Like A Bat Out Of Hell

THE SECOND SECTION IS NOW IN PRODUCTION

	Watch the Eden clip - 2 mins. 46 secs.	Project Critical Reflective Documentation
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I have recently finished directing and producing my major production for my degree. This project was very challenging and enjoyable as it gave me the opportunity to learn new skills in organisation and creative management. For this project, I employed external professional crew to work with me. This project was fairly big to implement but I have successfully taken all of the available opportunities and I have achieved my vision.

I made a television documentary highlighting the bureaucracy getting in the way of me raising money for Canine Partners and Comic Relief. The purpose of the programme is to highlight the bureaucracy preventing poverty from being abolished. The documentary is also atypical to most other programmes featuring a person in a wheelchair as its focus is not on the disability itself.

Obtaining medical clearance for me to do a charity skydive is proving very challenging, but it is also an opportunity for me try out new things!

Although I had a production manager to assist me, I had to multi skill in doing the scheduling, the organising, writing, directing, and producing of the entire project.

As you can see from the photograph down the right-hand-side, I sometimes had to direct and make critical creative and strategic decisions in pressurised and/ or uncomfortable situations!

As well as being suspended 30ft high, I also found myself hanging out of a helicopter at 1000ft in the sky and floating in the air inside a vertical wind tunnel!

These activities were done for very little money. I concentrated on how the production crew approached the people who made these things happen. By doing this, I got a considerable amount of services for very little money. For example, one of the pilots at the helicopter charter company told us (me and my production team) that to hire a helicopter costs about £1,500 per hour. We managed to get 20 minutes for free! My crew also had some personal contacts which we also used. I made sure that we took every available opportunity open to us!

Producing and directing a documentary requires adaptability as you can only document 'real life' - not control it necessarily. I ended up writing eleven script outlines for the programme due to uncontrollable and sudden changes to people's availability and their lives. At times, I had to think of multiple ways to convey the one message - either visually using signifiers, audibly, or both.

I have been mindful of the health and safety factor and after negotiations with contributors; we have always worked out a safe but creative way of doing things.

What I have learnt

Self-Control - I have learnt to manage people, but I also believe that you get more enthusiasm from your crew/ workforce if they are allowed to contribute and come up with suggestions. However, at times, I have taken major critical decisions in order to keep the production on the right track.

Sense of Urgency/ Self-Confidence - Although listening to others is a good thing, I am the only one who has my own vision inside my head, and for that, I have had to learn to ignore any other suggestions at times in order to keep the production on schedule. There is not always time to have discussions. 

Comprehensive Awareness - As producer, I was responsible for scheduling, booking resources and crew. Although I had a production manager, I have been the only one who is allowed to book equipment out from the university and organise temporary access rights for my crew to use edit suites, and other such equipment located at the university

Realism - I have had to be realistic when planning my production schedules. This project, in particular, has given me a better grasp on measuring time. Knowing how long planned activities may take is a definite requirement when I employ people. As the project progressed, I improved my sense of time dramatically, and it has now enabled me to be more time efficient.

Emotional Stability/ Conceptual Ability - There have been times when crew have cancelled their availability at very short notice, so I have had to calmly find replacements.

Interpersonal Relationships - I have had yet another opportunity to practice my advanced, but ever growing, interpersonal skills. Throughout this project, I have been in contact with people. I have employed my own crew who I make a point of praising them at every opportunity. This has created a very motivated and eager workforce which will be shown in the finished package. I have been very aware of my body language when meeting and negotiating with people - this has included matching/ mirroring body language, observing eye-cues and steering conversations to positive outcomes, and complimenting people at every opportunity.