Record the feedback given by the panel, apply your self-reflection and write a response, including any additional research you might have done as a result.
In response to our pitch, there was one particularly strong notion echoed throughout the panel: make it gendered. The presence of female skaters in our documentary was not considered as a primary focal point however it is one we are now taking on board. At 6pm on a Thursday, Riverslide hosts a ‘Progression Session’ which is a timeslot specifically allocated to women who want to try their hand at skating. This is based on a ‘power in numbers’ kind of premise, as many women and especially younger girls may feel discouraged by the male-dominated presence in skate parks. Based on the panel’s suggestion to explore the female side of skating, we decided this would be a perfect time for us to meet some of the female skaters and get a feel for the topic. The growing female skating movement has received little attention, particularly in terms of filmic representation which means there is no precedent set for how we could execute our exploration of the topic and allows us to work with a vast amount of creative freedom. Given the growing female interest in skating it is a topic that deserves more exposure, so our film could also serve the purpose of encouraging more girls to pursue skating without feeling discouraged by the lack of prior female involvement.
To build on our primary online research it was important for us to observe the skate park activity in person and talk face-to-face with members of the skate community. Most of the people we approached at Riverslide were incredibly friendly and open to discussing their experience with skating. We befriended one girl, Jenna, who we have remained in contact with and will most likely be one of the main subject of our film, and through her we could gain access to other female skaters who we may use as secondary interviews. Another important figure we met was an older, experienced skate teacher from Shanghai who specialises in designing skate parks and had come to Australia with his partner who was on a business trip, but had used his spare time to explore the local skate scene. Upon hearing that we were considering narrowing the focus of our film to female skaters, he expressed fervent support, telling us that as a teacher this is something he openly encourages back in his hometown. He provided us with insight from the perspective of a person who has had years of experience associated with the skate community, and other information about the history of skating and his own personal recounts that we could use to augment our research and inform the making of the film.
One other takeaway from the feedback we received was to be conscious of the skaters’ ‘bullshit detector’. This was a valid point, but not something we hadn’t already addressed. As previously mentioned, one of the main focuses of this documentary is to represent skating with honesty and integrity. Essentially, we want to explore what skating means to both the skaters and the wider community through a lens as realistic as possible.
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