Pre-Production Practices

Module Title:

ANIM3013 Pre-Production

Student
Name:

Amy Moss (14008594)

Area of
Study:

Experimental Animated Documentary

Title of Project:

Joey

Synopsis:

An Experimental Animated Documentary celebrating the life of

my Nans kindness and generosity with insights into the
impact of government funding, a carers responsibility,
siblings/familys perspectives and how altogether people
surrounding those with disabilities cope.

Treatment:
The outcome for this module is to plan to produce an Experimental Documentary that explores
disability from the perspective of family members surrounding Joey. The documentary will
include some focus on the impact of government funding on disabilities around those carers
who are above a certain age limit; with reference to the carers allowance, pension scheme and
VWP (get to work interviews), effects on family members surrounding Joey and a perspective
of how much it can affect my Nan generally. The techniques used will include cut-out animation,
under the camera, rotoscopes and experimental shapes, layers and experimentation with colour.
The finished concept for the documentary will portray the life my Nan has lead alongside being a
carer and a mother to 4 other children. It will be shown through the use of experimental
animation with symbols such as crysantheums and colour to represent my auteur style; in
regards to when she was born and her kind-hearted and generous features.
The theme that will be covered within this Documentary is feminism; in reference to Laura
Mulveys: A Beginners Guide where she discusses children considering themselves separate
entities of their Mother. However, this will be used to contrast how a disabled child/adults mind
works when they dont consider themselves an independent and more so, an attachment.
The visual style of the Documentary will be influenced by the work of Bill Viola who focuses on
universal human experiences and the unfolding of consciousness within film. I will use some of
his abilities with the use of colours, shapes, layers and two main characters Margaret and Joey
to create a unique experience for the target audience. The colour scheme for the characters will
be vibrant to represent the warm nature of my Nan/Joey, whereas the government will be cold
and in a silhouette form to link with research that suggests government officials who contact
carers/respite centres/families are often unknown and behind a computer screen.
The structure of the Documentary will be medium-fast pace which will link with the postmodernist narrative. Unlike modernism, post-modernism enables my documentary to contain
flashbacks to different time periods and provide a non-linear method of documenting these
events. Therefore, the audience will be able to get a glimpse of what its like to have a disability
and how much of an effect it has on a familys life; Mother, Father and siblings.

The sound accompanying the Documentary will be a cross between a voiceover and the
characters talking about their experiences with disability. This is a stylistic element I have
chosen because the Documentary visuals will contradict the opposing voiceover of an interview
with a local MP informing the audience about what they are hoping to achieve with those with
disabilities.
My editing software will be Premiere Pro, After Effects, Soundtrack Pro and Photoshop. This
software will help me to animate and compose my documentary during pre-production.

Research Proposition:

Research government funding to disabilities and carers.

Research Post-Modernist narrative conventions.
Research the main animation techniques I am using/animating with.
Research generic Documentary music and what would be needed/suitable for the
target audience.
Research the Documentary genre and how they are generically approached
contrasted to how I will be approaching the topic from an Experimental Animated
Documentary perspective.
Research timing and music for Documentary.
Develop the storyboard paying attention to the shot detail.
Develop the colour script and what it will connote to the audience.
Write a Script of questions to ask potential carers in an interview and/or my nan
and family members about Joeys disability/epilepsy/learning disorders.
Research target audience.

Week

Date

Activity Plan

28/09

1. Initial Ideas for Documentary

2. Moodboards/Timeline

05/10

1. Research: Narrative
2. Post Modernism Research

12/10

1. Proposal Drafting begins

2. Research: Joeys conditions

19/10

26/10

02/11

1. Proposal Pitch Presentation of PreProduction practices.

2. Research Documentary Techniques
3. Research Pixilation
4. Research Under the Camera
5. Research Rotoscoping
1. Begin planning the Documentary
2. Write Script for sound in Recording Studio
3. Record Sound in Studio
4. Contact Local MP to arrange interviews
for documentary
1. Research Post Modernist theories
2. Research case studies of animations
similar to the documentary I want to
produce.

09/11

16/11

23/11

10

30/11

1. Research Target audience and its

importance within media.
2. Conduct a questionnaire to analyse target
audience for research.
3. Research Documentary Sound.
1. Research Colour Theories within
Storyboards.
2. Research Mise-en-scene
3. Add finishing touches to storyboard with
reasoning for techniques used.
1. Produce animatic
2. Make sure sound is edited and compiled
for submission.
3. Begin Line Testing for
Animatic/Production purposes.
1. Experimental Animation research
techniques/methods I will be using.
2. Analyse animations that are similar in
technique and experimentation.
3. Reseach layouts within Animations/Films
and what their purpose is.

Tutorials

11

07/12

12

04/01

13

11/01

1. Develop Colour script for Documentary

2. Research the Visual style of my
documentary.
3. Research and Develop my own visual
style.
1. Finish edits for Sound Script ready to add
with visual elements.
2. Test out experimental techniques and
perform line tests to make sure they work
will within the Documentary.
1. Presentation of Animatics
2. Upload final line tests to blog and make
sure learning report is complete.
3. Final Edited sound should be compiled
and on blog for submission.
4. Final Animatic and Storyboard stills
should be complete and ready for
submission.

Student
Signature:

Date:

Tutor
Signature:

Date: