Rabiger, M. (2004) Directing the Documentary Ch.34 Editing: The End Game

Helpful Contents of this Chapter: 

Creating a flow chart:
This method would be extremely beneficial to my documentary as it is hard to decide what part of the interview brings the most to the final documentary. We interviewed our subject for over an hour (which in hindsight was a bit too long!), so therefore it has been difficult to narrow down certain sections of their answers. This method of creating a flow chart will help as it identifies the moods and feelings that arise in certain parts of the answers. Then from this we can easily compare the impact that one section has over the other much more and thus be able to create the best possible doc.

''Lack of early impact or an unnecessarily pedestrian opening, so the film is a late starter (fatal on television)''

This quote identifies the importance of creating an opening that entices the audience and indicates that this piece of work is worth investing their time into. Therefore, in our piece of work we have begun the documentary by not revealing our subject and just using his voice over b roll of various other groups of fans. Then we reveal who the man speaking is and then this leads into the main interview. 

'Make sure you identify the material’s origin either by narration or subtitle if there is any doubt about how the audience will take it.'

It is important in the documentary you address new locations or objects in one way or another. This is important for our documentary when we show the audience b roll of different things such as the subjects slate outside the stadium or when we show the audience the Withdean stadium (Brighton's old stadium). This will be achieved by the use of the voice over of the participant speaking about a previous memory of the place and as he says that we will show the shots of place.

'It is fatally easy to let go of your work’s underlying identity and lose your sense of direction. Keep listening and don’t be tempted by strong emotions to carve into your film precipitously.'

The moment you get audience feedback on your work it is extremely important not to take any opinions to heart, although it is highly likely as you are attached to the project. This quote provides important information that whatever advice is offered to you, don't let it sway you off of what you were trying to create and the message you were trying to get across. Implement the criticism into your work while still holding onto the story you were trying to portray.