Research Evaluation

I conducted research into my audience, media similar to my film’s genre, various filming techniques and other styles I could incorporate.

 

Audience:

I created a survey to see how familiar the themes in my film were to my target audience. I gathered both qualitative and quantitative data in these areas. My survey gathered quantitative data such as age and gender demographics, and whether or not they liked The Office TV show and knew of Hulk Hogan. In that survey I also asked what their favorite comedy film or TV show was. I then followed up on this by doing a focus group on someone who both knew Hulk Hogan and said The Office was their favorite comedy.

 

This research was somewhat useful. Almost everyone I surveyed had seen The Office or at least heard of it, and many even had it as their favorite. This shows that my target audience was familiar with the mockumentary genre and I wouldn’t have to spend any time in the film establishing it. On the other hand, many people did not recognise Hulk Hogan, reinforcing my belief that archive footage would be necessary to introduce him. In that way, the research will make an impact on my film, but it didn’t reveal much more than I had expected.

 

Case Studies:

I researched three different media products similar in theme to mine. I chose to look at The Office, Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling and Parks and Recreation. This research helped me find my own target audience by comparing it to the audience for each of these products. Both mockumentaries I studied were genre defining and I learnt a lot by studying them. Max Landis’ Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling also presented methods of presenting wrestling characters to a mainstream audience.

 

Technical:

I had the idea of using green screen in my film, so I decided to look at how I might go about doing that, and experimented using it myself. This research was valuable as it developed a skill that I will undoubtedly use in the future, but I decided against using it here.

Inspirations + Similar Product Case Study: Parks and Recreation

As many of the people I interviewed said they liked Parks and Recreation (a lot had it as their favorite comedy), I decided to do my third case study on it. Parks and Recreation (2009) is an ongoing mockumentary sitcom starring Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a government deputy director trying to make a difference while surrounded by uncaring employees and officials. Similar to The Office, the series focuses on the relationships between the characters and their development. Parks and Rec has been described as “cute where The Office is awkward. Unlike The Office, the cast is full of well known, established actors which creates a more individual feel to every character as they express themselves via talking head segments (another Office trope) and go through their own story arcs.

From a technical and aesthetic standpoint, the show is shot similarly to  The Office, following the characters around with cameras as they occasionally draw attention to this with nervous glances and surprised looks. They also make use of talking heads, but take the technique further than The Office did. As the show progresses, these segments become a vehicle used not only to tell and advance jokes, but as a window  into the emotions of the characters. The lead character of Leslie Knope is the main focus for the first few episodes, but as more are introduced, you get to watch all their stories.

 

A review submitted by a user of IMDb

 

I compared the audiences of Parks and Rec with that of The Office and found that the average viewer was younger, but shared many traits of an older Office fan:

This perfectly matches my own target audience and means that my chosen style will appeal to them. I also noted that Parks and Rec has a higher viewership from women, perhaps due to the female lead character. I believe in representation in media, and realised that I only have male characters in my film, so I’ll try to expand beyond that.

 

Sources:

-http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266020/

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation

-https://yougov.co.uk/profileslite#/Parks_and_Recreation/demographics

-https://reelchange.net/2012/09/17/why-parks-and-recreation-matters/

Technical Research: Mockumentary Techniques

I used this article to further research techniques that I could utilise to make my mockumentary seem more authentic. In particular, I looked at camera work. Handheld cameras were the way to go as they’d give it a less scripted aesthetic. I tested some of the shots in the locations I needed such as outside the Job Centre.

Another trope I had already implemented was dead pan interviews. The article suggests that the interviewer is presented off screen and the mood is serious. I also already had the idea to use archive footage to set the scene and introduce concepts that some members of the audience might not be familiar with. The article also advises that satire is best suited to the format. I was already going for this form of humor. After reading this article, I am confident that I know the conventions of mockumentaries and have even more ideas for scenes.

Inspirations + Similar Product Case Study: Wrestling in Mainstream Media

I’d recommend this short film, directed to Max Landis to anyone, whether or not they enjoy wrestling. It’s purpose is to explain how wrestling is entertaining and is superior to other TV series such as Game of Thrones. But he also includes popular indie wrestlers in his cast and fits in jokes here and there that fans would recognise.

Landis presents wrestling and it’s characters in a way that makes them amusing to watch, and appealing to people who haven’t seen wrestling. The characters aren’t represented realistically, in-fact, they’re all gender swapped. I’ll use this information in my film by not making Hulk Hogan to realistic to the original, although he is already quite over the top and larger than life in reality.

Mainstream portrayals are normally less than fair. In America especially, they are often seen as steroid abusing brutes and the media is happy to continue creating false rumors to take advantage of that. This article explores how tragic deaths are always attributed to drug abuse, despite their being evidence to suggest otherwise. This all shows that wrestling is looked down on, and even despised by mainstream audiences. Taking this in mind for my film, I’ll have to use a lighthearted approach. The most important part about Hulk Hogan in my film isn’t that he is a wrestler, but that he is just a ridiculous figure that anyone can relate to in some way.

 

 

Potential Use of Green Screen

Today I thought of how I might use the green screen in the TV room in my film. Having more technical depth to my film might make it more impressive, and it would be a useful skill to develop. My idea was to have the wrestlers attacking the office workers and, in their head, they’re in the wrestling ring with a huge audience cheering in the background.

I emailed Greig:

But got the following response:

I’ll book the green screen when it’s available, but won’t be able to do further technical research before then.

Inspirations + Similar Product Case Study: Mockumentaries

The mockumentaries I would cite as my inspirations are The Office (2001) and Parks and Recreations (2009). Both centralise around an authority figure with bizarre traits that people can relate to in their own annoying boss. While their character is normally the most important, there is also a interesting supporting cast. Especially in the American version of the Office, where the main character leaves the series and others take his place. As this is just a short film focusing on one person, I’ll be giving most of the characterisation and dialogue to Hulk Hogan. Another major feature I’ve recognised in mockumentaries is the camera work. As you’re supposed to create the illusion of a camera crew following around their subject, the shots are often not set up on tripods and are sometimes candid. For example, in my film I will be following Hogan around, but for other parts I’ll film him from afar to create realism and reinforce the genre.

Another convention of mockumentaries is the dialogue. Generally, the camera operator will not converse with the characters. In the case of The Office, they are instead interviewed one to one in a separate room. I’ll also be using this trope. Talking heads aren’t always ideal however, and shouldn’t be overused. Sometimes, narration or just silence with good facial expressions can convey an emotion far better without wearing out the use of cut away interviews.

Technical Elements:

-Camera work, not too many still, tripod-assisted shots.

-“It’s easier to explain a complex story by cutting to people talking to a camera” – Community

Style and Format:

-Lighthearted approach designed to parody the documentary format or current events

-A narrator to again make it seem more like a documentary. Narration has always been a part of major documentaries with experts like David Attenborough reaching fame for doing so. Community (2009) even used Keith David, a famous narrator for a tongue in cheek parody.

Aesthetics:

-“Documentary is intrinsically aesthetic, it is as much about shots and cuts, structure and rhythm as fiction film” – Mark Cousins

-Documentaries always need to look professionally produced and well edited to suit their subject

Audience:

I looked up the audiences for The Office (left) and Parks And Recreation (right). They’ll generally well educated, better off people with higher social grades and income. Their also use high end brands such as Waitrose and Apple. Both audiences would describe themselves as funny, perhaps suggesting that this level of comedy requires you to have a good sense of humor yourself.

 

Sources:

http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/aesthetics-documentary

http://www.avclub.com/article/how-make-good-mockumentary-7-lessons-modern-film-a-223861

https://yougov.co.uk/profileslite#/

 

 

 

Casting and Locations

I’ve added to my mind map the potential locations and actors I will be using. All the cast are confident in acting and most take Performing Arts. Some roles I still need to clarify such as the person that’ll interview Hogan when he goes to get a job and various extras. These are minor roles and I’ll probably be able to fill them in the future.

I’m still scouting out various locations for the office setting. Ideally it would be empty, bland looking and available at day time. I’ll have to ask permission to use the TV Studio, but I’ve seen it used for filming before.

.