For my independent project I produced a documentary by myself based on a true story of Tourette syndrome. I chose this particular documentary topic because I felt that I was capable to create something close to the heart as this topic is something very close to mine as I myself suffer from Tourette syndrome.

My individual roles within this independent project are as followed: Director, Producer, Editor and so on and so forth. Furthermore I had help from a crew that I had gathered together of Jack Ford and Charlie Ford. Their roles included: Lighting operator, sound operator and runners. This is due to the fact that I needed someone to sort of out lighting whilst I sorted out the camera work and I also needed someone to be in charge of sound by holding a boom microphone throughout the period of the interviews shown within the documentary. I developed my skills through this as on my last project I took on the roles of organizational rather than technical; for this project I changed that around in order to develop my skills through technical aspects such as: filming and editing.

The final product shows mostly eye-level shots with a head and shoulders angle. This is because I wanted the audience to feel engaged within the documentary and feel that the interviewee was discussing their story with the audience rather than to the interviewer. I also used an eye-level shot but it was slightly over to the right as I wanted to interviewee to be looking at the interviewer rather than the camera, as the first interview holds myself talking to the camera and self-interviewing myself. Also the final product shows a panning shot as the camera pans around a photograph whilst the voiceover is taking place. This is because I wanted you to see the subject (photograph) from all angles, this meant that each angle shows a different side to the story. Here shows clearly the shots that I have been talking about:

During the editing process I used different transitions to show a more emotional side to the documentary. I also provided information on the condition of Tourette’s Syndrome in order for the audience to understand more about the condition.

Panning Shot around photograph:

Eye-level Shot of myself:

Off side Shot of Jennah Coastan:

In order to film this project I used a NIKON D3200 camera and tripod with a Zoom microphone recorder and a Boom mic to catch the sound clearly. Furthermore for the technical aspects of this project I used film set lights on an indoor interview and I also used natural lighting whilst an interview was taking place outside.

Through editing I used Adobe Premier Pro to gain the best that I could out of editing these clips that I had at the time. I used this programme because I felt that I was able to develop my skills through this programme as it was the first time using this specific programme to edit.

Furthermore I believe that I have achieved what I can from what I had to film but I also feel like I could do better within this independent project.

Madelin Ford.