Leftovers to Landfill.
In presenting our documentary on food waste, our primary aim is to deeply engage the audience by illustrating the tangible impacts of food waste and the innovative solutions being developed by individuals and communities. We hope that through personal stories and practical examples, viewers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the scale of the problem and feel inspired to take actionable steps in their own lives. Here are some ways we tried to achieve this:
Personal Stories to Foster Connection: By featuring personal narratives from individuals like Chris, and Mia, we create a human connection that resonates with viewers. Their diverse approaches to tackling food waste demonstrate that everyone can play a part, regardless of their resources or background.
Visual and Emotional Impact: We used compelling visuals to capture attention and evoke emotional responses. Seeing the transformation of potential waste into valuable products and the community efforts in moving towards more sustainable living highlights the innovative and collaborative spirit needed to address this issue.
Educational Elements: We aim to educate the audience about practical steps they can take to reduce food waste in their own lives. By breaking down complex processes into simple, relatable actions, we hope to empower viewers with the knowledge and confidence to make a difference.
Future development and improvements: If we were to continue the project I would like to focus on our storytelling and overall structure more. A lot of the feedback we received was based around wanting to see and know more about the people in the documentary. With a five-minute trailer, we aren’t able to showcase that, however, in long form, the overall piece would benefit from more background information on the interviewees as this allows the viewer a peek into their personal lives and makes them feel more connected. While we would speak to experts such as Chris there would be more of an emphasis on people like Mia and Seth, who are considered everyday people. We also might consider looking for different/ other interviewees. This would provide a more comprehensive view of the food waste issue, we could include additional perspectives such as those of policymakers, environmental scientists, and consumers from different demographics. This would help to illustrate the broader societal impact and the multifaceted nature of the problem.
We would also do screenings and promote the documentary on social media. To maximize reach and impact, we would develop a targeted screening and outreach strategy. This could involve collaborating with environmental organizations, schools, and community groups to host screenings and discussions, as well as submitting the documentary to film festivals to reach a wider audience. As a part of the project, we could do fundraising to start up community gardens, food banks, and other community resources to give back and strengthen our ties with our local community.
Where are all the Queers?
When it comes to the project “Where are all the Queers?” it uses colors and lighting to make it stand out but it also has a sense of authenticity. I like how they used colorful lighting for Nunzio’s interview, however, it seems to clash with the b-roll used which was more warm/ homely tones/vibes. I’m not sure if this was purposeful to show the different sides of queer nightlife or was simply due to low/bad lighting within the bar. Authenticity is seen throughout the production, it starts with the crew who describe themselves as Queer. They take on exploring the Queer nightlife scene, where LGBTQIA+ members have gone to express themselves authentically. With the creators having a background that relates to the project allows them to more accurately showcase the queer scene and bring their own experiences and insights into the project.
Concrete Jungle
As addressed in earlier weeks having a unique perspective in your documentary can help hold viewers’ attention. I feel like the concept of “Concrete Jungle” is an incredibly interesting one. I specifically like the idea of looking at it from the bird’s point of view, this takes a different approach to wildlife documentary. While the idea is interesting the trailer does not retain viewers attention as well. The B-roll feels very similar and repetitive it would have been nice to have more variety and the sound can be a bit off-putting at times. There are points where there is silence, and it does not feel intentional, also at points the music can be too loud compared to the voiceover. I think “Concrete Jungle” has a solid idea but could benefit from incorporating some creative shots into their project, such as POV shots, this would really bring the viewer into the world of birds.