- What is the ‘controlling idea’ (Robert McKee) of your portrait? In other words, what is the most interesting thing about your participant/interviewee that you want to communicate.
The most interesting thing about my participant, or more so the thing I am focusing on, is her career choice to become a lawyer. I do not believe this is the most interesting thing about my participant, but I want to attempt to get across her personality through focusing my questions about how she became a lawyer and how she finds her career now.
- How is your portrait film structured? (Remember there might be multiple forms of structure employed) E.g. Discussion and depiction of an event or process? A Journey? Use of voiceover narration? Other?
My film is structured as discussion and depiction but also a journey. I start with discussing how she first discovered she wanted to be a lawyer, to how she took steps to becoming one through applying to university to reach the point where we discuss how she is one currently.
- What do you want your audience to make of your interviewee? (e.g. What are you saying through them and/or human nature, human folly, or noble human inspiration?)
What I wanted to make of my interviewee was that she is a hard working and inspirational person. I wanted to show that all it takes is perseverance if you want something in your life, to just do. I believe these aspects came through my subject.
- How is your portrait being narrated? Why? How does it affect the structure?
My portrait is being narrated through prompting questions and also a varying use of frames. With different questions, I used different framing shots in order to achieve a certain feeling or tone in that moment. For example, in the very last scene, the frame is a close up, as she is talking about very meaningful content.
- What role will the ‘found footage’ play in your portrait? For example, reinforcement? Ironic counterpoint? Contrast? Comparison? Other?
The found footage in my film plays as reinforcement. The use of the footage, especially at the end, intensely reinforces her strong words about living a full life. The videos of affection and love truly bring the words to life.
- Does your portrait have a dramatic turning point?
It does have a turning point, but not a dramatically obvious one. I think the turning point would be when she discusses how she took the leap of faith and applied for Monash university, in doing so she took control of her own life and became who she wanted to be today.
- When does this turning point in your portrait and why? At the beginning? At the end? Two-thirds through?
The turning point happens roughly in the middle of the interview before she goes on to discuss why she loves her work the way she does.
- How does your portrait gather and maintain momentum?
My portrait gathers momentum through the editing. The mix between found footage, action footage and stock footage allows for a rhythm that keeps it relatively compelling. There is always something to listen to or look at in order to further understand what she is discussing.
- Where will your portrait’s dramatic tension come from? The gradual exposition of an overall situation? A volcanic, climactic moment? An impending change or crisis? The contrast between what the interviewee talks about and the found footage?
The dramatic tension comes from the contrast between the found footage and the stock footage. I realize I keep mentioning the end scene, but it truly is the culminating point of the interview, and my personal favorite part. The contrasting footages really create this lovely union between what she is saying and the visuals to conceptualize it.
- Does the portrait have a climax and/or resolution? Outline them.
My portrait has a deep and meaningful climax at the very end, in which the interviewee discusses the true meaning of why she does what she does. She discusses how life must have a meaning, about how you must be true to yourself and live the life you want to live. This scene being at the end bring the piece full circle and gives the audience a takeaway from the entire interview.
