Summary

On the whole, I thought this project went well. However, I would have liked to have been able to just concentrate on this one assignment. I felt like I didn't have much time, even though I had the best part of three months to do it. I found it a little hard to keep up with this while being given other assignments. I know that there's no avoiding that, but I think I could have done so much more with my story if I could have worked solely on that.

The visuals make it look more art based, not like any normal interview with a victim. They are dark visuals with strong contrasts, which compliment the topic of domestic violence. I had the footage mostly blurred at the beginning, but then subtly become clearer as the story went on and reach its 'happy ending'.

I think the final product turned out well, even though the story does have a slightly different feel to it than I intended. It doesn't matter so much that it doesn't sound like the story's coming from the victim herself, because the story still gets told. If I could do it again, I would definitely want more video footage to use. I think it would have been nicer if I'd had more angles and other variety of shots. I'm happy with the quality of the audio recording. I'd never recorded with that mixing desk or used Adobe Audition before, so it was a new and different experience for me. I think I got the gist of it and am pleased with the results. I would definitely be doing some recording with those tools in the future. The video meets the requirements of the brief, which was my goal, so I'm happy with that.

Final Outcome

Feedback

I was given feedback on the recordings I'd done before I made any major editing to them and to summarise it, the audio recording wasn't believable. The actual quality of recording was OK, but the acting wasn't so good. It sounded like what was being said was being read straight from a script, which was exactly what was being done. I know my course can't expect me to get professional actors, but I now see that it would greatly help my goal if I could get a recording that seems more natural. After all, the assignment is story telling, therefor if the audio doesn't seem natural then I'm not meeting the requirements of the brief so well. I know I won't be able to get an Oscar winning performance from anyone, but I can certainly try and ask them to act like they're really re-telling an ordeal they've been through. It was my own fault for not really paying much attention on how the story was being said during recording. I was too busy trying to get a clear recording and work my way around unfamiliar programmes and equipment. I was suggested that I use one of the little pin mics that TV presenters use and film the whole thing at the same time as recording. This would be the most logical way of doing this and quickest because the audio and film are done together. The only problem is, this requires the person I record to learn the script and whether I can get someone to do that in a short space of time doesn't look likely. It is quite a difficult time of year too, almost everyone I know willing to help me is busy studying, doing exams or doing their own assignments, so whether I can re-record anything is pretty uncertain.

Edited Script and Recording

I edited the script after getting some feedback from some people:

I suffered three years of violence of all forms.

Because of what he did, I lost a kidney, had broken ribs, have been left with a damaged spine, hips and knees, through the kickings and beatings. I thought that was my life. I could see no light at the end of the tunnel. I had all my confidence, self-esteem, personality, literally beaten out of me, or so I thought.

One day he went too far. He came round my house after a night of drinking with his friends. He was in a foul mood, shouting at me and not making any sense. He ordered me to go get him another beer. All I said was “I think you've had enough, don't you?” and he attacked me. Gripping me by the throat and screaming and spitting in my face. He back handed me and told me to get him a beer or he'll do much worse to me. I told myself that was it. When I returned from the kitchen, I had a knife with me. He laughed at me. Called me a stupid. Fat. Cow. I threatened him to leave. He looked a little nervous.

(He says: “Put the fucking knife down!” There are screams and shouts in the background)

I wanted so badly to kill that bastard there and then.

The neighbours must have heard the commotion, there was a loud knock at the door. I was about to go answer it, but he just bolted past me and left through the back door. I never told my neighbours what really happened, but they knew. They saved me from possibly making a horrible mistake.

I never saw that pathetic man again. I'd realised what he'd been doing to me the last couple of years was so very wrong.

I survived and I know that although it takes a lot of strength to either leave or get help, and most women think they don't have it, all they have to do is look for the strength and it will be there.

I did and I am a Survivor. The world is a brighter and happier place for me, so take heart and leave the violence and abuse, take as much time as you need to regain yourself, your soul, self-esteem and confidence and you will come through a better and happier person.

When it came to recording the audio, I used the studio at my university. I set up a little booth around a microphone to stop the sound travelling too far and making my recordings full of reverb. The mic went into a mixing desk in the control room. I used Adobe Audition to record with.

I filmed the footage with a Sony HD camera and used quite bright, harsh lighting which will help with the editing I do to the footage to get the look I'm after.

New Story

After getting some feedback on what I'd already done and not feeling so happy with the Spider-man story, I've decided to change it completely. I'd spent a lot of time trying to the think of something else that would give me motivation to complete. I knew this would set me back a little, but after coming up with this new idea, I saw that I wasn't too far behind. I have a finished script which will be shown below, meaning I can get any recording/filming done next week and spend the rest of the time editing.

My new story is about a woman describing her ordeal with domestic violence and here is the script:


I suffered three years of violence of all forms.
Because of what he did, I lost a kidney, had broken ribs, have been left with a damaged spine, hips and knees, through the kickings, beatings and sexual abuse. I thought that was my life. I could see no light at the end of the tunnel. I had all my confidence, self-esteem, personality, beaten out of me, or so I thought.
One day he went too far. He came round my house after a night of drinking with his friends. He was in a foul mood, shouting at me and not making any sense. He ordered me to go get him another beer. All I said was “I think you've had enough, don't you?” and he attacked me. Gripping me by the throat and screaming and spitting in my face. He back handed me and told me to get him a beer or he'll do much worse to me. I told myself that was it. When I returned from the kitchen, I had a knife with me. He laughed at me. Called me a stupid. Fat. Cow. I threatened him to leave. He looked a little nervous.
“Put the fucking knife down!”
I wanted so badly to kill that bastard there and then.
The neighbours must have heard the commotion, there was a loud knock at the door. I was about to go answer it, but he just bolted past me and left through the back door. I never told my neighbours what really happened, but they knew.
I never saw that pathetic man again. I'd realised what he'd been doing to me the last couple of years was so very wrong.
Somewhere from the depths of my soul, I found the strength to leave him.
It has taken a long time to finally see all the light around, and finally regain all I lost, but I still suffer, and my recovery will be ongoing.
I survived and I know that although it takes a lot of strength to either leave or get help, and most women think they don't have it, all they have to do is look for the strength and it will be there.
I did and I am a Survivor. The world is a brighter and happier place for me, so take heart and leave the violence and abuse, take as much time as you need to regain yourself, your soul, self-esteem and confidence and you will come through a better and happier person.

The video will be very dark, showing quick glimpses of the woman. There will be snappy close ups of her eyes and mouth and some blurred full bodied shots. There will be a large focus on the audio.

Animated Storyboard

Here are the storyboards I have made put with a rough recording of the script to give an idea of what the video will turn out to be like:

The Script

I have changed the way the narrative comes across slightly. I first wanted to use something similar to this:

"Who am I? Are you sure you wanna know?

The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said that it was a happy little tale - if somebody said I was just your average ordinary guy not a care in the world, somebody lied.

But let me assure you, this, just like all stories worth telling, is all about a girl."

This was used at the beginning of the first Spider-man film. It does get the audience's attention, but I thought it might be better to go from a different angle. I've decided to tell the story from the point of view of a scientist/researcher, who has been studying Spider-man and is going through his profile. Here's the script I've written:

“Case #5

Real Name:
Peter Benjamin Parker

Born in Forest Hills, New York.

Aliases
Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, the Amazing Spider-Man, the Sensational Spider-Man, the Spectacular Spider-Man – I think we can see a pattern emerging here... Also known as Spidey, Webhead, Webslinger, Wall-crawler, etc.

Identity
Secret – as far as he is concerned

Graduated from Midtown High School with an uncanny affinity for science that was nothing short of genius. He graduated college with a biophysics major and is currently attempting a doctorate in biochemistry, which hasn't been completed due to constant interruptions caused by his chaotic life-style.

Parents are deceased – killed in a plane crash while on an overseas mission for the government. Parker was raised by his aunt and uncle – May and Benjamin Parker. His uncle was shot by an armed robber.

Currently working for the Daily Bugle as a freelance photographer.

Parker got his powers when attending a public science exhibit when he was 15-years old. He was bitten on the hand by a radioactive spider, which had accidentally been irradiated by a particle beam, empowering Peter with the arachnid's proportional strength and agility, and the ability to cling to almost any surface. Most incredibly, he had gained a sixth sense that provided him with early warning of impending danger. Using his scientific prowess, he constructed a pair of artificial web-shooters that attached to his wrists. The combination of his acrobatic leaps and web-slinging enables him to travel rapidly from place to place.

Parker designed and constructed several devices that he traditionally carries as part of his full costume. This includes twin artificial web-shooters worn at the wrists, spare web cartridges attached to his belt, spider-tracer devices attuned to his spider-sense, the spider-signal light, and a compact camera. He has reconstructed his web shooters out of a high density plastic to avoid metal detectors, and has added modifications to detect low web-fluid levels, and propel spider-tracers.

Has had known affiliations with our other case studies such as: Wolverine, The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Hulk

Villains fought:

Chameleon, Vulture, Rhino, Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Venom, Carnage, Lizard, Scorpion, Kingpin, Mysterio, Shocker, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Hydro-man, Jackal, Man-wolf, Morbius etc.

The 'hero' is currently leading a 'normal' life, living with his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson and again trying to complete his doctorate."

This may not be the final draft I use, but I'm going to use this to start some storyboarding.