Materials Reflection

In my pre-production, I had completed a Shot list, Concept Art, a Script, a Storyboard and a Recce. After review of doing this and also making all of my work double checked and thought over, I fell to the assumption that my film will have to be cut down. Originally, I hosted a survey of a lot of people and got just under 100 responses. They all wanted my Documentary to be 25-30 minutes but I feel as if my film will not be optimised at that amount of time as it could be considered as 'dragging on' and that would lose engagement from the audience to the film. They could be induced if the film was around 10-15 minutes since there still will be the same amount if not, more information said.

For proof of the audience wanting it to be shorter, there was a crossroads in a decision so of course, I went with the larger. I won't be completely alone on this decision as the other half of the audience wanted it to be 8-10 minutes which was still the second biggest vote, and some even voted 11-15 minutes. I think this is more achievable considering the amount of footage that will have to be got. I am always up for a challenge and I am not complaining that I can't do it. I simply don't think the audience will be able to stick with this for 25-30 minutes so the sensible decision to make when I realised this was to make it shorter to the 2nd highest amount of time that people voted for.

Nothing will be compacted and nothing will be compromised as the main reason I have come to this assumption through the proof of evidence is my script. It has everything I want to say in my film but upon saying a few of the larger lines, I have realised that the voice overs will only be around 1-2 minutes in total. This will, of course, be spread out throughout the whole film and cut up individually and it will also be added to if I find more information I want to say in my film. This is the best decision for me as I will be not pressured for time and I expect myself to push hard to get this project to the optimum level in this shorter time. I want to make the Documentary not only inducing but also not too time-consuming as when someone sees a 20-minute video on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram nowadays, they tend not to watch is so by decreasing the time I can attract a wider audience. If they are induced by the first bit they see, they will be willing to watch the rest so it is crucial that the start is strong and appealing.

Top Gear and the Grand Tour make their car reviews only 8-10 minutes too so this would also help me stay more accurate to what they do which is my inspiration and the level I am aiming for. It is not cheating at all since staying true to what these professional programmes do, means they also came across these problems and so they made theirs' shorter. This means that the best thing to do is what they do as they are well-established programmes and this method clearly has proven to work since they are so popular which helps me have faith in my decision.