B2- Peter Pan Project
AC1
Purpose of the Project
Brief and Client
We are making behind the scenes documentaries that feature some of the directors and
crew members of the production of Peter Pan. You can see different crew members such
as the Choreographer, the Musical Director and the Director speaking about their process
of working on Peter Pan. This kind of content gives an insight to the work and efforts that
have been put into this production. Showing this adds onto the main purpose of these
documentaries.
The purpose of this is to garner up attention and spread the word about Peter Pan as a
production. To highlight some of the key components in the production and to persuade
an audience to watch. By using clips of rehearsal footage and set building footage, we are
able to do this.
The reason we are making this project is because this production has gone through many
different stages during their rehearsal period. Illustrating the efforts that have been made
and the work that has been put into this production gives the production new meaning to
anyone who was considering giving it a watch. Ticket sales boosted once these
documentaries started to get some interaction online, proving that simply projecting the
work of the crew was enough to pay off and create more hype around the production.
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Target Audience
The target audience for the documentary are families, young people and people who enjoy theatre. The documentaries tender to families as a lot of the music and visuals of the documentary are very child friendly and illustrate a fairy tale like fonts, music and effects. This was effective as we were able to create documentaries that align well with the demographic of the show in general.
The usage of the fairy tale aspect target families more as realism productions won’t have the same grip on young children as fantasy productions do, this is why the target audience is families
We determined this audience by observing who the target audience of the actual show would be, with the story being a kid’s story and the show taking place around Christmas, this is how we decided it was more suitable for families.
The location of the target audience would be Birmingham. This is because this production will only be presented at The Old Rep theatre in Birmingham. Although people may travel to watch this production if the documentary reaches them, presenting it to locals who will have more incentive to go as it is close would be more beneficial to the efficiency of this advertisement.
The production will take place around Christmas time. Though the production itself doesn’t contain any themes about Christmas in the actual content, pantomimes and theatre are commonly associated with Winter time in the UK.
Formats: Live Capture
In live capture theatre, the codes and conventions involve capturing a live performance and showing it to an audience through various forms, such as film, television, or streaming platforms. It aims to bring the experience of watching a live theatre production to a wider audience who may not be able to attend in person. The codes and conventions may include multiple camera angles, close-ups, and editing techniques to enhance the viewer's experience.
An example of live capture theatre is the National Theatre Live program. They capture live performances from the National Theatre in London and broadcast them to cinemas around the world. It's a good way to experience the magic of theatre even if you can't be there in person. You get to see the actors, sets, and all the emotions up close on the big screen.
Another project we worked on within this production was After Effects and the creation of Tink.
Tink is a character in the production whose stage presence is shown via projected video of her flying around the background layer of the stage layout.
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The client for this was somebody who was the AV director for this specific part of the show.
The creative brief was to set ourselves different scenes that Tink was in and use After Effects to create what Tink would look like in this scene.
Some of the specific instructions we had been given was to display her emotions, thoughts and feelings through her body language and movements. To do this efficiently we all read the scenes that we had been set and made notes on what emotions she was displaying, what movements she was making and any noises she’d make too. With this, we were then able to start animating these ideas of how Tink would behave.
Peter Pan is a musical, in order to make sure that the audience was in the know about what kind of show was being presented to them in this documentary. In order to portray this, we made sure that we incorporated all the musical aspects of this show such as interviews with the musical director and choreographer as well as footage of the cast learning the music and choreography.
Our client was also the director of this production. The documentary would have been a form of entertainment to any viewer but it also will have been utilised as a form of advertisement to get people to come and watch the show. In order to enhance this aspect of the documentary we had to make sure that we portrayed the exciting aspects of the rehearsal stage of the production, this includes footage of the cast in action as well as having fun behind the scenes.
The Old Rep theatre is the theatre in which this production will have taken place. This theatre is an esteemed theatre in the UK, mentioning the fact that this theatre is behind this production will not only generate more attention to the production, as the locals will be fond of this theatre, but will also generate attention towards the theatre itself.
Representation
This project includes many young people close to my age who have a passion for theatre. You can see this during the choreographers documentary that many kids who are 16-17 have banded together to put on this performance of Peter Pan. This shows representation to people within this age range who also are our target audience.
The representation relates to our target audience as the people within the documentary are a similar age to the target audience. This is beneficial as it means that our target audience is to feel more inclined to want to go now.
The documentary relates to the storyline of Peter Pan because the content that is shown throughout is all to do with the rehearsal stage of this production, meaning all the music that is shown, the choreography that is shown, and the cast and crew that are shown are all in relation to this production.
Aspects such as the music, fonts, effects and transitions are all fairy tale themed too, this is to accentuate the fantasy narrative that we are trying to get across.
Format: Social Media
When it comes to theatre social media and promotional material, there are a few common codes and conventions. One is using eye-catching visuals like posters or behind-the-scenes photos. Another is creating engaging content that highlights the production and its cast. Hashtags are often used to increase visibility and encourage audience interaction.
Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter are popular choices for theatre promotions. Instagram allows you to share visually appealing content, while Twitter is great for quick updates and engaging with your audience. Facebook is also commonly used for event pages and reaching a wider audience. Each platform has its own unique features, so it's a good idea to explore them and see which ones work best for your theatre promotions.
There was a local show near me promoting Shrek! The Musical. They created a few captivating Instagram posts featuring a vibrant image of the cast on stage, along with the show's title, dates, and ticket information. In the caption, they could share a sneak peek of a catchy song from the musical and encourage followers to tag their friends who love musicals. They would also run a contest where people can win free tickets by sharing the post and using a specific hashtag like #ShrekTheMusical. By utilizing eye-catching visuals, engaging captions, and interactive elements, the theatre company can generate buzz and excitement for their production.
Format: Matte Paintings
Matte paintings are realistic paintings or images used in theatre to create or enhance a scene. They're often used to create landscapes, buildings, or other elements that would be too expensive or impossible to build in real life. It's like a visual illusion that helps bring the theatrical world to life.
In theatre, the focus is usually on live performances and sets that can be physically built and seen by the audience. However, there may be some instances where projections or digital backdrops are used to enhance the visual elements of a theatrical production. These techniques can create the illusion of different locations or settings on stage.
Brainstorming
One of the ideas we considered for the choreographers documentary was started out with B-roll footage from early rehearsal and throughout the documentary, reveal more B-roll from throughout the entire rehearsal process. This would have been efficient as it highlights the fact that the show is getting more and more cohesive and it highlights the fact that the show is all coming together.
Other ideas that me and my team considered were the music, we knew that with the constricted budget that we had for this project that we would have to use royalty free music, but in order to make the whole product cohesive, we decided to use a website called ‘Epidemic Sound’ which is a software that can scout out specific royalty free music to match a genre. This was very useful as it meant we were able to find fantasy themed music free of charge.
Our final idea related to it’s purpose as our purpose was to create attention and hype for the show and to display the efforts that have been put into this show to bring more of an audience. We also had to portray the target audience throughout the documentary so that they know who the show is made for. We did this successfully as we created 3 quality documentaries that show the efforts from all the cast and crew which will engage with any viewers who appreciate theatre. The target audience was also shown in the documentaries with the usage of family friendly music ands fonts.
We decided these ideas amongst ourselves and decided to run them through with our teacher before bringing any of them into fruition. This is because our teacher was our contact point with the client so if there was any critiques or specific requests that had been made, she would be the one to know.
AC2- Discussion
When we were editing our documentaries for Peter Pan, we were frequently updating our
teacher, who remained in close contact with the directors of the show, to make sure our
work was aligning with what the directors had in mind. This was beneficial as we were
able to make sure that we were making the right decisions along the way during this
project.
When communicating with the documentary production crew, we needed to make sure
that we were requesting each shot type and setting we needed. In order to do this we
referred to the brief and specifics we were given by our client and made sure we
forwarded them to our production crew so that we were able to get all the shots that we
needed. This was the minimum of what we had been asked so we also decided to come
up with our own ideas for shots, asked the production crew to film them and then
referred to the client when editing to see if they wanted them in there.
Meetings with the production crew and the clients were definitely beneficial throughout
the whole production process, this is because it meant that the whole production crew
were up to date as to what stage in production we were at, but it also meant that we
were able to be informed about new ideas that the client had come up with for the
project.
Risks and Limitations
A certain problem we were facing during our production stage was time constraints and certain issues with train strikes. We overcame the first problem by scheduling time to do the work bit by bit, taking turns so the project isn’t too rushed and forced, assigning specific details for specific time frames so we can make sure each thing can be done in the time we have. We overcame the issues with train strikes by sitting down and discussing when we wouldn’t be able to make it in to college. We made a plan of who would do what, when and how. By this I mean we designated different tasks, gave ourself a schedule of when we would be doing the work, and who would take the hard drive home on days neither of us will be in, so we could edit from home. From these problems I learned that communication is a very important aspect in these kinds of projects, especially when time is an issue. Next time I would probably find it more useful to enter the project with these kinds of schedules, rather than decide during the middle of the project.
Feedback
Some of the feedback we got was that our pacing was a bit too slow at times, we decided to change this by either shortening some of the B-roll we put in there, as a lot of them dragged on too long which will have had a negative effect to the pacing, and if the timing of the B-roll works, but the clip still feels too long, we halved those clips and inserted a half from a different clip.
A strength we got is that we used good interview footage and the structure of the documentaries worked well. This meant that the clips we used of the crew was cohesive and worked well together in the order we put it together.
We used this feedback almost immediately each time we were given it, this helped us as it meant that we were constantly keeping on track on keeping the documentaries to the standard we were given.
AC2- Software
We made documentaries about how Peter Pan the musical was created. We used Adobe Premiere Pro to edit the videos, which helped us put together behind-the-scenes moments. For working together, we used EditShare to share files easily. It made things smooth and helped us work well as a team. The combination of Premiere Pro and EditShare made editing easier and contributed to the success of our documentary series.
In Adobe Premiere Pro, we used a bunch of handy tools to make our documentaries about Peter Pan's musical creation. We could easily cut and arrange our videos to make them look polished. The effects and transitions helped us add cool stuff between scenes, and we used color tools to make everything look consistent and nice. For the sound, Premiere Pro had tools to tweak and perfect the audio, making sure it sounded great.
Creating the documentaries about Peter Pan's musical helped me learn some useful skills. I got better at editing videos using Adobe Premiere Pro, learning how to organize footage, add effects, and make things look consistent. Working with a team using EditShare improved my communication and file-sharing abilities. I also picked up skills in color grading to make everything look good. Handling the audio taught me how to refine and perfect sound, making the final product sound more professional. In a nutshell, this experience futhered a bunch of skills in video production, from editing to teamwork, and improved my creative and technical abilities.
Feedback
We made rough cuts during the editing process. We showed these to our teacher and got feedback, like changing the music or using different clips. We listened to the feedback, went back to editing, and made improvements. We kept doing this process of getting feedback, making changes, and repeating until the documentaries looked just right. It was a helpful way to learn and make our work better.
Final Product
AC4- Roles and Responsibilities
I was the editor for the documentaries, and my main job was putting together the footage to make a good story. I used Adobe Premiere Pro to cut, organize, and make the videos look better. I worked with the team, using EditShare to share our work. After making first versions, or rough cuts, I got feedback from our teacher. I then made changes based on the feedback, like adjusting music or using different clips. In simple terms, my role was to turn the raw footage into a finished documentary by using video editing tools and making creative choices.
To edit the documentaries, I needed to be good at using video editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro. Creativity was important for making the videos look nice by deciding on transitions, effects, and colors. Working with the team and using platforms like EditShare required good communication and teamwork. I also had to be adaptable to make changes based on feedback from the teacher. Paying attention to details, like sound and visual consistency, was crucial for creating a polished final product. Through this experience, I developed and improved these skills, making me better at creating engaging and professional documentaries.
Professional Etiquette
In my role as the editor, effective and professional communication with other team members was essential. I needed to clearly convey my ideas and listen to feedback from team members, such as the camera operators and sound technicians. Collaborating professionally involved discussing the vision for the documentaries, sharing insights on the editing process, and addressing any challenges that arose. Using clear and respectful communication, I could ensure a cohesive understanding of the project goals and work together with the team to achieve a unified vision for the documentaries. This collaborative and professional communication was crucial in creating a positive and productive working environment for everyone involved in the project.
Organisation
As the editor, I had to plan when and which documentaries to edit. I worked with the team to set a timeline and decide which ones to prioritize based on deadlines and available footage. Planning also involved considering the complexity of each documentary and making a schedule for different editing stages. This helped me manage my workload efficiently and contribute to the success of the project.
AC5- Audience Impact
The final documentaries not only provided a deep understanding of the production process of Peter Pan but also served as efficient advertising for the musical. By showcasing behind-the-scenes moments, the documentaries offered viewers insights into the dedication, creativity, and teamwork involved in bringing the production to life. This peek behind the curtain not only fostered appreciation for the musical but also generated anticipation and excitement among potential audiences. The documentaries effectively highlighted the magic of the creative process, making them a valuable tool for advertising and promoting the Peter Pan musical to a broader audience. The combination of informative content and visually engaging storytelling created a narrative that contributed to both understanding and promoting the musical.
Relation to Purpose
The final documentaries perfectly met the given brief, which aimed to capture the production process of Peter Pan in a documentary format. They follow the established codes and conventions of documentaries by featuring interviews, showcasing production stages, and presenting a coherent narrative. In terms of format, the documentaries are well-suited for Instagram. They align with the platform's preference for shorter content by delivering concise and visually engaging videos. This ensures that the audience on Instagram can quickly understand and enjoy the creative journey behind Peter Pan, making the content a seamless fit for the platform's characteristics and audience expectations.
Platform and Distribution
We exported our product as H.264 as this was the best quality that we could obtain for this project, as each pixel was rendered equally, which is suitable for a social media viewing experience. The frame size we opted for was 1080 x 1920. This was because the shots that we had chosen for our documentary all fit this frame size and this frame size was suitable for our intended platform.
Our product was shown on the promotive Instagram page which was made to advertise the show.