BACK TO OFFICIAL PROJECTS
The first of two 5 minute documentaries made for the Documentary Production course at UEA. We worked in a group of four consisting of Alex, Ewan, Louise and myself having already been together on the Television Production course in the second year. Led by documentary filmmaker Roger Hewins, we were trained in using the equipment on offer. To edit we used Avid, software commonly used by professionals (no wonder, it�s a bit complex!), although just our luck we took the course just before they were planning to upgrade the Audio Visual Department! The majority of groups edited using Avid MCXpress before printing to VHS tapes, while a couple of lucky folk were treated to a newer version of the software (which was apparently either Avid Xpress DV or Xpress Pro). But despite the old software, the principles of Avid editing are essentially the same to what they are now. As for the equipment we used Panasonic miniDV cameras (3CCD), which were able to produce visuals similar to those we had seen on the local Anglia News � in fact this was our group�s credos throughout the first project, to achieve a piece which we could envisage appearing on Anglia News.
Armed with the camera, tripod and rifle microphones we headed out into the cold streets of Norwich to film our documentary on buskers, somewhat of a common site throughout the city, especially on a Saturday when everybody is out and about. Our first venture was somewhat panicky, after basic training in the equipment it was a bit of a hassle to re-figure the rifle microphones. Not to be arrogant, but having had experience using a variety of video cameras I was �up� on the technological bits and pieces, I just had to get used to the different layout of buttons (as is always the case). Our first session of filming took us towards dusk, covering a really nice bloke called Steve who performs in various pubs around the city every now and then. We got plenty of coverage and some good interview snippets we could insert in the editing process. The next filming session took place on a day that seemed impossibly cold, windy and rainy � rather miserable, but we got some good footage. A few more buskers and various city shots � providing us with our �texture� as Roger Hewins kept telling us during the first few weeks of training exercises and class tutorials.
Unluckily for me however, the biting cold brought forward the flu in me, which was doing the rounds of the University, so by the following day I was in no state to stand, let alone film outdoors. So a good exercise for me was to let go of some control and leave the others to get out there on their own and get some good footage. Again, not to sound arrogant, but having spent the previous few years constantly filming and editing, I was essentially the �go to guy� on technical and editing issues, but my illness allowed the others to get out there without me, so I was able throughout the project to provide my knowledge and skills, but I was also able to learn to work in a group and relinquish control when necessary.
The editing process, as Roger suggested, was a fraught time, a week solid of the four of us sitting in a tiny little room sweating over our first project. We all did our part filming and now editing. This was an experience we�ll all never forget and something we all learned from. It really is best to just edit in pairs, too many cooks do spoil the broth after all.
The final product was a success, there were some minor camera/editing slip ups, the odd shake or uncontrolled zoom here and there for example, but considering the production of the piece we came out with something good in the end. All the groups then got together and viewed everyone�s projects and ours went down a storm achieving many positive comments and a 68 from Roger. This first project introduced us to many new skills and experiences, filming on the streets, working with the public getting interviews, issues of consent and using equipment/software we hadn�t worked with before � but (for me at least) the most valuable part was working together as a group and dealing with all that entails.
