1. PERSONAL: What inspired your topic or subject matter? (How) does it reflect a personal interest, belief, concern, or question? What is your relationship to this subject?
What inspired my topic was just thinking about how profound BSWs affect our lives. When something doesn’t work (toilets are clogged, showers don’t work, trash bins are full, etc), people notice the LACK of things being done by BSWs. But when these simple needs are fulfilled, we basically ignore them. We don’t take into account their hard work unless it isn’t done. No one thanks them for taking out the trash, cleaning the bathrooms, or helping make dorm stay more manageable. Over the past 2 years at ISR, I’ve lived on the same floor and have gotten to the point where I can easily recognize the BSW for my floor. We talk sometimes, usually just pleasantries or small talk, but never anything significant. Can you imagine seeing and talking to someone for two years and not know their name?
2. WORKING STATEMENT/HYPOTHESIS: What is your personal persuasion about your topic? Is there a statement you wish to make? Try writing a hypothesis statement that uses wording such as, “In my life I believe … my video will show this action by … the main conflict is
between ___ and ___ … ultimately I want the audience to feel (or understand)…”.
Ultimately, I want the audience to understand why Building Service Workers choose the job they chose and how greatly someone so seemingly insignificant can affect their lives.
3. RESEARCH: What do you already know about this subject? What donʼt you know? What kinds of additional research do you need to engage in? What primary research sources are available that you might actually use in your video (i.e. people to interview, shooting locations, etc)? Are there secondary sources of possible value? Where do you need to go to learn more (library, websites, locations, people)? Can you write out a research plan? After conducting your research, what have you learned about the subject? What new questions have arisen? What do you still want or need to know?
The subject is pretty familiar. Most people can guess what BSWs do; mostly custodial duties. What we don’t know is why the do their job, and their perceptions of the students (and college culture) that they take of. I’ll be interviewing Hugh, the BSW on my floor. As for shooting locations, I’m not entirely sure as of yet. Secondary sources can be RA’s or RD’s who interact more often with the BSW’s. Research plan?
4. ANXIETIES: What are your hesitations and anxieties about this project? What are the
challenges? Potential obstacles? Is your idea realistic and doable? Can you complete this
in the allotted time?
I don’t really know about any hesitations I have with this project. Hugh is a pretty cool guy, I already approached him about my interviewing him and he was cool with it. The main challenge I think this project will bring is making the documentary interesting. A 5 minute clip about custodians isn’t that important, but I think I chose the right person to interview. Hugh is a very unique person (and he has wicked cool tattoos). I think I can complete the project in the allotted time, although the struggle will be conveying my message in an interesting manner.
5. TOPIC: Can you write a concise paragraph about the subject of your video? If you had to write a press release, an abstract for a grant proposal, or a newspaper review for your
piece, what would be a clear but brief description?
The subject of this video is to present the lives of Building Service Workers as they see it to provide a unique perspective and gain a better appreciation to the many things we take for granted every day.
6. BACKGROUND: What background information will your audience need in order to
understand and be interested in this piece? Is there a particular context for your topic that the audience needs to understand? How will this information be inserted into the video, how will it emerge?
I don’t think there really is any background information the audience will need. Maybe some statistics about students or something, but nothing really significant?
7. CHARACTERS: Who are the main characters in your narrative? For each character, can
you outline their place or role in the piece, their place in the overall narrative, their
relationship to other characters, what makes them interesting and/or significant?
Well, there will be Hugh. I think that’s it.
8. CONFLICT: What will be the central conflict or issue? Who wants what from whom? What aspects of this conflict do your characters represent? Will your piece put different
principles in opposition (different opinions, points of view, visions, solutions)? Is there a
culminating ʻconfrontationʼ? How will you communicate/present that in your piece?
No real conflict.
9. STRUCTURE: What are the action sequences? Can you describe the structure? How will it begin, what is the opening sequence? Will there be a culminating moment? How will you handle the progression of time, can you describe how the piece will unfold?
Some sort of intro to bring in the subject. Most likely I want to go no text to keep viewers wondering. After intro fade into the interview with various clips according to what Hugh is saying.
10. CONTENT: Is there key symbolic imagery you want the audience to encounter? Are there key facts you want your audience to gather along the way? At what point will this
information appear?
Key facts would be probably the work hours, what BSWs have to do, or other things that people don’t really think about. Not sure about when the information will appear.
11. STYLE: What are your thoughts about specific locations, camera angles, or lighting? Do you want the piece to create a particular mood or feel? How will you accomplish this?
The mood I want the piece to have is fairly neutral. I’m not attempting to glorify BSWs or make fun of them, but just present them as is. Allow people a view into their lives.
12. AUDIENCE: Who is your audience? What are their views and/or biases on this topic? Will your piece support or challenge their views?
The audience is fellow students on this campus. If anything, I hope this piece will enlighten them a little about the people who work for them.
13. RESOLUTION: How will your piece end, and what would you like the ending to accomplish for your audience? What effect or impact do you want your video to have on your audience? Do you want to alter their views? Do you want them to take a particular action? How will your video accomplish this? What evidence do you need to present, and how will you organize and sequence it?
Resolution? Mostly just let people learn more.
14. LOGISTICS: What is your production plan? Can you write it down? Can you break down the project into smaller components and/or a logical sequence? Can you generate a schedule/timeline for completion? Do you need to reserve equipment? Schedule meetings and/or interviews? What is your list of things to do?
Interview Hugh, then film random “B-roll” shots of the dorms. Maybe if I get lucky I can find some “college culture” footage too. Still not sure on that yet. Will also need footage of Hugh doing his job later, most likely next week as he is busy.
Bring me Java, Bring me Joy 