Documentary Unit: Coming up with ideas

Lesson from Zoe
You have to come up with an idea-lots and lots each week you write them up- sell them to the controller or commissioner- and often produce a taster tape to reinforce.

Are our kids tough enough? Chinese School on BBC
Chinese schools very structured
UK looking at being more Chines and China looking to be more Western in style.
Clash of cultures, anger and uses which makes great Television.
Zoe had to pitch her idea to the BBC commission team and showed a visual clip


We watched the clip of the show:
Original idea
Controversial so strike strong opinions
Targets peoples insecurities
Competition
Characters; the people involved teachers and kids

 Curiosity is a good way of coming up with ideas. We will read and watch things out of curiosity.
The 'whatever happened to' question?
Anniversaries a good starting point
'Dreams of a life' about a woman who had dies and wasn't found until 3 years later
It plays on our fears as humans

Sources Contacts-pretty obvious-keep a book as you'll lose them when your laptop is nicked at the rap party or you'll flush your phone down the toilet.
Contacts throughout life are kept through different forms; phones and laptops unreliable.

Other Media Look in paperers that the rest of the media doesn't read.
Best Sellers lis what people are keen on at the moment.
TED talks
"The stealth of Nations"
SLUM SURVIVORS- fish out of water
Character driven

BRAINSTORM WITH ENERGETIC PEOPLE
Different voices and ideas on life; pretend to be someone else like your granny

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Think of a location first
Secret history of our streets

How do you have a good idea?

Investigate
Go digital- google advanced search, twitter- help source original stories.
An interesting character
Check its genuine/authentic
Amazing Footage-user generated or intimate archive- the internet now has a huge range of tools that can help you find content

Our War- Into the hornets nest
compelling, thy down all come home after; some do die in the documentary
Benefit Street- good title gives you a good start
Immersive; putting someone into a situation they're not use to
Blind date has come back in the form of Take Me Out; bring something original back
Come dine with me came about when someone was sat on the toilet.

The Hook- Audiences need to want to commit their limited time.
A good beginning can add to a story
When factual writing think about how Hollywood would do it.
OPENING TO JAWS- iconic an done of the best film openings

Universal themes/ relatable- affect your heart, mind or wallet
make audience happy? angry? Play on our fears?
Conflict, decision to be made and a turning point.
Finally the best stories have great characters, human emotion and beautiful pictures.


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