Documentary Proposal Form.

Student Name: Alex Damon

Working Title: Hidden History of Market Lavington
Synopsis of the
documentary: The start of the documentary will see me having some opening shots of just
some places and landmarks in Market Lavington, this will allow me to
introduce the location and where it is. The documentary will be followed by
some historical facts and that will allow the local historian to give his
research. In between the interview at the local museum, I will cut in between,
images that reflect onto the points they make. The overall focus for the whole
documentary, is to be focusing on the people who fought in this war.

Genre How would you categorise your documentary (i.e. on current issues,
celebrities, nature, health/science, human interest, experimental, etc.)

I would categorise my documentary as history and human interest because

people want to find out about what has happened in the past.

Your beliefs My personal belief about the subject is that: (same answer below)
and bias on
the topic:

My film will show the following point of view:

The focus is of the war effort in the village.

The main conflict is between the following points of view (if there is one):
N/A

Ultimately I want the audience to feel and understand:

I want audiences to feel and understand that this is a topic that information
worth knowing. Its a very unfamiliar topic, in an unfamiliar location. Deserve
a right in being told, as a story because its a real life, interesting topic. Raise
awareness of this particular area and its war effort.
 What background information does the audience need to understand the
topic of your film?

The background information is people needing to know there were both

women and males fought this war. There were more people than thought, in
such a little population village.

My personal belief about the subject is that:

I am from the Market Lavington area and wanted to discover what the war
time was like years ago. There is plenty of content there for audiences to
discover and enjoy and make them want to find out more, once the
programme has finished.

Characters Who are the characters in our documentary and what is their role or
purpose? Is there a particular point of view they are meant to get across?

There will be myself as the narrator, interviewing the other character who is
the local historian. I am the guide for the whole documentary, for the viewers
benefit. Audiences can relate back to me. As for the historian, he will have his
role in answering the questions I ask. These questions are questions the
audiences, will want to find out when watching. I am the middle man.
How do you intend to represent these characters?

I am there to guide the audiences, through facts and an introduction to the

village. Providing an engaging voice. As for the historian, are there for the
facts, to back up what I say and get a second voice in the documentary.
Will there be any conflict between characters with opposing points of view?
If so, how will you show this in your film?

N/A as there is only two contributors. If I did use the general public, there
may be a conflict in their thoughts about the subject.

b The audience of your documentary might have preconceptions or fixed

beliefs about your topic that you would like to change. What might these
be?

The audience may disbelieve what the historian has mentioned, because they
have heard from other sources or articles relating to the subject matter.

Audiences may have strong feelings about the war. Different backgrounds
that you have to be sensitive about.

Audiences may think doing this documentary is a waste of time and money
because there have been many documentaries in the past. But not Market
Lavingtons effort.
What evidence will you show to get the audience to see things differently?
 I will show stock footage to back up certain points. To make it relevant to my
audiences, I will go to each of the streets where the women and men were
born.

I will convince audiences that this is not a waste of time or money because
this documentary has never been done before. Putting Market Lavington on
the map and providing them with a permanent resource.

Expressing the opinions of the historian of their knowledge, including a

variety of back knowledge on the subject matter.
Codes & What codes and conventions of documentary filmmaking will you include
Conventions and why?

Expository Mode The historian is directly telling the audience about the
subject.

Direct relationship between images and voice-over. I am going to be the voice

over character, when the stock footage is being played.

A narrator who also appears in the documentary. I am going to be essentially,

shown on a tour round the village and the different streets.

Interactive Mode. This will be limited, because there is no real argument

about the war and who fought in it.
In what ways will your documentary be realistic or unrealistic? Certain
parts may contain aspects of verisimilitude, whereas others may possess
aspects of actuality.

As a history subject, it cannot be unrealistic because I am representing

historical facts and showing it to an audience, to learn and educate.

Production Identify any key imagery or metaphors you would like to include:
Style
There would be no metaphors, I want to include however, and I do want to
incorporate flashback pictures new and old times of Market Lavington during
war. Use pictures to back up the points the historian makes.
Do you intend to use a particular shooting, editing or narrative style to help
get your message across?

I am intending on finding out about the people who fought in the war. This is
the narrative of the factual production. I want to try and incorporate the idea
of me and the historian walking to these locations, and walking in front of the
camera, so it feels like we are engaging to the audiences. Camera cuts to
make proceedings much quicker and not less boring.
How do you intend to handle the passage of time in the film?

When the interview is being conducted, I will pass the time by cutting in
between points that they make. For example a specific photograph. Doing
this will engage audiences more and make it less boring, than just an
 interview through the whole duration. Doing this as well, it will be beneficial
for audio and visual learners.

Structure & To dramatise human issues a documentary might follow a narrative

Resolution structure starting with the introduction of characters, the building of
tension and suspense between opposing forces, a confrontation, a climax
and then a resolution. Can this be applied to the structure of your film and
if so, how?
My documentary wont follow the above structure. This is how it will go.

Starting off with a few shots of the village as itself, before going onto
establish where Market Lavington is on the map, providing some history
about the war. This concludes with an interview with a local historian.
Write a brief paragraph about how you intend to end your film. This is
important because it will determine what you leave the audience thinking
about and remembering. You dont want to finish on a dead note or in a
dull way. You might think back to your beginning and make a full circle by
coming back to that point somehow.

As a powerful image to end on, I am considering having a list of everyone in

Market Lavington who lost their lives. Beside their name it will say their age
and where they buried. Shot of something I have already mentioned about
before.

Scheduling Do you have a target audience and how can they be defined? Be as specific
as you can.

Residents of the village and those who live in the surrounding areas. Wiltshire
as a whole, so that aware of its role in the war. People who have a general
fascination of history as a subject, and also people who may have lost family
members from the war. Remembering them.
What suggestions do you have for the scheduling of your documentary? Is
there any particular time in the year, day of the week or time of day/night
when it should be shown?

As its the hidden history of the war time, I would suggest a good time to
showcase the documentary would be November time, because that is when
we remember those who we lost in the war. Night time would be the best
time of day because that is when most families will be back home from work
etc. Sunday or Monday because there is always Remembrance Sunday.
Look into the scheduling of documentaries on ITV. When would an
appropriate time be for the showing of your documentary on ITV? (You
must attach search to support this)

Most documentaries on ITV are showcased from 8pm to 9pm. Coronation

Street (soap opera) goes on from 7:30pm to 8:00pm e.g Mondays. In that half
an hour they have got to fill something in. This would be an appropriate time
for families to sit down and watch this documentary.
Describe the first 10 shots of the opening sequence of your documentary.
Shot Plan of 1 Panoramic shot from Sailsbury Plain looking down on the village.
Opening Introduce myself with Sailsbury Plain in the backdrop to establish the
2
Sequence location.
Stock footage of the village in war time. This allows me to introduce
the topic which is the people who fought the war. To include audio of
3
residents from my care home, who may have fought in the second
world war.
4 Introduction of the historian pondering around the museum.
Cut to me walking into the scene, introduce myself to the historian
5
for 30 seconds.
Cut to outside of the museum, to establish where we are and we are
6
beginning our journey.
Cut to area of interest, the historian begins his tour, whilst I ask the
7
questions.
This continues in different locations, depending on the people that
8
lived in these particular locations.
I address the audience about the conclusion of the war, in front of
9
the grave yard, next to the church.
Still image of Sailsbury Plain with all the names who died from the
10
village.
Rationale Why Should your Documentary be selected for production?

I think my documentary should be selected for production because it will

raise awareness where the village Market Lavington is and it will also its part
of the war in this particular area. Local residents of the village will have a
great interest in this subject.

Compliance What actions will you take to address the following issues in your
documentary?
Ensuring the accuracy of the information presented:

I will ensure to check the evidence I am provided is verifiable.

Ensuring balance in any arguments presented:

Even though most of the information will be facts, I must ensure evidence
they put is verifiable. Anything I mention in the documentary must clearly be
defined as a theory, if the proof isnt provided.

Respecting the privacy of contributors:

I must respect the privacy of the contributors (local historian), by respecting

their personal details e.g their job title. As well respecting their profession. I
would have to clearly get the contributor to sign allowing me to use their
information, facts, quotes etc. If I shoot peoples properties, I would need
permission to use the footage.