Our Prickly Neighbours
At a Glance...
A 7-minute documentary that raises awareness on the endangerment of hedgehogs in the UK.
Timeline
Feb - May 2022
Software
Premiere Pro
Audition
Photoshop
InDesign
Role
Team
Director
Co-Producer
Elena
Felix
Celeste
01 Brief
In response to the assignment brief 'Human vs Non-Human', we decided to create a documentary that raises awareness on how human ignorance and behaviour has put the population of hedgehogs at risk. Not only are hedgehogs loved by the nation but they are a perfect example of how much damage we're causing to the planet. Hedgehogs are opportunists who can survive in almost any habitat - therefore if they are suffering, then it's a crucial sign our environment is in a bad state.
02 Research and Planning
As the main goal of this documentary was to inform the audience, we had to ensure that our data and research come from reliable sources. In addition to our own research, we had help from our interviewees, Hugh Warwick, an ecologist, and Trevor Weeks, the founder of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue. After we finished with the research, I had a meeting with the camera-person to compile questions and shot plans in preparation for the interview.
With the deadline for the pilot quickly approaching, we collaborated as a group to organise a production schedule to make sure we stayed on track. Working with a production schedule has taught me the importance of flexibility and planning ahead for unforeseen circumstances. For example, when we had to reschedule our interview at the rescue centre due to a hurricane.
Independent Web Research
Contacting Experts
Preparing For Interview
Production Schedule
03 Interviews
Due to the travel distance, we recorded Hugh Warwick's interview over a Zoom video-call. Although it did compromise on the video-quality, the overall interview served to be a very helpful and core part of the documentary. Our solution to the poor video quality was to mostly use the interview for voice-over.
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As the director, I took on the role of interviewing Trevor Weeks and talking him through the process of everything, including the consent and release forms. I made sure that he felt comfortable by instructing him on how to best answer the questions and what to do if he makes a mistake when speaking. This allowed him to speak confidently with ease.
Behind the Scenes of Trevor Weeks' Interview
04 Scriptwriting and Storyboarding
I collaborated with the narrator (who was also the camera-person) to write the narration script. We wanted to achieve an informative narration that helps guide the audience through the factual information while also balancing the seriousness of the tone as it might dull the listener.
Soon after we recorded the narration, we worked together as a group to develop a storyboard that followed along with the recording. The storyboarding process really helped us flesh out the visual aspect of the documentary. We realised that we needed to do more filming outside of the rescue centre, such as shots of scenery and shots from the hedgehog's point of view.
05 Pilot Feedback
By presenting the pilot to other students, we gained valuable insight into our documentary. Some technical feedback included, improving the sound pitching and having the narrator be more upbeat. These changes were later made, and it served to be a great improvement in the final product. A couple of students thought that it would be better if we began the documentary with an interview clip to create a hook, however we later experimented with this during the editing process but decided that it doesn't flow well with the narrative structure.
06 DVD Cover
While the editor was busy editing the documentary, I took initiative to create the DVD cover. The cameraperson suggested that we used the x-ray image of the injured hedgehog, however, I was unsure if it fit with the theme therefore I decided to create two drafts.
Overall, we felt that the DVD cover with the x-ray hedgehog was the best because it has a unique style and was conventional to our themes. We felt that the other poster was too childish and playful for the topic and target audience.
Initial Images From the Documentary
DVD Cover Drafts
07 A Quick Look
Snapshots From the Documentary
08 Reflection
Although the short timeline was challenging to manage, this documentary was an extremely valuable and fun experience. Along with an exceptional mark from our lecturer, we had positive reactions from our interviewees who were eager to share the documentary across their platforms to raise awareness. This documentary felt really meaningful to me and made me realise that I want to pursue more meaningful projects like this in the future.
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This project also pushed me out of my boundaries as I usually find myself to be a team player instead of a leader, however I was pleasantly surprised that I had the ability to lead and most importantly act as a support for my group. I ensured that everyone was working to their best abilities and we stayed organised with a thorough schedule. Through the role of the director, I was able to gain experience working with the other roles which helped develop my knowledge on editing, sound and camera.
Skills Gained:
Directing
Leadership
Teamwork
Communication