In class 5.2 we shifted editing styles to documentary, we were put into groups of 3-4 and had to film and interview each other for 15 minutes about our ‘significant moments’. We each rotated through different roles as interviewee, interviewer/sound recorder and DP.
We were briefed on how the interviewer can give reassurance to the interviewee through facial expressions and nodding but be mindful not to make any audible noises as they interrupt the audio of the speaker. We were given a list of questions to ask one another in the hope that one would prompt a significant moment in our lives to then be edited into a 2-minute documentary. We also had to record b-roll footage that related to our interviews. Our group filmed our interviews in one of the editing suites to ensure a quiet uninterrupted space. It was crucial for the interviewee to to put the question in the answer to allow the audio to be edited seamlessly so the interviewer’s question or text of the question doesn’t have to be included. This was something I had to consciously think about when being interviewed and was reminded a few times to include it in my answer.
Our group didn’t have any time to record b-roll footage which proved to be a challenge when editing the interview together as the little b-roll that had been captured by other groups didn’t match the content of our interviews. B-roll is a really important element in a documentary as it keeps the audience engaged and gives the piece more character and depth. In my last studio, I made a 5-minute documentary where the entire video consisted of b-roll footage and omitted the face-to-face interview, through this, I gained an appreciation for filming b-roll as it truly helps the audience to picture the story that is being told so I was quite disheartened that I couldn’t replicate this in this edit.