Final Major Project Unit: Project Update

Ballet Sequence

First test shoot with ballet sequence. The purpose of the sequence is to show the serenity side of the documentary, in this case, dancing is the escape from the disorder. We've found from our contributor feedback so far is that they find their own techniques, other than drugs, to cope with the disorder, whether it's music, exercise or a hobby. At the moment we're testing this concept to see how it could work within the documentary. We like the idea of this sequence as it shows our experimental side, it's also a chance to develop my shooting style. 

With a rough list of shots in mind, I took my dancer to some woods, which I have used on previous shoots, when the sun was high in sky to get flare through trees. This worked well. Location-wise, we would prefer a pine wood, which isn't as common in Kent. But I plan on going out to shoot in various places. 

An idea with the ballet sequence is to create atmosphere with coloured smoke bombs, in which case the Apocalypse Airsoft ground would be good because we could gain permission and it's used for pyrotechnics often. Otherwise, we'd be looking at private land and scout camps. 

We also shot in a field 1 hour before sunset where the light is at its best, the golden hour. Location-wise, I need to find a field which is grassy but clear sunset in background and no trees to get the shots I need. 

From this test shoot I found that: 

• Need to choreograph a dance and figure length and timings
• Need to link better with bipolar disorder, i.e. make the dancer more “actor-y” so she can express the moods better, try and relate to the questions and subject (if talking about loneliness show at Beachy Head standing still, skirt flowing in wind, bleak) and the dance is the release (finding serenity) but we need to show the other side and almost act out a ‘reconstruction’, such as when talking about trouble with police or wanting to run, shoot running down a high street at night and in maze
• Time of day and location are important (need flattish land to be able to dance)
• Costume ideas: wrap feet and hands in lace type material, long skirts may work depending on routine
• Camera is working excellently! Need to test more movements and wide shots.

Here's some stills, film is to follow:

Our next step is finalising the contributors, getting their stories, which Lauren has a step-by-step plan in place. Then I can start to build an idea of how we're going to create sequences with these people. I've got some image ideas which I'd like to go out and test, a few timelapse pieces to show the fast-paced mind-set of someone in a manic phase. And some bleak, depressive imagery, which I'd like to perhaps visit the coast on a foggy day. With this project, I'm relying on the changing seasons and the weather.