Toby Jackson will create a documentary about Yorkshire filmed in an expository style with narration and voiceovers. They will focus on rural and less populated areas to make the documentary unique. Toby's strengths include using cameras and editing software, while their limitations are coming up with ideas, planning, and managing deadlines. To improve, they will spend more time researching, planning, and checking their work, as well as solidifying their ideas earlier. David Attenborough and his nature documentaries are influences for Toby's style.
2. FMP Style & Where I am now
My FMP will be a documentary based around Yorkshire. I am choosing to do this
because I am interested in making a filming product that will be factual, and not
include actors. It is also local and in the area where I live, so it is easier to film and
document it when I can. I will narrate the documentary and film it, however I will
be following a documentary style where I won't be present in the film shot when
talking, I'll do a voice over to the clips to add more emphasis and focus on the
shots and the area. I will research what makes a good documentary and what I
need to do to achieve a good grade. Despite not doing a filming project this year
of college yet, I still made lots of film projects last year including a music video,
trailer, advert, so I am familiar with the planning and production I need to do, and
also I think I would get a better grade and overall make a better project if it was
like the style of documentary I am doing.
3. Documentary contents
This documentary will be filmed and based around Yorkshire; I will make this in
an expository style and explore different areas including lots of rural areas and
countryside and focusing on the places that aren't heavily populated, this makes
my documentary stand out and be unique to others. The purpose of this is to
promote tourism for the area.
4. My strengths and limitations in my project
Strengths:
Using technology and equipment (cameras, tripods)
Using software's to edit my work (Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop and
PremierePro
Deciding what type of shots are appropriate and what my work will look like
Limitations:
Coming up with new ideas
Planning and researching
Developing my work by adding extra detail
Deadlines
5. What I will do to make this project better
Looking at my strengths, I will make sure I use it to my full ability, including the camera shots with
equipment and also experimenting and spending time on Adobe Premiere Pro to improve my skills and
knowledge. Looking at my main limitations, I will make sure that I put a lot of time and effort into my
research and overall planning my project and keep double checking my work to see what else I need to add
and how I can improve it, this also could include doing work outside of college at home to finalise my work
and improve it. Another part I need to spend more time on is my ideas for this project, as it is listed as a
limitations, sometimes I will come up with ideas later on during the pre-production or production stage and
change my work slightly, I will make sure what my idea and what my documentary will be like before I start
making it, this also will make my production a lot easier too. Deadlines was also another weakness, usually
my work can be handed in on time but it will be rushed towards the end so I can meet the deadline, but I
need to get my timing correct and not rush my work so I can meet the deadline, this is also my final project
so I will need to meet the deadline to get a better grade. In all my projects, I have received a pass grade
because not all of my work has been merit / distinction level, so in this project I will make sure all my work is
to a higher standard, the pre-production to the production and the post-production as well.
6. What I've learned in college
Over the last 2 years in college, I have done lots of different units and done all the pre-
production, production and post-production for them. In my first year, I started off with a music
video, which was a video project, which started me off on the course so it was good practice, then
we went into lockdown and did the animation game online, working from home was a lot harder
so I'm glad we hopefully will won't be doing it again and we will be in college full time. Next, I did
my first year FMP, which was a film magazine with a film trailer and advert for my own film idea.
This was a mix of print (graphic design, Photoshop) and video (filming, Premiere Pro), which
helped me prepare for second year and improve my skills in both departments. I also spent a lot
of time on pre-production and post-production too for this project as I had a lot of time for it.
Because of this, I know what I need to do for this project, but a lot better with more detail. In my
second year, I started off with a factual project, in which I did a fanzine for music. This was
beneficial and I improved my work, but I wish I did a documentary instead, for practice for this
FMP project. Then we did an audience project called 'The Grid' where we started off in groups to
research audiences and choose our theme, and then we made production individually, I did a
short magazine about York over time. This definitely helped me with my research, especially
audience research as we made audience profiles, did lots of primary and secondary research, etc.
7. Documentary Styles
There are 6 types of documentaries; poetic mode, which is having a little narrative to
focus more on the truth and tone of the documentary, I won't be following this style
because my documentary is more light-hearted and doesn't have a heavy tone, so I
will have a script to read out a narrative in the background. Expository mode, this is
what my documentary will be, it is a documentary that has video clips, or images
placed on screen with a background voice explaining giving verbal commentary. The
Blue Planet by David Attenborough is a good example of this. Participatory mode is a
documentary where the narrator is in front of the camera involved with the camera
shots and the environment they're in. Observational mode is a more serious tone of a
documentary which captures it in raw footage with minimal interruption or editing.
Reflexive mode, this is usually about filmmaking itself, so it will have behind the scenes
of what's being made, just like a reflective way. Performative mode, this focuses on the
filmmaker's involvement with a subject and exploring it, like documenting your own
experience. My documentary will be expository style.
8. Expository Documentary Styles
Voice Over – one of the most important parts of this documentary, the verbal
commentary in the background explaining what is going on and what is
happening in each shot, a good example of this is Blue Planet, or other nature
documentaries. In my documentary, I will write up a script in my planning and I
will read out and commentate and narrate my documentary.
Persuasion – These types of documentaries are used to persuade people and they
want the audience to feel a certain way about the topic.
Editing – The editing in these documentaries will include lots of clips and some
images on screen, because there is somebody commentating over it explaining.
10. Influences
David Attenborough is a documentary narrator who especially does expository or participatory
documentaries on nature and geographical information. One good example of this is Blue Planet
on BBC, it is narrated by David Attenborough with his voice over, and the purpose is to inform
about the oceans and how we take it for granted and has good camera shots and editing of
different animals and eco systems. Especially the second Blue Planet, it had a very big impact and
influence on the pollution of oceans and how we cause it, since then it has had a big effect and
people have helped towards the cause.
11. Influences
Morgan Freeman is a famous documentary narrator who has several
documentaries including, March of the Penguins (1 & 2), Born To Be Wild,
Magnificent Desolation: Walking On The Moon and more. These are all narrated
by him as he is known for his distinctive deep voice, as he tells a good story in
these documentaries. Even though these documentaries can be more of a serious
tone and about bigger situations like the moon landing and animals in the wild, it
is interesting to see the way he narrates them and tells the story, I will keep this in
mind when making my own documentary
12. Influences
Yann Arthus-Bertrand made a documentary called 'Home' which is full of ariel
clips and views of Earth, this is an effective way of filming and especially
portraying how the planet is that people may not see, especially with a simple yet
powerful name 'Home' as it is relatable for everybody. This is influencing because
I am planning on doing ariel shots on this area in my documentary
13. Interview
What is the point of the project, what are you trying to get across or
achieve?
Live production portfolio, with different cameras set up. It is music based for a live show
with an audience.
What is your biggest inspiration?
It helps for or the future so I can build my portfolio.
What do you think are going to be the biggest challenges for you on the
FMP?
Getting a crew together for filming, finding a venue to use for it in this area and getting a
band to perform for it.
14. Interview Reflection
I found this interview good because it helped me build more of my idea of my
FMP. After listening to other people's FMP ideas about what they're doing,
helped me develop my idea and think of more ideas for my project. Hearing
about their inspirations for this project helped me think more into the future with
this FMP and how it can benefit me, if I make it to the best of my ability, I can
keep it and show what my 2-year college course helped me create. Also, because
I am wanting to pursue a career in this industry in marketing, I will make this work
my best to show it (especially the research part because it links to marketing with
audiences) in case if any jobs or apprenticeships ask for a portfolio or any work to
see my abilities. Hearing about the challenges and limitations other people might
face in their FMP helped me realise that there will most likely be setbacks or
issues that I will deal with and overcome.
15. Bibliography
Masterclass Staff. (2020). Film Documentary Guide: 6 Types of Documentaries. Available:
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/film-documentary-guide#what-are-documentary-modes. Last
accessed 16th Feb 2022.
Masterclass Staff. (2020). Film 101: Understanding Expository Documentary Mode. Available:
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-expository-documentary-mode#what-is-an-
expository-documentary. Last accessed 16th Feb 2022.
Olivia Lai. (2021). David Attenborough: 10 Best Documentaries to Watch. Available:
https://earth.org/david-attenbourogh-best-documentaries/. Last accessed 18th Feb 2022.
Will Ashton. (2019). The Best Documentaries Narrated By Morgan Freeman, Including The Story Of
God. Available: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2478551/the-best-documentaries-narrated-by-
morgan-freeman-including-the-story-of-god. Last accessed 18th Feb 2022.
Anna Smith. (2020). 10 of the best travel documentaries. Available:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/apr/08/10-best-travel-documentary-films-antartica-
himalayas-borneo-woodstock. Last accessed 18th Feb 2022.
