Twenty Eight Feet - Created by Kevin A. Fraser - 8 minutes
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/search/?q=twenty+eight+feet
These screen shots are taken from the opening sequence of a short about a man named David Welsford, who restored a wooden boat from a scrape heap, on a journey in search of happiness. The intro takes you slowly into the narrative with the visuals looking at the surroundings a boat on water, slowly going closer onto the boat looking at the outside exterior, then looking in at his equipment and then finally putting a face to the over voice narration meeting our main character for the first time. I really like the shots going from a long shot into close ups and mid shots, i find its captivating and allows the viewer to get closer to the characters and like your going on the journey with them. I like how there is a soundtrack playing in the background of the over voice narration. I think its soothing and helps create an emotional impact to his words about finally doing what he has been dreaming about for a long time. This is very much the same way Will felt when deciding to go and travel for the first time, so i think using the Fiji song behind the narration and visuals will be effective.
Throughout the duration of this documentary, its all following his journey and new life living on a boat and coming out of society to pursue his dream, told by voice over narration, showing visuals of his everyday activities on the boat, following his journey. As i wasnt as lucky enough to follow Will to Fiji, i compensated with archive images over matching parts of the narrative.
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Sean - Created by Ryan Reichenfeld - 12 minutes
This documentary is a more metaphorical message of visuals to the words. Following teenage Sean, and his opinion on getting left behind and dreams of making it big doing what he loves. It uses nice composition and a mixture of shots, showing Sean, in his every day environment and mostly a voice over, narrating about one day leaving the town where he lives and pursuing his dream.
For some of this piece, the visuals don't really make sense to me why they were used because it doesn't relate at all to what he is saying. In a metaphorical sense, i think they are visually showing what parties and types of social groups are where he lives, where he doesn't fit in.
What i found inspirational about this short documentary was the composition and the framing of these mid shots of the main character, Sean. I like the rule of thirds, showing the character and his environment of where he lives and the use of natural light and depth of field. I also really like the colour grading, how its moody but soft reflecting how he feels. These elements are what i want to apply to my documentary, creating a feel with the visuals of Will in the exterior shots.
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Gan Gan - Created by Gemma Green-Hope - 3 minutes
In this really short piece about a grand-daughter reflecting back over the life of her grandmother 'gan gan' and her story, it is beautifully pieced together by using shots and combining them really fast together, relating physically and metaphorically the narration. It almost feels like a poem as opposed to a set up like how my documentary is, giving it an artistic edge. Its fast paced images keeps your eyes fixed on the screen to make sure you don't miss anything and certain words she says relates to the visual. I like that she has combined archive images of her grand mother and pictures of things that relate to what she is saying. This is the kind of thing i am going to include in my documentary; archive pictures of Will and pictures of letters, books and 'keep sake' items.
I really find her use of stop motion quite interesting and quirky, like a quick preview into a life so full and her collections of material objects. I like her compostion and how she has combine archive footage and shots she has taken in relation to the script. I like how she has used letters and old books, quickly panning over showing how she kept diaries. This kind of reflecting back on the past footage from pictures to letters, and left behind objects is what i am also going to include to show the viewer a little more about will and what he did and kept from his experience.
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I found these short piece documentaries very helpful in terms of edit, composition, archival images and filler shots. It has also inspired me on sound; i had doubts about adding the sound track behind the interview shots, but i think it will create mood and emotion to his words.
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