This is the project in which I most greatly improved my technical skills. I learned how to use my camera more effectively, how to use natural light better, and how to get cleared sound with a lav mic.
Documentary Film
Our original task was to create a documentary film on a person, group, place, idea, or issue in our local community.
With my partner Evan, I had planned to cover the Mountain View Voice, a local news outlet, and the process they went through to put out their weekly paper. As soon as we had finished my first interview, the California shelter-in-place order had been instituted.
Our new task was to create a documentary film on a topic we could cover from our homes. I was very disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to continue with my original plan and struggled to think of a new idea. Even though I had to make the entire thing at home, I wanted to produce a quality documentary in spite of COVID-19. I ended with a topic that was visually appealing, made my interviewees (my family) excited, and was meaningful to me. I found my answer in parathas.
The word “paratha” is an amalgamationâ ofâactually, my dad says it better. You can see him explain it in my documentary embedded below!
Mockumentary
To practice the new technical skills we had learned, we were given two days to make a mockumentary, a humorous film made on a fictional topic in the style of a documentary.