Calender

June - Initial ideas considered (Hybrid car, electric car)

July - Hybrid car Idea

August - Storyboard for hybrid car idea

Petrol Station Scene SHOWING CARS (VOICE OVER FOR BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT HYBRID CAR)

Voice Over about the way we put in fuel for hybrid cars

How the battery system works

INTERVIEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM HONDA ABOUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM using medium shots

Interview owner of hybrid car using close ups 

Benefits and Drawbacks

Conclusion 

Future progress of hybrid cars and other possibilities 

September - Filming and editing in ULead video studio editor

October - Editing documentary title in Cinema 4d. Effects such as stabiliser effect and blur effect are edited in Adobe after affects. Interview with sales adviser from leading Hybrid manufacturer,  hybrid car, owner and editing in Sony Vegas PRO. 

November - First draft completed

December - Final draft completed, Ancillary tasks completed and blog completed

Risk Assessment

Filming drivers in hybrid or petrol cars may make them uncomfortable and annoyed. To overcome this problem, I would film close ups of hybrid cars without showing number plates and driver. Drivers can be easily distracted by me filming them and could easily lead into an unfortunate accident. To overcome this problem, I would film away from the road without being noticed that much and the camera should not have any flash lights that could be hugely distracting. There are risks when filming an interview with a hybrid car owner such as drivers being distracted by me filming and could lead into an unfortunate accident. To overcome this problem, I would film on a side road where the distraction to drivers will be minimal instead of filming on roads.

Behind The Scenes

Evaluation of textual analysis

I have learnt the series of different camera angles, speeds and movements to enhance the scene and exaggerate certain details. These conventions were effective in showing the viewer that the hybrid car was not slow, it looked good, and it was the future, just with the use of camera shots. I have also learnt how most documentaries end such as using narrative for a cliffhanger or rhetoric question. This gives the audience something to think about. I also learnt how to start a documentary by using a brief introduction such as introducing myself and why have I chosen this idea. I evaluated a number of documentaries and most showed only one point of view, through the use of persuasive conventions. In my opinion, my documentary shows more coverage to the opposing opinion for a more balanced documentary, so it gives the audience a chance to choose a side.

Editing Techniques

The editing techniques that I used are Ulead video studio editor, Sony Vegas pro, adobe after affects and cinema 4d. I used Ulead movie wizard to capture video from my camera. Ulead video studio editor was used for editing the video in first draft without any effects. Sony Vegas pro was used for editing the video in final draft with title and introduction. Adobe after affects was used for effects such as the camera lens blur for the exploding hybrid electric car. Cinema 4d was used for creating the title with solar flares such as HYBRID EVOLUTION and two solar flares going around it. I also used effects such as the 3d effect and gate effect when changing settings.    


                                                                                                                                       

Sony Vegas pro was used for editing the video in final draft

Cinema 4d was used for creating the title with solar flares and a number plate showing the title HYBRID EVOLUTION.

Textual Analysis

Hybrid Documentary

The documentary used a series of different camera angles, speeds and movements to enhance the scene and exaggerate certain details. These conventions were effective in showing the viewer that the hybrid car was not slow, it looked good, and it was the future; just with the use of camera shots. The camera shots were close ups, medium shots and zooming in or out. The establishing shot is a Honda dealership in the USA where the camera shot was a tracking. The narrative begins by saying that petrol cars are all over the place without a hybrid in sight. After the introduction, the narrator begins to ask questions to the representative from Honda about the pros, cons of a hybrid vehicle, benefits to an owner of a hybrid vehicle and how does the hybrid system work. During the long interview, there are images that faded in or out when the representative is speaking such as the internal combustion engine and batteries. To improve this documentary, they should change the narrative and make it less technical and complex. The documentary was boring because the interview was the bulk of the documentary and the interview took place in an office with no natural lighting. The interview should take place outside or the representative standing beside a hybrid vehicle with a microphone.    

Ancillary Task

My TV listing shows a science fiction theme which gives the audience the impression that it is not boring and dull. 

Letter of consent

Dear Aaron,

I am more than happy to assist with your request. Just pop in at your convenience and I will ensure someone is available to run you through Hybrid product and associated information.

Kind Regards

Matthew

Initial Ideas Considered

The first idea was an electric car documentary. It would have been about the history, rise, decline and future. However, I chose not do it because the electric car idea is very complex and has a long history. I would not have enough footage of electric cars and interviewing someone who owns an electric car. It would have been difficult to interview a representative of a car manufacturer selling electric cars.

Target Audience

The target audience for my film is middle class, middle aged and explorers. According to Young & Rubicam, there are seven categories of what brands people bought and how they felt about them. The system became a way of understanding the deeper appeals of those brands. My documentary is in the explorer’s category because hybrid cars are young in nature, these people respond to brands that offer new sensations and explore new frontiers. The reason why my film is in the middle class category is because teachers, graphic designers and middle management are likely to buy hybrid cars and they are more environmentally minded people. Middle income people can afford to buy a hybrid car. The genre is a short documentary that explores the way we put in fuel for hybrid cars, benefits, drawbacks and what is the future for hybrid cars. The gender split is 50% M and 50% F because hybrid car owners are mainly families on middle income. The target audience mainly live in the suburbs/outskirts of a city and the Central Business District. They would also prefer to watch similar car programmes such as Top Gear. They would read large format newspapers because they are more serious and less shocking than tabloid newspapers. The newspapers they would read are The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. The majority of hybrid owners are families because hybrids are a family concept car. To improve my documentary, I need to interview someone who owns a hybrid car because that fits the target audience profile. My script needs to be in a more relaxed approach and less technical. The questions for the representative from Honda need to be less robotic because they were questions like what this is. And what that is? It should be questions like what you suggest.

Location Shots

I took the opportunity to speak to a representative of one of the leading hybrid manufacturers and to ask a few questions about their hybrid range and their view on the future direction of the hybrid market place.

This is a forecourt, where hybrid electric cars fill up for fuel.

Hermeneutic Code

A Hermeneutic Code is something that is unexplained and which creates an unanswered question, often appearing at the beginning of the story, thus creating a tension that engages the audience.


The Hermeneutic Code, which is also called the "enigma code" or "narrative enigma". 

The  Proairetic Code - actions that imply further action or reaction. For example a character has an argument and the reader wonders what the resolution or outcome of this argument will be. This creates suspense and tension as the audience wonders what the outcome will be and begin to make guesses.

　

Jamming - Suggesting that the problem may be unsolvable.

Equivocation - Mixture of fraud and truth.

Partial Answers -  Some facets of the truth are revealed.

Interview Questions

What is the extent of their range?

Which is the best sellar?

How does hybrid cars work?

Can we plug in these homes?

In your view, what is the future progress of hybrid technology?

Storyboard

Petrol Station Scene SHOWING CARS (VOICE OVER FOR BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT HYBRID CAR)

Voice Over about the way we put in fuel for hybrid cars

How the battery system works

INTERVIEW SALES ADVISER FROM HONDA ABOUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM using medium shots

Interview owner of hybrid car using close ups 


Benefits and Drawbacks

Conclusion 


Future progress of hybrid cars and other possibilities 

Script

Original script

I have decided to do a five-minute documentary on hybrid cars. 

The car has been evolving for the last century and the way we put in fuel hasn’t really changed that much.

As all hybrid cars currently on the UK market use conventional petrol,

Fuel is dispensed from fuel pumps in exactly the same way as for conventional cars.

Hybrid electric cars are a step in the right direction.

Hybrids are quite different as they use an internal combustion engine but are supplemented by an electric motor powered from inboard batteries.

The normal internal combustion engine burns one of the types of fossil fuels widely available on our forecourt for its power source.

It is common and we are all aware the limited supply of fossil fuels and our dependency to fuel our conventional petrol cars.

Ultimately, there will be a time where we have to break free from our love of petrol, diesel and search for new alternatives.

I took the opportunity to speak to a representative of one of the leading hybrid manufacturers and to ask a few questions about their hybrid range and their view on the future direction of the hybrid market place.

Interview with sales adviser

Interview with owner of hybrid car

The benefits of a hybrid car are increased efficiency; drain less on natural resources, and quieter due to less noise pollution which leads to better efficiency. Hybrids combine clean energy of the electrical motor with the power of the petrol-powered engine, which results into lower emissions and better mileage. Hybrid batteries help to reduce fuel emissions because the hybrid engine draws on the battery and not petrol when accelerating. Hybrid petrol motors can shut off when the car is stopped and run off their electricity.  

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks on electric technology is the batteries can be heavy, take a long time to charge, limited storage ability and some technology may be harmful due to the risk of exposure to high voltage wires.

The future is bright for hybrid technology and this could lead up to the full electric car. Will the future be Hybrid or Electric or another possibility? Only time will tell.  

Improved script


Petrol cars may not be around in 50 years. And now technology is giving us more options.

There are electric cars and there are also hybrid cars. 

Hybrids have actually been around for 20 years, but most of us don't know about their benefits.

So what is a hybrid car?

It has a standard petrol engine combined with an electrical motor.

Hybrid cars still have to fill up at the petrol station.

But ultimately, there will be a time where we have to break free from our love of petrol and diesel and search for new alternatives.

Honda are a leading hybrid retailer - I wanted to ask them about hybrid cars and if people are buying at the moment.

The benefits of a hybrid car are they have increased efficiency so you get better mileage out of them. They are less of a drain less on natural resources as they don't use as much fuel. They are quieter so have less noise pollution.

Also - Whats amazing about hybrids is that when the car stops - they don't run off petrol, they just run off electricity, saving money and energy. The electricity runs off inboard batteries

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks on hybrid technology is the batteries can be heavy, take a long time to charge.

The future is bright for hybrid technology and this could lead up to the full electric car being available.

Will the future be Hybrid or Electric or another possibility? Only time will tell.

Textual Analysis

James May test-drives the GM Hy-Wire concept car

 

The documentary that I analysed was James May test-drives the GM Hy-Wire concept car. The car uses hydrogen fuel cell production and drive by wire technology. The documentary used different camera angles such as close up, panning and zooming which enhanced the scene. These camera angles were effective in showing the audience that the GM Hy-Wire concept car was not slow compared to regular gas cars and it was the future. Throughout the film, the GM Hy-Wire concept car was filmed in medium to long panning shots and this gave the audience an impression that the car was easy to drive. There was a lot of point of view shots showing how to drive the car and using some devices. There was a worm’s eye view of the car braking and this was showing that the tyres were not screeching like a regular gas car.

There was a dissolve when he was looking at different parts of the car. The presenter was dressed casually wearing blue jeans and a white shirt. The setting was at a peaceful location where he could drive without any distractions. The presenter first introduced the car by saying that this is a new breed of cars and explaining that the car is evolving. The presenter was speaking on the other side of the road and the camera was zooming in. The test drive was the presenter explaining how comfortable it was to drive using point of view shots and close ups. There was a medium shot of a waterfall and this is due to the documentary being filmed as peaceful. A collection of medium shots showing things like waterfall have nothing to do with the documentary but the audience may find it fascinating.

Shot reverse shots were used for interviewing the public about the GM Hy-Wire concept car and test driven the car to see how comfortable it is compared to what they normally drive. The structure starts with the presenter giving a brief introduction about the car. The presenter using a variety of camera shots further examines the car. The test drive shows how the presenter felt comfortable driving. There were frequent cuts during the test drive as he was using different parts of the car. The car was then taken apart and explained in thorough detail by the presenter using medium shots. The closing statement gave the audience something to think about.

Textual Analysis

Who Killed the Electric Car?

The documentary that I analysed was who killed the electric car? The documentary used different camera angles to enhance the scene and exaggerate certain facts. These conventions were effective in showing the viewer that the electric car was not slow, but fast and have a bright future just with the use of camera shots. The narrative begins to unfold with a brief history of the first electric cars, which was old footage in black and white created in the early twentieth century. The establishing shot is of a funeral about to take place. There is a lot of fading in and out during the funeral of people crying and the priest saying goodbye to the electric car and how unusual it is. There are frequent long shots and wide shots of the electric car; the narration is about the advantages of electric cars and the popularity of the electric car era but 10 years later now almost non-existent. There were tracking shots from the helicopter of LA and the narrative was that the state of California has the worst air quality in the entire country. They did a lot of interviews with celebrities such as Mel Gibson describing what it felt like driving an electric car. There were wide shots of LA where it showed the worsening problems of petrol cars are smog, high child asthma rates, CO2 emissions and global warming. The use of accelerated motion, which made the car look faster and also used when the car was driving towards the camera. These effects were effective and showed the exterior of the car in far more detail than in a still image or a panning shot. Throughout the film, the electric car was filmed mostly with low to medium panning shots.  This gave the impression that the electric car just keeps on going without recharging. The film examines in detail the suspects that killed the electric car, and the efforts of electric car owners to save them with the use of medium shots for interviews. The documentary shows only one point of view, through the use of persuasive conventions, convinces the audience that the multinational car companies are in the wrong and it was them who have taken electric cars out of business. In my opinion, the film should provide more coverage to the opposing opinion for a more balanced documentary, so it gives the audience a chance to choose a side.

Cast and Crew

Aaron Birdy - Cameraman / Editing / Narrator - casual clothing including navy blue hood and blue denim jeans






Jon - Cameraman






Paul White - Sales adviser at Honda was wearing professional clothing including white shirt, black blazer, black tie and black trousers

Honda employee was wearing professional clothing