Evaluation- Question one, script AL, SS

Voice-over:

We use the warning slide at the start, to outline the focus on blood sport throughout the footage. This is one of the conventions used in many documentaries which contain violence, abusive language, delicate subjects and included scenes of inappropriate activity for young audiences.

We felt that, by using the panning-master shot, we created the rural atmosphere, along with allowing the audience to view the surrounding area.

The same fade technique was used to create the professional look. This also serves two purposes. The first is to create the flow between the scenes and the second is to subtly cut scenes without drawing to much attention to the technique used.

By using a hand-held camera, we were able to get a good shot of the bird falling to the floor after being shot. This simple cut brings a divergence from the shooting, so not to bore the audience.

We mostly followed Jim, at the start. The reason for this is because there was more potential of a good series of shots from loading the gun and waiting, to the actual shooting of the birds.

We felt the position for the series of ‘Jim shoots’ was appropriate because we got the trees, open space, and the gunman with his equipment. The open space is a good thing to have because this is where the birds take flight after being driven out by the beaters.

The closer shots of Jim were done to get more of a feel of the aiming and the shooting. This lets the audience see the impact the gun has on the person holding it when it is fired. It also allows the viewers to see the gunman aiming for the bird as it flies through the frame.

The second cut to the failing bird was better, we felt, because it seems to have more contact with Jim’s gun, rather than it being from anyone’s firing range.

The interview in the mid-point of the footage was used as a double voice over. This aspect is a convention, however not in all documentaries. For example, in the documentary, “Traffic Cops”, there is a similar style of interview, were there is dialogue over footage of past events. During the research stage, we took a liking to this idea, and decided to add it in to our own work.

The tilt acts as an establishing shot to give an idea of the different drives, as opposed to staying in one place.

The last drive reveals more shots of birds falling than all the other drives. These shots lead to the dogs retrieving them and taking them back to their handlers. This is a previously not as seen because we wanted to focus the shooters more and the beaters interview.

To finish the documentary off, we decided to film the Gamekeeper speaking to the follow workers, allowing them to take home a brace of birds, as a ‘thanks’ for their help.

We used the close up of the birds because it shows the audience the velocity of game. This panning shot also shows the audience what happens to the birds after they have been shot.

The last question of the interview was placed just before the end credits to round the documentary to a close. We felt this is a simple, yet effective way of ending the program. The joke of “It certainly wouldn’t be jogging” creates a lighter tone in the interview. The ending credits were simplistic, to keep in with the style of the documentary as a whole. The accompanying music, we thought, creates a relaxed and reflective mood for the audience on what they have seen.