Research: Monty Python BBC Documentary

This is a recently broadcasted short documentary on the history of monty python, made by the BBC for its 40th anniversary. This involved many pieces of stock footage from the earlier python years, including many of their older sketches. The documentary particularly focused on the goings on behind the scenes, when the pythons were developing their material.

I have seen most of Monty Python's works, and much of the material produced by the seperate members afterwards such as 'Michael Palin's Himalays' series and comedies such as 'Fawlty Towers'.

The documentary style is used in some of Monty Python's work, and strongly parodies the conventions at the time, showing the type of adverts that would have been shown in the early years of television but in a satirical way.

Creativity

Last week we discussed the matter of creativity, and how it can be defined. Creativity can be a process and an outcome, so how can we define this concept?

An example I saw today was treating creativity as a word in the same way that the term 'violence' is used. Violence can be used on its own but is vague, much the same way that the term 'creative' can be used; You can be creative, an image can be creative, but it is unspecific. Some translate creative as being purely an object which is original, unlike any other. The government agreed with this idea, as says in the 'Roberts' Report: Nurturing Creativity in Young People' (pg 9/10 on slideshow).

The definition from that presentation which I feel is the closest to defining creativity is "The making of the new and the rearranging of the old" (Bently, 1997).

Of course creativity means different things to different people, and this begs the question 'How does the exam board mark creativity' and 'What is the exam boards definition of creativity'. I looked through the specification for this course, but could not find any definitions of it. I must then assume that creativity can be decided by myself, but relevant to the issues discussed in the above presentation.

Research Plan

To effectively research, a plan must be in place to structure my work. Over the next few months I hope to meet these targets, or accomplish the aims here. As well as complete various parts of the main product and ancillary texts.

October 09

-Research conventions of TV documentary, or even Documentary Films

-Storyboard scenes, discuss scenes and content with interviewees/crew

-Research target audience of musical documentaries or documentaries in general

November 09

-Research conventions of radio promotions, possibly listen to some radio adverts

-Begin filming of documentary, should get this done in a week or two, depending on times available for actors/crew etc.

-Research conventions of magazines, specifically magazines which are music-orientated, possible candidate 'Radio Times'.

-Research target audience for radio promotions and music-orientated magazines.

December 09

-Begin recording of radio promotion if possible, I may include an audio extract from the main product (undecided at this time)

-If filming is not complete in Nov, finish filming, begin editing and complete editing

-Continue producing radio promotion

-Begin magazine production

-Perhaps show some footage to a small focus group to generate feedback, edit accordingly

January 10

-Finalise main product, radio promotion, magazine page (if possible) early in the month

-Modify based on focus group (if not done already)

-Write evaluation, form new plan for next month.

Hopefully if I can stick to this plan, I should be able to produce all the different pieces by January, leaving me able to wrap up with an evaluation. Its a long way off at the moment, but as they say, time flies when you're having fun.

Research and Planning

Obviously before you can make any sort of media product you must find out who you are making it for, this is one of the key pieces of information that you must find out. I have decided I will make a documentary on a musician. This is no ordinary musician though, as it is a persona created by two musicians. His name is Louis Goulet, and the two people who are behind all his work have agreed to be the subject of my coursework this year.

Here is a song he has created, called 'A Day in Goulet'. I quite like it.

In terms of the planning of the documentary, I have looked at a few examples on YouTube, and watched a short BBC documentary as well (see this post). I have also aquired a documentary guide book, which has proved to be useful for some practical aspects of video making such as lighting and sound.

In the Beginning

Now we start another year of fabulous media studies. I am looking forward to this year, the options presented to us in the specification for the course were very varied and as I did a film-based coursework in AS, I think I will continue with a film option.

From the specification I have chosen option 7, and I quote:

7. An extract from a new documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with two of the following three options:

• a radio trailer for the documentary;
• a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary;
• a newspaper advertisement for the documentary.

I will produce a short extract of a documentary, and as my two ancillary media texts I have decided that I will produce a radio trailer for said documentary, and a double-page spread from a listings magazine.

I have already got a subject for my documentary, I have contacted the people I want to make the documentary on, and am due to be meeting up with them and my cameraman/assistant soon. As for the ancillary texts, I was thinking about using the Radio Times as an example for my double page spread, I will have to aquire a copy or two off a friend who has some. For the radio trailer, I may be able to gain access to the ThornburyFM studio, where I have previously presented a show, which will benefit me in being able to use professional equipment.