Documentary Unit

Lilly Grant
Topic
I want my documentary to be
about stories of stillbirth &
children born before 24 weeks
who survived/ did not make it and
the laws and social issues
surrounding it, raising awareness
to help break the silence around
Inspiration
After watching an episode on
Coronation Street one of the story
lines was tackling the difficult subject
of late miscarriage when Michelle
Connor loses her baby at 23 weeks.
(http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/news/miscarriage-heartbreak-for-michel
le-and-steve)
Kym
Marsh

Kym opened up about her loss during an appearance on

This Morning recently.

The actress hopes the storyline will help remove the

Source: travel.trade.gov stigma surrounding stillbirth.
Documentary Mode Crossovers:

The Expository Mode- As I will use a narrator in some parts.

The Participatory Mode Involves an interview between filmmaker and the subject.

Mydocumentary will endup having elements from other modes,I believe this will strengthen the documentary asI wont be
restricted basing it ononemodealone.

I donot want to influence the documentary.

Progress Update:
 Progress Update:

There is a fb group https://www.facebook .com/
mumsangelbabys/ maybe pm an admin and see if
they can help ?
Angel Wings Baby and Child Loss Sup...
Angel Wings is an awareness & fundraisi..
5 8 minutes ago Unlike ' " 1 Reply
Thank you
4 5 minutes ago Like Reply
Hi I studied film in school and spent over four years
working in broadcast news. I would suggest first
spend a month researching. No filming just reading
biogs, Googling stories, find a few video biogs on
YouTube and spend lots of time reading everything
you can. If you find a online journal from someone
try contacting them and if they are comfortable just
let them talk to you about their story. She will gain
so much insight by listening and learning.
Documentaries are about trust and she will develop
a connection and then naturally her creativity will
then start to form a a plan and then you can move
on to interviewing . Secret is with documentaries is
that it's just as much of a journey for the person
making it as it is for the people you meet. If she
ever needs a brain to pick about f ilming feel free to
ask and wish her all the best on her project.
Just now Like Reply
Your description really does make it
understandable how emotional and delicate
this kind of documentary really is x
1 hour ago Like Reply
I really like the idea suggested about
interviewing a midwife . She may find a great
short term idea to sort of make a day in the life
of a midwife sort of project and then build a
plan for her big idea for a summer holidays
personal project :)
1 hour ago Unlike " 1 Reply
we sat down and I
suggested maybe start of wit h the just about
24 weeks and over and see the progress a
premature baby has made and go about this
angle saying giving earlier preemies a b igger
chance ! And like you said then carry on and
connect a bigger project from there
22 minutes ago Like Reply
Write a reply...
I think what your daughter is doing is so brave and
admirable, I hope people do share their personal
stories with her, if it means were just that bit closer
to little ones actually being recognised then that's
wonderful xxx
19 minutes ago Unlike " 1 Reply
 amera
n

He recently opened a c shop

near the Louvre i Paris.

ny
Visitors to his store, mostly
tourists, speak ma
different languages making
anything beyond a simple
transaction achallenge.

y
After all the feedback I received, I took on board the advice andlookedinto someof
the organisations andgroups suggested & contacted them waiting for responses.
 Angel Wings is a page supporting all families who have suffered the
heartache of losing a baby or child, miscarriage, ectopic, born asleep,
prem, cot death, poorly and accident.- Facebook Page

I contacted this support group and they said they would be happy to help in
participating in my documentary, the founder of the group has agreed to be
interviewed on their support group and raising awareness to help break the
silence around baby loss and their opinions on the 24 week laws.

As the founder of the group works full-time and due to their location the
interview will have to be via skype or just a voice message/phone call.

Also I have asked to feature photos from their other cause that provide free
of charge clothing that they make and memory items for premature or
babies gone too soon.
(Angel Wings Forever Dressed in Love)
Research
(contd)
I contacted the charity to see if it would be possible to
interview a representative or a volunteer of the charity
about what they do and howthey help people etc.
Interview Techniques & Inspiration
Question types I will use: open, single, multiple, direct,
suggestive

Structuring: - introduction, developmental questions,

confidence building, key questions, sound-bites, summary,
wind-up (conclude interview)

Communication skills: - building rapport, active listening,

body language

Purpose of interviews:

Research: - finding out information

informational: - presenting information

Interpretive: - expressing or explaining opinion

Emotional: - allowing audience insight to a situation in a

way that creates an emotional reaction (laughter, sadness,
empathy...)
Research- Looking at
Interviews

Also the cuts of texts that's informing

the audience with knowledge relating to
the subject is an effective technique.
Progress Update:

. The charity Sands have agreed to a

meeting for the documentary.
Progress Update:

Camera Operator: Austen Lane

(Filmmaker/cinematographer)

https://vimeo.com/austenlane

https://www.instagram.com/austenlane/
Research- Looking at Interviews

The intro shows the close relationship between the interviewer &
interviewee as well as building rapport. This news interview shows small clips of the
interviewer talking to a camera behind a green
The questions were open and personal: The world
didnt know about the miscarriage, you made a conscious choice to share screen. She is answering questions that the
that why?
audience do not hear.
The set is simple and homely, on a sofa in a house. The camera shot
ranges,two people in frame then itll pan and zoom to either a close Then the news presenter has an
up/medium close up of
subject talking. Also there is an over the shoulder shot used.
interview with a doctor asking questions
to be informed.
Interview with Janna(plan)

Theinterview will belocated at the interviewee's house.

It will be apiece to camera, somequestions will beheard whilst others are not.

Thesetup of the interview will start with Jannatalking to usabout her story andthen I will moveonto questions.

Also wewill be shooting Jannashowing usphotos, clothing etc.

I will be scripting the

questions and shots at a
later date and plan further.
Interview with
Sands
Interview with
 Previous
Documentaries
I searched for documentaries to see if I could
found any on the same topic as mine, I did not
find a lot because majority was on abortion
laws etc. but not actual late miscarriage. But I
came across one
really good example of a documentary on
basically the same topic.
The worlds largest petition platform.
Weempower people everywhere to
create the change they want to see.
Questions for
interview
When was the date you had your twins?

What was going on in your head when you were going to give
birth too early?

How difficult was it explaining to family/friends that you were

only bringing one twin home?

How did the birth go, was it natural c-section etc?

Janna Did you get asked if you wanted to hold the baby or have any
pictures?
Questions for
charity
 Modern
Technology &
medicine
Babies who areborn have
earlier a highersurviving thanks
chance of
to this factor.
h ttps://vimeo.com/ondem and
/ milk2/165327518
 Still Loved explores the
reality forfamilies surviving
baby loss.
Giving anunexpected voice to
bereavedfathers, who speak
candidly forthe first time
providing an additional
perspective to that offered by
mothers, grandparents and
siblings.
This is a brave, life
affirming film, for anyone
that has ever, or will
ever, lose someone they
love.
UnfortunatelyI have had to re-plan due to people no
longer able to take part.
Changeof plan
NewPlan

I have decided to use actors to read some personal stories

already published online & then narrate on topics i have
researched into such as pampers nappies etc.
Set up

I will have the actors set up like a hidden identity style

so the audience focuses on the story.
Story Script

http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2013/01/10/a-story-of-loss-determination-and/-hope

https://www.tommys.org/our-organisation/who-we-are/tommys-news-and-views/still-loved

https://www.tommys.org/our-organisation/why-we-exist/tommys-stories/i-remember-looking-and-seeing-dark-screen-it-remained
Story Outline

The story outline will go into start off with anintro, it will then
men in society around having surrounding this topic, the emotions
a baby & loss, followed by laws on
certificates, charities for neonatal wards and baby loss and
then into technological advances and finally a conclusion.

There will be anarrator throughout, withinterview clips

and a mix of footage I have filmed or stock footage I have
bought.