For our documentary project, our idea comes extremely late whilst focusing fully on our vigilante subject but due to lack of contacts and primaries we changed it to following around circus folk in the Berkshire region.

The research I undertook before arriving at the destinations, meeting the primary and how the business operates, I went on www.carterssteamfair.co.uk and nosed around to see what the business was like and what they have to offer to the audience. They like to think of themselves as not a modern type of steam fair but keeping their unique look old. Even though we researched further into their business we learnt a huge amount of new interesting accolades they posses for example the use of sign writing, the time it takes to calve their rides/products and the use of gold entwined onto their products. Therefore, I watched the recent documentary ‘Circo’ about a Mexican family struggling to keep their personal business alive around the country of Mexico and before attending Carter’s and tackling our Showmen project to get an insight on how these types of docs are structured with camera work and techniques.

For our trailer we got invited to where they situate in a town called Maidenhead, before we could capture any photos and voice interviews which was my job capturing the voice with the Marantz, we made him feel comfortable and his co-workers around him giving the chance for him to open up for us. The problem was keeping the Marantz level at 12dbz for his voice as it interchanged from loud to quiet all of the sudden that proved to be an uphill battle for me. Also making sure the background noise didn’t intervene where his family was conversing in the same room. We definitely followed the Nick Broomfield effect exchanging comments as if it were natural but not showing ourselves in the captured images, we immediately complimented him on his home and asked how are you and your family by being very polite.

Three members including myself attended the trip to Carter’s Steam Fair headquarters captured the images for the photo essay; we followed the hyper and Meta aesthetics of a photojournalism image by exaggerating the emotions on the primary & co. We also used the technique breaking the edge to provide the audience with an imagination; this will work well for the trailer as it provides a sense of naturalism plus making the audience see beyond the frame. There were a few I personally captured describing the isolation of the business Carter’s Steam Fair and how it is slowly disintegrating with the use of trucks supplying a narrow alley with the company name following at the end.

As much as my role was Sound director, I also took care of the whole design for the website and how it was structured. However, there were many mistakes along the way especially involving the group workbook; completely different design to what we were meant to do instead of using the further research on every individual page but supplying it for everyone in the workbook yet we took charge of individual weeks leading up from week one to week twelve which proved a success working as a team. Another problem was the overall banner and sub titles on each page, I created them as a draft but the whole group disagreed to how they generally looked. I took this criticism as good feedback so I made a few designs linked with our production company and made them choose their favorite. I also attempted thumbnail images on the index page, which turned out to be very cramped and a waste of time but the majority of the group agreed to. I think I kept the group in the loop to what I was editing on the website incase they get confused about anything that had changed. At the start of the project there were a few communication problems to do with the content on the website for example, the use of text, the structure and how everything were laid out. Every member had a different font for their text, the sizes were all different and there was nothing to separate a piece of text from another ‘widget’ on yola, which I had to notify the group at group meetings about the consistency.

The way we improved the trailer was continuous until we were completely happy with it, there were some hurdles we had to face and achieve with the images being the incorrect setting plus the gamut warning on the photos. Also exporting it forgetting to move the images to make it more a trailer concept. As for the two supporting the products, the poster and the flyer (I created) had a few problems to begin with, the convergence between both products were very different and held no similar theme or color coordination. Me and the producer of the poster sat down to discuss the elements involved with our promotions; the points included were the color, information and a specific point we’re trying to portray. Although the overall message of the flyer was to explain ‘Carter’s Steam Fair’ is heading to u-doc festival in Winchester hence the signs but ironic as their travellers.

My role in the 10-minute presentation was specifically around the promotional side of our documentary and how it will be promoted using different techniques to engage the audience. Firstly two members of our group including me created bags of popcorn with our poster shrunk down to size to be handed out during the presentation. Therefore it was for promoting our documentary idea, giving a little sneak peak to what the rest of the audience are expecting to be receiving and witnessing. I also spoke about the documentary ‘Circo’ which I explained earlier and how it was influence for the style of our documentary.

In conclusion, I believe I handled the technical side of the website and promotions very well although with a few speed bumps along the way which needed context to be improved. Therefore with the use of sound for our documentary trailer proved to work strongly being very clear and understanding but most importantly the background soundtrack with the piano stepping up and up in relation to the images and text popping up proved to be an engaging attribute. As for the groups relationship, even though there were tough times getting hold of specific members, I believe the producer handled it brilliantly, keeping him fully interactive via e-mail. Not just the producer but also the group constantly checking up on the work load being produced by each member. 

By Joe Taphouse.