Self Critique

So the more I edit the more I am understanding and seem to like. With this final revise I am more happy with the results. I want to continue with this documentary later in the future. I took a lot of things out by listening to what the class had to say. I became bitter with the situation sometime but the more I kept going the more I learn from it. The only thing I wish I had for the documentary is a lot of B-Roll. Again I would love to continue with this documentary and I know my next documentary will be better.

Memphis Interracial (The Final)

Final Pitch for Documentary: The Monfort Family

Final Pitch

Project Description
The Monfort Family has their share of challenges; but even though they care for a handicap daughter, the Monforts are like any other family: dysfunctional, yet loving.

Explanation of Theme and Intent
We want to share the personal story of the Monfort family. Our focus is not so much on Leann and her condition, but more so the family situation and how they have dealt with the many challenges in their lives stemming from Leann's handicap. Like so many families, they have their share setbacks and issues. We want our audience to see this family not as burdened, but as just another family. There are better and worse family conditions to have; but patience, work, and love drive this one.

Act I
The Intro
Interviews: Louanne Monfort (Mother) with Jimmy Monfort (Father)
(Medium Bust shot)
Questions:
1. Tell me about Leanne’s birth.
2. When did you notice Leann was having problems?
3. What did the doctors say about Leann’s condition?
4. How did you react?
5. Explain how Leann was permanently affected.
6. What changes did your family have to make?
B Roll - Video: the Monfort’s morning
Interactions of Louanne and Jimmy with Leann
Photos: Leann’s birth, surgeries, young photos


Act II-
Interviews
Louanne Monfort with Jimmy Monfort (Medium Bust shot)
Questions
7. What influenced you to have more children?
8. How did your families react to the fact that you wanted more children
9. What impact has your situation had on your realationship?
10. What other situations impacted your relationship
11. How do you think your other children have been affected by your family’s situation?
12. What are your experiences with how strangers react to your family?
13. How did you learn to deal with strangers’ reactions?
14. What other stressors do you have? (finances, time management)
15. What made you decide to keep Leann at home?
16. What were the outside reactions to your decision to keep Leann at home?
17. How does your family spend the holidays?
Kevin Monfort (youngest son) (Medium Bust Shot)
18. What was it like growing up with a handicap sister?
19. How do you feel you are different from other familes?
20. How do your friends react when you introduce them to your family?
21. Tell me about some of the positive experiences you’ve had.
22. Tell me about some of the negative experiences you’ve had.
23. How do you feel your family situation has affected your life?
24. How do you feel your family situation has affected your way of thinking?
Mrs. Dorothy (PA) (Medium Bust Shot)
25. Tell me about the family life you’ve observed within the Monfort home.
26. What is your role in the Monfort home?
B Roll – Video- Normal day-to-day activities
- Mrs. Dorothy taking care of Leanne
- Photos- Monfort children growing up


Act III
Interviews
Mrs. Dorothy
27. How do the Monforts compare to other families you have assisted?
Louanne, Kevin, and Jimmy
27. How do you feel you are similar to other families?
28. What are your plans for Leann’s future care?
29. Where do you think your family will be twenty years from now?
30. How do you feel your family's way of life has shaped your way thinking?
B Roll - Video- The family's normal activities
- Ending a day with Leann

Production Design Statement
We feel our B Roll and specific line of questioning will steer the understanding of the Monfort family's situation. B Roll will pertain to the questions being answered and will also show how life is lived in the Monfort home.

Story Board for Documentary#2

The Monfort Home

The Living Room

The Kitchen

The Dining Room

The Backyard Sitting Area

Leeann's Bedroom

The Monfort Family

Louann Monfort

Jimmy Monfort

Kevin Monfort

Ms. Dorothy

Leeann Monfort

Rebecca, Brittany, and Amanda
Final Project

The Monfort's Story:

*The B-Roll will show two days (or more) of following the Monfort family, then lead to the third day of interviewing the family.

*Questions: (more to come when following the family so we can get a more better understand of them first)

1. What do you remember with Leeann birth? Good or bad, tell me more about it.

2. When did you know something was wrong with Leeann?

3. From what you remember, when did Leeann situation get worse? How, has she always been this way, and how was she as a child growing up?

4. Has this situation affected your social life? Are there other situations affecting it? How?

5. What does the family plan to do when you are no longer able to care for your child?

6. If you could wish one thing for Leeann what would it be?

7. (For Kevin Monfort, the younger brother) Tell me about having an older sister that is handicap. How is it no different than anyone else? How is it different?

Story Board:

B-Roll:

-Start off with Louann getting the day started and Ms. Dorothy walking into the Monfort's home (at 8am) to prepare for the day.

Wideshot:

- switch to the parents. Ask the parents, Jimmy Monfort and Louann Monfort, what do they remember from Leeann birth

B-Roll:

-(While the parents are still going on continuing with the question) Photographs of Leeann from when she was a baby will be shown.

Medium Bust Shot:

(Medium bust shot of one of the parents will be on camera, while talking)

B-Roll:

-Louann and Ms Dorthy enteracting with Leeann.

Medium Bust Shot:

-Whole family (Jimmy, Louann, & Kevin) couple of seconds with one or two members of the family) Questions related to: "what you remember, when did Leeann situation get worse? Ect.

B-Roll:

-Kevin, the younger brother, doing what he normally does. Questions.

B-Roll:

-Following Ms. Dorothy and Leeann; ask Ms. Dorothy a couple questions during some B-Roll of how long she has been around the Monfort family, what she does for Leeann, and what Leeann likes and dislikes. Ect.

Medium Bust Shot:

-Interview with Ms. Dorothy.

Wideshot:

-Whole family. Questions about their social life.

(During this question we focus more on the family one on one interview)

Wideshot:

-Whole family. Questions related to their future plans. (focus on one or two members of the family interview)

Headshots:

-Interviews.

B-Roll:

-Ms. Dorothy shift is over (at 5pm). Parents take turns taking care of Leeann.

Wideshot:

-Whole Family.

Headshot:

-Question of their hopes for Leeann.

B-Roll:

-Parents put Leeann to bed.

Medium Bust Shot:

-Parents.

Video Blog Critique

For my last blog critique I still agree on what I said at first, I needed more. One of those points is having more B-Roll with the Stewart couple. I did feel the video needed more from them because their story was more interesting due to the fact that they have been around longer and have more of a compelling story.

For the intro, I agree with the font, the size, and it was hard to see with a B/W photographs of the Lovings. I took the font out and place it with a voice over instead. Long silence does make a story kinda vague. I took some unnecessary story boards out to make it stick with what the documentary is really about. Lower the volume, made it equal to the rest of the sound of the video. Took the title boards out from interviewing Memphians and tourist. Also took out the first couple of the video due to the fact that it was insulting and the harsh language from Craig Monfort speaking some women.

I hope this Revise Video is a little better from the first one. I do feel that it needs more work but it is my first Documentary and I have learn a lot from this one video and critiques from the class and hopefully I take what I learn and make my next Documentary better for my final :-)

Memphis Interracial Revise

Final Project Idea:

The Monfort's Story:

*The B-Roll will show two days (or more) of following Leeann and the Monfort family, then lead to the third day of interviewing the family.

*Questions: (more to come when following the family so we can get a more better understand of them first)

1. What do you remember with Leeann birth? Good or bad.

2. When did you know something was wrong with Leeann?

3. From what you remember, when did Leeann situation get worse? How, has she always been this way, and how was she as a child growing up?

4. Is Leeann situation effected your social life? & how?

5. What does the family plan on doing when you can't take care of Leeann anymore?

6. If you could wish one great thing for Leeann what will it be?

7. (For Kevin Monfort, the younger brother)How is it like having a sister who is handicap? Example.

Story Board:

B-Roll:

-Start off with Ms. Dorothy walking into the Monfort's home (at 8am) setting up to get Leeann prepare for the day.

Question#1:

-(While still showing the B-Roll) We, the group, ask the parents, Jimmy Monfort and Louann Monfort, what do they remember from Leeann birth

(Then switch to the parents for a couple of seconds to continue the question)

B-Roll:

-(While the parents are still going on continuing with the question) Photographs of Leeann from when she was a baby will be shown.

-Then later continue with Ms. Dorothy preparing for Leeann for the day.

Question#2:

-The group will ask the parents "When did you know something was wrong with Leeann?"

(Medium bust shot of one of the parents will be on camera, while talking)

B-Roll:

-While continuing with the question the shot will then lead to either Ms. Dorothy taking care of Leeann through out the day or photographs of Leeann as a child.

Question#3:

-(Medium bust shot of the whole family (Jimmy, Louann, & Kevin) couple of seconds with one or two members of the family) Question asked "From what you remember, when did Leeann situation get worse? How, has she always been this way, and how was she as a child growing up?"

Question#4:

-(For Kevin, the younger brother)How is it like having a sister who is handicap? Example.

B-Roll:

-Go back to following Ms. Dorothy and Leeann; ask Ms. Dorothy a couple questions during some B-Roll of how long she has been around the Monfort family, what she does for Leeann, and what Leeann likes and dislikes. Also see Leeann react to Ms. Dorothy if can.

Question#6:

- (Whole family) Is Leeann situation effected your social life? How & why?

(During this question we focus more on the family one on one interview)

Question#7:

-(For the whole family)What does the family plan on doing when you can't take care of Leeann anymore?

(focus on one or two members of the family interview) then......

B-Roll:

-More with Leeann's eniviorment, Ms. Dorothy shift is over (at 5pm). Parents take turns taking care of her now

Question#7:

-(For the whole family, one by one compelling focus reaction) If you could wish one great thing for Leeann what will it be?

B-Roll:

-Parents gives Leeann her night Meds, change her, and put her to bed. Then lead to the parents that night and ask "What's for tomorrow".

Crit on Crit for Memphis Interracial Documentary

One on One Critique with Jill (only)

From my critique I basically kind of knew that I needed, starting with a little more "B-Roll" and Documentary was too long. There were a couple of more mistakes that were added to the Documentary.

.Better introduction on how I what and who I want to start with.

.Don't talk in the unless unless I'm part of the film (ex. GoodHair by Chris Rock)

.Framing, .Too long

.B-Roll, and ...

.Stage some areas when interviewing the interviewee. (imaging the scene as a photograph)

When revising the documentary I did get a chance to cover some on the mistakes that simple to do but trying to change where and who I interview was a no go. Their schedule could not fix with me this week. But now knowing all of what I need to do better for my next Documentary will be an improvement.

Final Pitch :-)

The life of the Monfort family revolves around caring for their daughter, Leanne, who was left mentally handicap after the removal of a brain tumor shortly after birth. In our documentary, my group will take viewers into the lives of the individuals of a family that has lived their lives around caring for Leanne.

Interviews with:

Louanne Monfort (mother)

Jimmy Monfort (father)

Kevin Monfort (brother)

Mrs. Dorothy (P.A.)

Setting: The Monfort home

Act I

Getting Leanne in the morning

Introducing the family, their situation, and Leanne's illness

Act II

Daily activities

Eating, Medication, entertainment

Questions regarding how each family member cares for Leanne

How does caring for her affect relationships, financial situations, socail lives ext.

Act III

The family's harsh realities

Group Project#2

Assignment1

Group Project#3

Memphis Interracial