Week Two.

This week I have started to gather different bits of research and tried to start creating a plan for how I’m going to put this documentary together. Firstly I have put together a list of questions and have emailed them to a deaf person and am just waiting for the response. These questions I asked included such areas as, what do you find most challenging about everyday life, how well do you pick up on vibrations and without your hearing, do you feel like your other senses are heightened. I have asked these among others to get a greater understanding of what it’s like before I start to interpret it.

     I am finding it hard to find much theoretical material to help me in my project and this is something I will have to look deeper into. I have taken out a few books so far such as ‘Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos’ by Alan Rosenthal, this is to gain more understanding of the codes and conventions of documentary filmmaking. I have also got a book on the ‘Anatomy of Hearing and Speech’ by R.P Singh to find out more about how the ear works. I can also use this book to script the interview with a ‘doctor’ who will describe my characters fictional hearing.

     I have also thought more about making my character a DJ in this film. Maybe not so much as a profession but more as a hobby, as something he loves to do and likes to prove he can dispute his disability. I have a few scheduled gigs throughout the time I will be shooting the film, such as one in the main room of Basement 45. This would be a great location and chance to get some good footage.


This is a very brief overall plan I've put together to get me thinking about the structure:

-       Introduction: Create a introduction montage and music for the documentary program itself. (Program Name?)

-       Introduce The Character: Describe his special ability and a little about himself and what he does (Voice Over). Shots can be himself in his own room, getting ready, do general things. Then show him putting the device into his ear and give the audience a preview of what its like to hear like him.

-       Interview 1: With The Parents, briefly describing him as a kid and him dealing with the issue at an early age.

-       POV Street Shots: Show the audience what it’s like to have this sort of hearing and do general things like crossing the road and travelling around.

-       Interview 2: With the doctor, explaining in detail what this issues called, how it works and how fascinating it is.

-       DJing: This next section can look into his hobby as a DJ, practicing at home, playing in clubs, show comparison between normal and fx hearing, voice over explaining how and why he loves to do it.

-       Interview 3: With himself, talking about the problem, why he loves and hates it. This can be intertwined with the DJ section.

-       Closing – wrap up all the ideas and questions raised in the program and come to a conclusion about the hearing issue he deals with and how remarkable and one off it is. 

     I still have loads of pre-production work to do on this film. Over the next week I will be starting to plan out my shoots, create a storyboard and start scripting certain scenes and interviews. I will also be trying to find more theoretical material that covers my project.