanted to do from the
beginning, since I knew we get to chose our own media project.
There was a little bit of a problem at first, because I didn't know what the documentary will be about,
however, one day I have went for my training and it hit me. The documentary of mine had to be about
bodybuilding, fitness, powerlifting and healthy lifestyle overall. I knew it will be difficult but it was my
goal.
When we began the research for the FMP, I was already half way through my research and I was super
hyped up to continue the work.
The research wasn’t too difficult to pull off because I usually visit healthy lifestyle websites on the daily
bases, one thing I didn’t completely understand at first is the part where I had to research the
practitioners of the documentaries not only the practitioners of bodybuilding, however it was alright, I
have quickly understood that and added the required information.
All of the research and all of the planning was the best thing I could have done within this industry.
I have started my research on the second week of the FMP time. It was quite an adventure, it has
started as a 5 page little document, now that I have finished the research it is around twenty pages long
and I am extremely proud with it, it has taught me quite a few things and also the tips and guidance I
have received from the tutors was wonderful. The documentary genre is the most effective and
informative as well as fun of the genres but I think it is one of the most difficult. Planning for a short film
or a trailer is quite easy because the amount of paperwork isn’t as huge and you don’t have to interview
anyone.
However that is the reason why I have chosen it. Documentaries in my opinion are one of the most
difficult media products and that's what I am about. I refuse to take the easy way out. I wanted to work
harder than everyone and achieve greatness. Achieve the goals of mine. This unit, unit 8 has really
opened my eyes up and it has really made me realise, I work my butt off, I get what I gotta get, I don’t
work my butt off, I don’t get nothing.
I have realised that if I take the easy way out things in life will be able to best me if they will be harder,
however if I take the hard way out, nothing will be able to surprise me, I don’t know if this is totally
relevant to the topic of the evaluation and reflection of this FMP but I’m just saying that because it
happened because of the FMP.
The planning within the FMP was a very interesting journey, at first I have done almost all of the
documentation on separate and different documents. It was definitely a stupid choice because at the
end it was difficult to find my way around the folders but eventually I have put all of the work into three
different documents; Research, Planning and Evaluation.
If it comes down to the stated aims of my product, I have achieved everything that I have planned.
I have made the documentary of mine that is really, really good, I have met lots of really cool people and
I got to do what I love.
As I said in the previous documents, I wanted to make a documentary similar to Vlad Yudin’s
“Generation Iron”, I could surely try but there was now way it would be as good without the budget. I
hate to say that “something can’t be done” since if I have a goal I do everything to make it happen but it
was just impossible for this one budget wise. If it comes down to the editing and the narrative I have
tried my best to make it original but I did use some of the techniques from the documentaries of Vlad.
Obviously the genre of the documentary which is bodybuilding/sport will be the same with Vlad’s but
quality wise it can’t be compared. I don’t think. I myself am extremely proud of what it is and how it has
came out.
I have made some changes to my editing and the research, at first the research was only 9 pages ow it is
around 20 pages (from what I remember). My editing had quite a journey from the start. At first some of
my work got corrupted so I was really disappointed with how stuff came out. Of Course I have fixed it in
a matter of time but still I had quite a tough time with it. Later on I have recorded some more footage of
people working out and food, so I could only put it into my work and fix everything quickly while making
the film better.
The target audience for the documentary was meant to be people who are interested in joining the gym
or making a difference in their lives, with this documentary I believe I have achieved this outcome.
I have spoken truth of the benefits and the disadvantages and risks of bodybuilding. Most people who
watch this documentary will think it through and add 1 to 1 and eventually they will come up with an
idea of what they want to do or achieve.
The final product was good, I am quite proud of it, however, I wanted to go too far for my own good.
What I mean by it is that I wanted to make a full fledged documentary which would be about 20 or 30
minutes but because I am not a great actor I could not do that. Besides it would probably be a little
boring. The skills I have acquired throughout the year I am proud of, I have improved my editing and
writing stories and scripts however next year I will have to work on some of the other aspects like the
acting and narration or keeping up the good work standard at all time.
If it comes down to if this reflection of my skills is good and if I am proud of it, that I am. I am a good
writer, considering English isn’t my first language I am quite flattered with my performance.
Next year I will work even harder. I have learned that you can always improve and you can never work
too hard. I will definitely get back to my 12 hour night shift over the summer holidays to get enough to
improve my setup to work better, I can work harder on this setup that I have already but I would like to
get a better hardware setup to have a wide variety of tools. Next time I will spend a little less time on
thinking and a little more time or recording and editing, that is for sure, I know that would be one of the
only things that would really improve my work.
If I had unlimited or a higher budget I would travel for the first week, I would arrange a few meeting with
certain practitioners and idols. It really depends on the topic of the documentary but I would surely go
out and meet as many people and record as much stuff and footage I would possibly be able to. I would
spend a week on planning and documentation and then I will take 8 weeks to record and edit and I
would probably evaluate on last few days. That would allow me to get a ton of footage, effects and
other media assets.
I am not the greatest actor and planning for this year was quite hectic but next year I will prepare much
better, there is always room for improvement. I know I am a very skilled editor I just quite often
encounter lots of “issues” because I can’t afford the best software and hardware and also I have a very
busy private life, however I know my abilities are great and I want to improve them.