Monthly E-journal. I kept a monthly log of the whole production process. I chose to format this in a monthly style as I felt that it better suited my production as I worked more on a monthly process than a weekly one.
April 2012:
I watched BBC’s the gymnast and realised how I have always found the sport
fascinating and I’ve started to research into it and how I am going to make a
documentary on it.
May 2012: I have finalised my idea to create a documentary on women’s gymnastics. I would like to focus on a gymnast and follow her to a big competition to see how far she makes it or doesn’t. I am now, looking at various gyms that train to an elite level and hope to go to some and meet with coached and gymnasts to find my primary.
June 2012: Throughout this month I have been looking into various documentary theories and contacting gyms. However, I am soon realising that I am going to have issues with finding one primary who is not only interesting but also has quite an eventful season coming up. However, the competition season does not begin until March, which means I am going to have to find a way to develop this idea into another angle.
July 2012-August 2012: I’ve contacted Horsham gymnastics and Dynamo school of gymnastics after learning that two of the team members for the Great Britain squad train at these gyms. Neither of them made it to the London 2012 Olympics, which I hope will made an interesting story of showing them still trying.
September 2012: I have just received an E-mail reply (below)
from Dynamo in Southampton and have also arranged a meeting with Horsham
gymnastics via phone.
I’ve just met with both gyms and overall, I think that I may consider dropping
Jocelyn hunt from Horsham gymnastics, as there seems to be a more interesting
dynamic with Laura Edwards and Dynamo school of gymnastics.
October 2012: I have begun filming Laura at Dynamo. After
speaking with her coach, there is a possibility of her having a “come back
competition” in Germany, which I think would be perfect for me to film. I have
now started the process of completing the going abroad forms required by the
university if I require travelling abroad as part of my project.
Filming is being continued, I am also considering adding primaries to my film.
I have been watching gymnast Kelly Simm (who is also on the Great Britain team
with Laura).
November 2012: Kelly Simm is now my second
primary. I have also decided to have gymnast Casey Spry, as a primary. She is a
lot younger than Laura and Kelly, however she trains long hours and is working
towards an elite level. I feel she will bring a good dynamic to the film.
I have also been made aware that Laura will not be competing in Germany due to her foot injury and I aim to film Kelly and Casey at the Rushmore Gymnastics competition happening this month.
Filming the Rushmore Rosebowl was a success. Unfortunately the girls from Dynamo
did not do particularly well, but I feel like I have some good footage.
December 2012: During this month I had one filming session with Laura training
and then did not pick up any filming until January.
January 2013: Competitions will not begin until March. So this month I am filming the girls training some more just to make sure I’ve got as much footage as possible. I am also doing the last few interviews.
February 2013: Had to reshoot one day as there was a miscommunication with the gym. However, I have now been able to have one final day of filming in the gym and completed interviews with each primary and the coaches. I also have interviewed Casey’s mother.
The last day of filming is at Laura’s house; this help give her more dimensions rather than the girl just appearing as robots. The interview I conducted was successful and overall I was pleased with this filming.
I am now editing as much as possible, to make sure I can get a rough cut
complete to send off for feedback.
2nd cut: I need to cut my film down by almost 20 minutes. The editing process
is going alright, quite a few changes to be made
March 2013: final cut is complete and ready for hand in.
